Weird Studies Episode 203 – Distant Early Warnings: A Return to Marshall McLuhan's 'Book of Probes'
Dive into the intriguing world of McLuhan's aphorisms as the hosts explore themes like tourism versus transformative experience, advertising as art, and the impact of media on our senses. They discuss how McLuhan's 'probes' can provoke thought and spur personal change. The debate on orality versus literacy reveals how communication shapes culture, while reflections on the 'electric light' question its social implications. Prepare for a lively conversation that intertwines philosophy, art, and modern life.
01:26:30
Probes As Thought Machines
- McLuhan's "probes" are playful conceptual gadgets meant to provoke new perception rather than deliver final truth.
- Phil Ford and J.F. Martel argue probes function as exploratory machines that change how you engage with ideas.
Lightweight Vs Deep Ideas
- J.F. Martel contrasts lightweight, disposable ideas with deep ideas that reshape life and structure.
- He likens shallow ideas to IKEA furniture and deep ideas to Steinway pianos or load-bearing walls.
Playful Probes Backed By Serious Aim
- Phil Ford locates McLuhan's playful probes within a deeper commitment to spiritual exercise and truth-seeking.
- He reads McLuhan as experimenting to discover durable truths, not indulging mere novelty.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
McLuhan’s Distant Early Warning Deck Explained
01:58 • 7min
Returning to McLuhan and Probes
09:04 • 2min
Drawing a Probe: 'New Tourists are Inner Trippers'
11:18 • 6min
Tourism versus Transformative Experience
17:24 • 8min
Probes as Gizmos and Spiritual Exercise
25:07 • 3min
McLuhan’s Showmanship and Deeper Commitment
28:22 • 8min
Book of Probes — Dice, Pages, and Method
35:53 • 1min
Probe: 'Advertising is the Art Form of the 20th Century'
36:55 • 4min
Promotional Creativity and Cultural Change
41:00 • 7min
Probe: 'The Stripper Puts Audience On by Taking Them Off'
48:00 • 15sec
Probe: Media Extend Our Organic Sense Lives
48:16 • 4min
Environment, Anti-Environments, and Art
52:01 • 4min
Probe: 'Since Life Is Short, Our Faces Must Be Long'
56:12 • 3min
Probe: Phonetic Alphabet Frees the Greeks
58:50 • 11min
Alphabet, Christianity, and Reified Ideas
01:09:50 • 2min
Probe: 'The Electric Light Is Pure Information'
01:11:50 • 8min
Final Probes: Probes as Little Worlds to Perceive
01:19:24 • 7min
Outro
01:26:05 • 1min
#39233
Book Probes
Marshall McLuhan
David Carson
#38512
The Color out of Space
H. P. Lovecraft
'The Color Out of Space' is a science fiction horror story by H.P.
Lovecraft, set in rural New England.
A meteorite crashes near a farm, poisoning the land and its inhabitants with an otherworldly color.
The story follows the gradual decay of the family and their environment as the alien influence spreads.
Lovecraft masterfully creates a sense of cosmic horror, emphasizing the insignificance of humanity in the face of the unknown.
The story explores themes of environmental contamination, madness, and the terrifying consequences of encountering forces beyond human comprehension.
#35948
O Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad
M.R. James
'Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad' is a classic ghost story by M.R.
James, featuring Professor Parkins, a Cambridge academic, who discovers an ancient whistle during a golfing trip.
Upon blowing the whistle, he unleashes a supernatural force that haunts him.
James masterfully creates a sense of mounting dread through subtle, unsettling details and a remote, desolate setting.
The story explores themes of curiosity, the intrusion of the past, and the vulnerability of the rational mind.
It remains a chilling example of James's atmospheric horror and his ability to evoke terror through suggestion rather than explicit gore.
#12305
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
24-7
Late Capitalism and the Ends of Sleep
Jonathan Crary
In "24/7: Late Capitalism and the Ends of Sleep," Jonathan Crary examines how contemporary capitalism operates around the clock, eroding traditional boundaries between work and leisure.
Crary argues that the relentless pursuit of productivity and consumption has led to a state of constant wakefulness, disrupting natural rhythms and diminishing human experience.
The book explores the social, cultural, and psychological consequences of this 24/7 environment, highlighting the ways in which technology and consumerism contribute to a perpetual state of exhaustion and alienation.
Crary critiques the commodification of time and the erosion of collective life, calling for a reevaluation of our relationship with technology and a reclaiming of moments of rest and reflection.
"24/7" offers a critical perspective on the pervasive nature of late capitalism and its impact on individual and collective well-being.
#2031
• Mentioned in 18 episodes
The magic mountain
Thomas Mann
The Magic Mountain is a novel by Thomas Mann, published in 1924.
It follows the story of Hans Castorp, a young man from a Hamburg merchant family, who visits his tubercular cousin Joachim at a sanatorium in Davos, Switzerland.
Initially planning to stay for three weeks, Castorp ends up staying for seven years, immersing himself in the unique world of the sanatorium.
The novel delves into themes of time, illness, and the intellectual and philosophical debates of the pre-World War I era.
