the message is the medium." What do you think is the meaning of each saying? Which one is more applicable today?

1 answer

"The medium is the message" is a quote by Marshall McLuhan, a media theorist. It means that the way a message is delivered (the medium) is just as important, if not more so, than the actual content of the message itself. In other words, the medium through which a message is conveyed shapes and influences how the message is perceived and understood.

On the other hand, "the message is the medium" could be interpreted as the content of the message being more important than the medium through which it is delivered. This suggests that the substance and meaning of the message itself should be the focus, regardless of how it is being communicated.

In today's media-saturated world, the saying "the medium is the message" is more applicable. With the advent of social media and other digital platforms, the way information is delivered has a significant impact on how it is received and interpreted. The medium plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse and influencing opinions, often overshadowing the actual message being conveyed.