McLuhan’s reading was an interesting read even though I did face some pieces were it seemed to digress into a different topic, where I would lose understanding. Overall, he made interesting points about technology to which I assume he referred as mechanization. He talks about how when a new technology comes into society, creating a whole shift in change, people as a whole either adapt to it or become ignorant of it. He states that “censor acts at once to numb us from the blow and to ready the faculties to assimilate the intruder.” The way he phrased this reminds of me of when a person becomes socks with a virus, the cells in their body are ready to attack it but then they are drugs (medicine) that can alleviate it. This the body becomes numb to the attacker and automatically fights it off without fear. Similarly, as a society we may have reached a point where we accept the new technology changes because in the end, the result is convenient to many.

Another interesting point he makes is about media and technology being extensions of our bodies . This reminds me of the theory referring to man being responsible for creating the advances of our life being dependent on the means of communication transportation and etc, we have created. So, I agree with the statement, because media such as TV and technology such as our phones, is dependent on what we want, need, what we prefer. McLuhan explains it best when he states that we as people give up our sense to be the subject of media and technology. We give up our control, and when media such as the TV produces content, we take it in because at one point it is what we desired to receive. This as a result leaves us vulnerable to manipulation and being influenced by things. My favorite line he says is “taking a lease on our eyes and ears and nerves.”

Although it was a little difficult to follow, he mentions art being looked at differently instead. To be looked at “for what it is” and how our psychology has our rearrange information for us to comprehend. Instead of taking the information and letting our psyche do the work of thought and anticipation for what artistic technique comes next. Can we then explore the art as it is face value and regard the medium as the medium it is, like an ornament on a tree, an inanimate object or accessory?