Critical Media Studies

In this episode Barry and Mike resume their discussion of Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Klara and the Sun.”  They discuss how differences in class and education determine how the various characters relation to Kara as an embodiment of technology.

Barry and Mike analyze Ishiguro's 'Klara and the Sun', exploring human-technological relationships, Clara's programmed interest in human emotions, unveiling darker aspects in an idyllic world, contrasting socio-economic backgrounds, and Clara's humanity and observant nature.

In this episode Barry and Mike wrap up their discussion of Marshall McLuhan’s “The Medium is the Massage: An Inventory of Effects,” focusing on the question of education and media.

In this episode Barry and Mike discuss Marshal McLuhan’s seminal text, The Medium is the Massage:  An Inventory of Effects.  They discuss the form of the book and some of the key opening arguments. 

In this episode Barry and Mike discuss the three central issues raised by John Law in the introduction to his 1991 anthology, “Sociology of Monsters”: the problem of epistemology; the problem of the social; the problem of distribution.   Law argues that the coming together of Sociology and STS (science, technology, society) offers an opportunity to address these issues in meaningful and ethical ways.

In this episode Barry and Mike discuss Denise Lu’s recent New York Times editorial, “Want to Enjoy Music More? Stop Streaming It.  Build a real music collection. Reintroduce intimacy to the songs you care about.” They attempt to re-frame the article in CMS friendly terms and end up with an extended investigation of the nature of intimacy and the archive.

On the occasions of their 50th episode, Barry and Mike get reflective.  The discuss the purpose or intent of the show, their favorite episodes, what they’d do over, and the biggest surprises that they’ve encountered so far. 

In this episode Barry and Mike discussion John Law’s 1992 essay, “Notes on the Theory of the Actor Network: Ordering, Strategy, and Heterogeneity” and in particular Law’s concepts of network composition, punctualisation, and translation. 

Barry and Mike discuss Bruno Latour’s essay, “On Actor-Network Theory: A few clarifications.” They work through his key terms in an attempt to better understand the new meanings he ascribes to actors and networks and what this theory allows us to do with media theory. 

The hosts dive into Jacques Attali's intriguing analysis of music's role in society, exploring the impacts of recorded music and background noise. They compare the philosophies of sound and technology, revealing how these affect the music landscape. Live performances are reshaped by recorded music, raising questions about the value of authentic experiences. The dialogue also navigates the complexities of music consumption, the haunting power of background music, and its influence on social dynamics, transforming deep cultural experiences into mere background noise.