Media and the Quest for Identity with Andrew McLuhan and Henry Jenkins #2
Feb 23, 2022
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Henry Jenkins and Andrew McLuhan, director of The McLuhan Institute and grandson of philosopher Marshall McLuhan, discuss the impact of media on identity in a captivating conversation. They explore topics such as the rapid change of media assaulting our sense of self, the role of social media in raising essential issues about race and gender, the violence associated with language surrounding identity, and the intimate nature of podcasts compared to radio.
Media's rapid pace of change challenges our sense of identity.
Social media accelerates essential conversations about race and gender.
Podcasts create an intimate and diverse media landscape, fostering community and alternative voices.
Deep dives
The Influence of Media on Identity
In this podcast episode, Henry Jenkins and Andrew McLuhan discuss the ways in which media and media technologies have influenced our notions of identity. They explore how the speed of change in the modern world has made us constantly question and reevaluate our own identities. They also discuss the role of media in shaping our identities and the increasing diversity and fluidity of identities in today's digitized world. The podcast highlights the importance of recognizing the different facets of our identity and the trade-offs we make as we navigate the ever-changing media landscape.
The Relationship between Media and Violence
The podcast delves into Marshall McLuhan's concept of violence as a quest for identity. The guests explore why violence seems to accompany the search for identity and its persistent presence throughout history. They discuss how the internet and social media have intensified certain social tensions, particularly in relation to race and gender. The conversation also touches on the role of popular culture, video games, and aggression on platforms like Twitter. The guests provide insights into the conflicting visions of the future of communication technologies as both global and tribal, and how this affects the formation of identities.
The Rise of Podcasting and its Impact on Media Landscape
The guests examine the phenomenon of podcasts and their relationship to traditional radio. They discuss how podcasts have diversified the media landscape and created more personalized and niche content. They emphasize the democratic nature of podcasting, where amateur voices can thrive alongside commercial entities. The guests explore the intimate nature of podcasts, facilitated by technologies like earbuds, and how this intimacy influences the listener's experience. They also discuss the trend of premieres and debuts in podcasting, which creates a sense of community and belonging for listeners. The future of podcasts is contemplated, considering the consolidation of commercial entities and the importance of preserving alternative voices.
The Challenges and Opportunities of Multiple Identities
The episode delves into the idea of multiple identities and the challenges and opportunities presented by this concept. The guests discuss how technological advancements and the internet have resulted in individuals having various fluid identities across different platforms and online spaces. They highlight the importance of being conscious about one's identity, asking oneself who they are and what their values are. The podcast encourages individuals to embrace the multiplicity of identities and to hold onto the aspects that are important to them while navigating the fast-paced media landscape. It also emphasizes the value of actively listening to diverse voices and experiencing different perspectives to deepen understanding of identity in the modern world.
The Loss of Simultaneous Experiences and the Importance of Community
The guests reflect on the loss of simultaneous experiences in the post-broadcast era. They discuss the sense of liveness that radio offers and how certain national events brought people together in a shared experience. They compare this to the podcasting landscape, where experiences are recorded and dispersed, making it challenging to recreate the same level of simultaneous engagement. However, they find hope in the podcasting world's ability to provide niche and culturally specific programming that fosters a sense of belonging. The guests stress the importance of community and active listening to voices outside of one's own identity to build a deeper understanding of the diverse world around us.
As the ever-growing prevalence of media in our lives continues to disrupt our notion of identity, how can we dictate who we really are in today’s world?
Joining Tracey for episode 2 of The Future of You to consider digital media’s role in our quest for identity are Andrew McLuhan - Director of The McLuhan Institute & grandson of renowned Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan - and Henry Jenkins - noted author & Professor at the University of Southern California.
In this fascinating discussion we touch on social media’s acceleration of topics in the public consciousness, how our sense of identity can be split and shared based on simultaneous experiences & fandoms, and the violence of language surrounding identity.
This episode of The Future of You covers:
How media’s rapid pace of change is assaulting our sense of identity
Social media’s propulsion of essential issues around race & gender
The violent multiplicity of language surrounding identity
Podcasting’s effect on the intimacy of radio as a platform
Finding identity in shared, collective experiences with fandoms
