The Other Stuff with internetVin The Other Stuff #30 — Andrew McLuhan: The Medium Is The Message
Jan 22, 2026
Andrew McLuhan, a poet, artist, and the grandson of media theorist Marshall McLuhan, dives deep into the concept of 'the medium is the message.' He emphasizes how media shape our environments and perceptions, often unnoticed. The conversation touches on the beauty of language, the impacts of technology, and the evolution from mechanical to electric ages. Andrew connects art, culture, and even food as mediums that influence society, all while maintaining an optimistic outlook on the future of human connection and creativity.
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Medium Shapes Us More Than Content
- The medium (technology) reshapes us more than its specific content does.
- We fixate on outputs while environments quietly redefine what it means to be human.
Figure Versus Ground Explains Hidden Influence
- 'Medium' means both instrument and environment; its unnoticed parts have the biggest influence.
- Figure (attention) and ground (inattention) explain why ignored elements shape us more.
Try The Smartphone Breakdown Exercise
- Do the smartphone exercise: list everything required for it to work to reveal hidden dependencies.
- Use breakdowns (remove the device) to expose the environment's shaping effects.
