multiple aspects

In Thesis 25, Greenfield claims that computers are dying and will be replaced with assimilated technology. Although I do believe the computer will be replaced, it is still a long way to go, past our lifetime. We could argue that the radio would be completely obsolete in current society, however with every car and household still carries a radio. With the advent of satellite radio, perhaps radio is getting a facelift for rejuvenation.

In Marshall McLuhan entry, he carefully describes how the radio affected history especially politically. An interesting paragraph was on the Nixon-Kennedy debates. Nixon was overwhelmingly superior on the radio while Kennedy seemed to be an inferior candidate. Nixon was eventually banished as a “phony” with his latter appearances on television. FDR was also a great radio speaker because he was so natural and composed. He was equivalent to some of the best radio personalities today and won him great favor throughout his presidency. Hitler and Germany is another example of how radio changed the world politically. With radio, Hitler was able to use mass propaganda and remain in the psyche of the German people.

The beauty of radio is that it can be more of a personal relationship. It allows listeners to listen in privacy and have more of a direct relationship with the radio station personalities.