Media Education - Blog Week 8

               Although, many areas fascinated me in this week’s material, two comments made by Marshal McLuhan (1976) I found particularly intriguing. Firstly, he felt television is a participatory medium when many people view television as a passive activity.  However, when asked what type of programming is most effective he outlined sports events especially something like the Olympics because it is ritualistic and flows.  He felt that the viewers’ feel like participants.  Thinking back to watching the Olympics I do recall a sense of participation that seemed to grasp you.  It was a discussion point the next day at the office and the scope of the games from the opening ceremony to the actual events drew you into the excitement.  In fact, when the games ended I felt a sense of loss because to follow them had been so much fun.  However, if McLuhan had not identified this concept I don’t know if I would have recognized it as participation. 

In many senses, although I do not actually watch many of the popular television shows it does appear that Reality TV is exceedingly popular and these shows encourage people to follow and participate in. Viewers have the opportunity to vote.  This area of television seems to have exploded and it may be because audiences feel part of the process.

As to the next statement I found particularly interesting from McLuhan (1972) is that he felt that war was now being brought into the living room and this in itself would help prevent war.  This is an interesting concept that by visualizing the atrocities of war means people are more reluctant to sponsor a war.  Thinking back to when the troubles in Ireland and Vietnam were the forefront of the nightly news this type of reporting did have an impact on me.  I would not have been so aware of what actual fighting meant had it not be for this type of coverage.  Now whether it does ultimately prevent wars is another thing but it certainly creates awareness by the visual content.  Awareness and education can go a long way in solving problems.

Reference:

McLuhan, M. (2013) Marshall McLunhan Speaks Retrieved from:   

http://marshallmcluhanspeaks.com/television/