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Thinking Anthropologically about Media: The Media Technology Is Part of the Message

Writer's picture: Johannes MerzJohannes Merz

Have you ever thought about what media technology really is? Sure, we know all about cell phones, what you can use them for and how to operate them. The same may be true for TV sets, computers, cameras, and other gadgets. They’re just things, stuff that we use. They mostly do what we want them to do and so we forget that they’re even there. Unless they cause you a problem or malfunction. Then we get angry and maybe shout at them. 


For me, media technology is designed by scientists, tested in practice, then made in factories from various raw materials. Technology uses electricity to run; it sometimes breaks; it can get fixed or may need to be discarded. It can be replaced quite easily with an equal, if not better, product. 


But what about people who do not have the same background and technological knowledge that I have? Those who have not been brought up surrounded by technology and gadgets? What is media technology for them? 


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