Marshall and me

'The medium is the message' - Marshall McLuhan

 Okay, the title is a blatant copy from a blog of the same name. But it is also about me and Marshall McLuhan in my Theories of Communication class.  By the time I reach to the session on McLuhan, students are quite used to the format of the class, and the theory bit of it. Always, I am the one super excited about this class, since there is (or so I think) a great assignment (the final one, at that) lined up after the class. It is one that makes students think hard, and use their mental faculties to the utmost.

McLuhan statement, 'The medium is the message' brings forth some really classic facial expressions as instant reactions. Ones that could be, if possible, preserved for posterity. They range from 'has she lost it?' to 'OMG, I don't believe I have to sit through this'. I know they are confused in the beginning. I also tell them that. But I expect them to be with me through the class and get a clearer picture at the end of the session. Invariably, that happens. They realise, comprehend, and learn to interpret in their own capacities. And if that happens, my aim is reached. It is what I have always encouraged them to do. After that, I hit them again - by telling them the assignment is also about one of the best selling novels of modern India - Amish's The Immortals of Meluha. Yes, they have to read the book. Half of them just give up then.


I understand completely that I am throwing them in the deep waters by basing an important assignment on a short class of only a couple of hours with McLuhan's work. Although I expect that they will refer to McLuhan's work outside of the class, it is too much to expect. If a few of them do, I consider myself lucky! But I equip them with a float too. I tell them that they can go to the farthest stretch of their imagination in interpreting McLuhan and using his statement for their work. There is no right or wrong, all they need to do is to convince me (the reader of their papers) in favour of their arguments.

It would be clichéd to say that a lifetime is not enough to study McLuhan. I'm sure it is, only, I do not have an additional one to try and find out. So, I maintain, that the time I have in my life is not enough to study McLuhan thoroughly. I am, however, grateful that I was introduced to this man. Educator, philosopher, and scholar—a professor of English literature, a literary critic, a rhetorician, and a communication theorist. Isn't that perfect? Well, to add to that, he was a man who also coined the term 'global village', which is overused now! But most importantly, he predicted the existence of the World Wide Web almost 30 years before it was invented. And that's where students need to be in awe of his foresight.

There's lot's we talk about, about inventions being the extension of human faculties - physical or psychic. About the wheel being the extension of the foot. Clothes being extension of the skin, and the internet being the extension of consciousness. 

Later, there are students who tell me they get nightmares of McLuhan. One student stated the class as the most boring moment of class, saying it was 22 slides of snooze. In my defence, there were only 16 slides. But there are a few who remember the man and his work. And when at the end of a particular class a student says "I now can think of so many instances I can use in my assignment!" And that's what makes it all worthwhile. Makes McLuhan my favourite session to teach. :)