“We shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us.” — McLuhan
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1️⃣ Opening (≈10 minutes): McLuhan, the Canadian who got there early
Why McLuhan matters
• Canadian (University of Toronto), deeply influenced by radio and print culture
• Famous ideas:
• The medium is the message
• The global village
• Media as extensions of the human body
• His key insight:
Don’t ask what technology does to us — ask what it does to how we live, think, feel, and relate.
On air framing
“Marshall McLuhan wasn’t a futurist — he was a pattern-spotter. He noticed that every new technology quietly rewires us. Radio didn’t just bring music — it changed how we listened. Television didn’t just show pictures — it changed politics. And the internet didn’t just connect us — it changed who we think we are.”
Music cue idea
• Something radio-native and reflective
• Talking Heads – Radio Head
• Kraftwerk – Radioactivity (if you want quirky)
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2️⃣ McLuhan’s Core Ideas (≈10 minutes)
🔹 The Medium Is the Message
• It’s not the content that matters most — it’s the form
• Example:
• A speech on radio ≠ same speech on TikTok
• Same words, totally different effect
🔹 Extensions of the Human
• Wheel → foot
• Book → eye
• Radio → ear
• Smartphone → nervous system
“Technology isn’t outside us anymore. It’s in our pockets, on our wrists, and inside our attention.”
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3️⃣ A Contemporary Sociologist of Technology
Here’s an excellent modern counterpart to McLuhan:
Shoshana Zuboff Unit technology intro.
UcOtt Radio Jan28*
urdtech2025
Scott Raddio Daddio redo may27
Rick Prelinger
Video archive
Good
Education/Work – Tech printing press
race. tech
gender tech
family tech
Age disability tech
politics tech
religion. tech
crime and deviance tech
environment tech
Health and medicine tech
Peace tech
Noah Your Self
If I do this right
I want Noah to have the characteristics that I often associate with women and I’ll try to clarify that, but if I were talking to Noah, I would appreciate hearing the tones and frequencies that I often associate with beautiful kind, smart sensitive strong old hippie women. A raging granny that has a heart of gold when it comes to me.
Warning the following presentation is meant for mature minded individuals. This is my education. I will be addressing stressful issues in an open manner. I am trying to use humour and music to lighten the journey however, some swearing and traumatic content to follow.
I don’t want to be the woke Joke!!!
We become the woke joke when we talk about sex changes for children. They’re probably certain cases where it would be appropriate, but it’s a drastic step. When men become women and want to play in women’s sports, it’s another tricky area and unless we’re careful. It can become a joke.
Not all adults know what is good. Indeed, most are well aware of the complexities involved but have little direct knowledge, and good is kind of subjective. I love it when people are open to listening and they care. It’s a big deal compassion is a big deal. It’s not the only deal but it’s big knowledge. Of course that’s kind of big too.