Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by dean_martin (A) on October 14, 2010 at 09:59:05

In Reply to: RE: Shouldn´t you have said "the age of arguing" or "of duologue", instead of " of dialogue"...? (nt) posted by orejones on October 14, 2010 at 02:16:19

I think "age of dialogue" is the term McLuhan used. I'm no expert on his writings but I've read that in his time he was criticized for not making judgments. I think age of dialogue may be a non-judgmental way of saying nobody shuts up and listens anymore, or everyone speaks up merely because they have the means or ability to do so which fits with his overall "media is the message" theme.

For example, the existence of Facebook or Myspace says more substantively than the people who use it. The existence of blogs says more than the people who blog. The existence of a forum such as this one says more than its participants. The existence of a talkshow exposing people's personal lives or a reality show like The Biggest Loser says more substantively than the participants ever will. If you agree, then it's up to you to decide whether these things are good or bad. If you disagree, then you may conclude that a particular medium is simply the means by which the real message is conveyed and the viewer/reader/listener/participant's focus should be on that message.

However, I don't think it's so cut and dry or either bad or good. The existence of media such as facebook and myspace is a bigger message to me than anything the people who use it could say. I think differently about film, music and some tv. Print media has been used effectively but it's dying.