My project conveys McLuhan's idea that "the Medium is the Message". This means that our society is shaped by the media that is currently taking place. I chose Video Chatting to demonstrate how a single medium can act as a message that independently influences and changes society. Video chatting brings a n entirely new meaning to the concept of long distance. Before video chat, long distance meant that you wouldn't be able to see or interact with the person for a long time. If you were lucky, you could make a long distance phone call for a brief and expensive few minutes. Or, if you were patient enough you could send a letter and wait weeks for it to finally arrive.
Video chat is a breakthrough that has hugely benefitted our society. As my project illustrates, some of the most important moments in life can now be captured and shared with others from all across the world (hence the international flags in the background). Now, the poor woman who is making a living in America can watch her daughter get married in Mexico even though she couldn't afford the flight. The compassionate father who had to go to Africa on business doesn't have to miss his son's first time riding a bike. And although Grandma is dying in the hospital, she can still see her granddaughter blow out those 5 candles on her special day, now that's something worth living for. The photo of the happy couple represents the amount of long distance relationships that wouldn't exist without video chatting. Even school can be done via vid chat, but tape recorders were good while they lasted.
Overall, my project shows that the medium may simply be a video chat, but as McLuhan observed, that medium alone has the ability to send a message throughout society, leaving a profound effect. Thanks to video chatting we can be close even though we're far, and you don't have to miss a thing.
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