New Media Final: Smother

In The Medium is the Massage, McLuhan observes a society in which the increasing prevalence of news media all around us creates a sense of "allatonceness" so that "we now live in a global village...a simultaneous happening" within which everybody is constantly aware and reminded of events by others' reactions to and discussions of them. Because news surrounds as at all times, we become numb to the constant barrage of tragedy... that is, until something is so horrific or touches us so personally that it becomes impossible to either ignore or escape the incessant coverage. This video illustrates the initial unseeing, unfeeling attitude an average consumer of media puts on in order to wade through day-to-day horror, until the reality of the messages begins to seep in and awaken the human feelings underneath.

While this video specifically focuses on Dr. Ford's testimony in September and the shared feelings of anxiety and disgust that many experienced during this time, it is my hope that the message of this video can be translated to any other tragedy which the news and social media hyper-focuses on until the drama becomes "old". I feel that the use of hands creeping along in stop motion with the added whispers of the headlines creates the disturbing and smothering sensation that I was hoping for, but I would be interested to continue to play with the other sounds I use: the crinkling (recorded from when I crumpled all of the hands into a ball) and heartbeat- perhaps there are other sounds which would produce a better sense of anxiety while also showing a certain triumph as the mask and headlines are ripped away.

Something Is Happening Reflection

Setting up this exhibit was an exciting and interesting process for me, having never actually set up a physical gallery space myself previously. I enjoyed the team effort and being able to all find a way to contribute to the execution of the event. It was so rewarding to have all of our effort pay off in a room full of beautiful photos, and I enjoyed planning out the best ways to display everything as well, so that even though all of us had different projects, the photos seemed to flow in a dialogue with one another. The process of reaching an exhibition-worthy collection of photos was an interesting one as well, and I think it was good that it was paced over the course of the term so that we could really get to know our photos and create the best collection we could.

The Beatles and McLuhan

During my research of the Beatles and their relationship with McLuhan's ideas, I found that not only their actual musical methods, but the very phenomenon of the group themselves aligned with a great deal of McLuhan's observations throughout The Medium is the Massage. In the technical sense, the Beatles made use of the burgeoning "electronic age" which McLuhan discusses to create their sound which at the time was new and exciting. The presence of electric instruments to amplify sounds and new ways of recording music so as to include special effects gave the Beatles a presence which also leant to their ability to grow in fame and popularity through "allatonceness." By commanding a presence in print, radio, and on the still-growing medium of television, the Beatles were able to sweep the world into a communal sense of Beatlemania. At the same time, the fab four were able to launch themselves into the world as a unique phenomenon by being McLuhan's definition of "anti-social"- in other words, going very much against the grain of society to explore musical possibilities. Their song "A Day in the Life" is a sort of acknowledgement of the sense of "allatonceness" which comes from the presence of media and sound constantly in our daily lives, and exemplifies both how the Beatles used the electric age to their advantage musically, and how they went beyond the norm to break social boundaries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usNsCeOV4GM