It is a parable of Europe before the Great War and a prophecy of the future, highlighting the decline of European civilization and the rise of irrational and destructive forces.
The narrative is characterized by Mann's ironic and omniscient storytelling, exploring the human condition through Castorp's experiences and the diverse characters he encounters at the sanatorium.
#1242
• Mentioned in 26 episodes
Understanding media
The Extensions of Man
Marshall McLuhan
In 'Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man', Marshall McLuhan explores how different media forms influence human society and perception.
He introduces the concept that 'the medium is the message', suggesting that the characteristics of the medium, rather than its content, are what truly impact society.
McLuhan categorizes media into 'hot' and 'cool' types, based on the degree of audience participation required.
He also discusses how media extend human senses and alter human consciousness, leading to significant social and psychic consequences.
The book is a comprehensive analysis of various media, including print, radio, television, and more, and their effects on human interaction and culture.
#30108
Seventh Letter
Benjamin Jowett
Plató
The Seventh Letter is a significant philosophical text attributed to Plato, delving into his theory of Forms and the nature of true knowledge.
Plato reflects on his own experiences and motivations for entering politics, expressing disillusionment with the political landscape.
A central theme is the limitations of writing as a medium for conveying profound philosophical insights.
Plato argues that true understanding can only be achieved through direct, personal engagement with the subject matter and guidance from a knowledgeable teacher.
The letter provides valuable insights into Plato's epistemology, metaphysics, and his views on the role of philosophy in practical life.
#157
• Mentioned in 111 episodes
The Republic
Plato
#2759
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
Race Against the Machine
Andrew McAfee
Erik Brynjolfsson
#47
• Mentioned in 211 episodes
Moby Dick
Herman Melville
Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg.
Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs.
nature, and the existential questions of good and evil.
The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature.
#440
• Mentioned in 55 episodes
A Secular Age
Charles Taylor
In 'A Secular Age', Charles Taylor explores the transformation of Western society from a pre-modern world where belief in God was inescapable to a modern secular age where believing in God is just one option among many.
Taylor argues against the 'subtraction story' of secularization, which posits that religion has been removed from society.
Instead, he describes a complex historical process involving the Reform movement in Christianity, the rise of disciplinary society, and the emergence of exclusive humanism.
The book examines how these changes have affected the conditions of belief and unbelief, and how they have shaped modern social forms, moral orders, and spiritual experiences.
#14126
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Lost Hearts
Astrid Zingler
M. R.
James' "Lost Hearts" is a classic ghost story known for its chilling atmosphere and psychological suspense.
The story unfolds in a gothic setting, employing elements of the uncanny and supernatural to create a sense of dread.
It explores themes of obsession, betrayal, and the fragility of the human psyche.
The narrative is masterfully crafted, building tension through subtle hints and suggestive details.
"Lost Hearts" remains a staple of the ghost story genre, captivating readers with its unsettling atmosphere and lingering unease.
#4812
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
Orality and Literacy
The Technologizing of the Word
Walter Ong
Walter Ong's "Orality and Literacy" explores the profound influence of oral and written communication on thought and culture.
Ong argues that the shift from oral to literate cultures fundamentally reshaped human consciousness, impacting memory, perception, and the very structure of thought.
He contrasts the characteristics of oral cultures, emphasizing their communal nature and reliance on memory, with the individualistic and analytical tendencies fostered by literacy.
The book examines how different modes of communication shape our understanding of the world and ourselves.
Ong's work has had a lasting impact on fields such as rhetoric, anthropology, and media studies, influencing scholars like Marshall McLuhan.
His insights continue to be relevant in understanding the impact of new technologies on human cognition and social interaction.
Back in episode 112, Phil and JF devised a gimmick for a show: randomly select one of the many aphorisms in The Book of Probes, a compendium of Marshall McLuhan’s prophetic quips designed by David Carson, and see what happens. It proved lively enough that they’re trying it again nearly a hundred episodes later. The resulting conversation touches the weird across a range of themes: tourism, the two kinds of truth, advertising, Kubrick’s marketing savvy, technology, orality versus literacy, and much more. A fitting feast for the mind as the year draws to a close.
From all of us at Weird Studies, happy holidays.
• Sign up for JF Martel and Erik Davis's upcoming course on Moby-Dick.
• Join Phil, JF, and composer Pierre-Yves Martel for Weirdosphere's Solstice Story Hour on December 21.
• For dates, venues, and the full slate of Weird Academia events in Bloomington this January, visit the Centre for Possible Minds website.
• To participate in the Weird Academia Colloquium, email organizers Emma Stamm and Michael Garfield at elfthoughts@gmail.com
Header Image: NASA.
REFERENCES
Marshall McLuhan, Distant Early Warning Deck
Thomas Mann, The Magic Mountain
Plato, The Seventh Letter
Marshall McLuhan, The Book of Probes
Toronto School of Communication Theory
Walter Ong, Orality and Literacy
Paul Kingsnorth, Against the Machine
Charles Taylor, A Secular Age
Plato, The Republic
Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media
Jonathan Crary, 24/7
H. P. Lovecraft, The Color out of Space
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