The Global Village: Transformations in World Life and Media in the 21st Century (Communication and Society) - Hardcover

McLuhan, Marshall

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 019505444X ISBN 13: 9780195054446

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1989

Synopsis

This is Marshall McLuhan's last book, written in collaboration with his longtime friend, Bruce Powers. It updates McLuhan's landmark study, Understanding Media, which was published 25 years ago.ll The premise is the distinction between what McLuhan and Powers call Visual Space - or the left-brain, linear, quantitative reasoning tradition of the West beginning with Plato and Aristotle - as against what they call Acoustic Space - right-brain, qualitative, pattern-producing reasoning, the holistic approach of the East. They argue that with the advent of the "global village" - as a result of electronic communications - these two mind sets are "slamming into each other at the speed of light". In their words, "In the last half of the 20th century the East will rush westward and the West will embrace orientalism, all in a desperate attempt to cope with each other, to avoid violence. But the key to peace is to understand both these systems simultaneously".

About this title

Review:

'The Global Village is studded with the controversial genius, insight and originality for which McLuhan was famous.' Telecommunications Policy

`Thank you, Professor Powers, for bringing McLuhanian thinking back into the light and for bringing it up to date.' Futures

Synopsis:

The premise for this book is the distinction between what the authors call "visual space", which is the left-brain, linear, quantitative reasoning tradition of the West, beginning with Plato and Aristotle, as against "acoustic brain", which is equated to the holistic approach of the East. They argue with the advent of the "global village", as a result of electronic communications, these two "mind sets" are conflicting and the only solution is to understand both these systems simultaneously.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 019505444X
• ISBN 13: 9780195054446
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 238