Our Global Village

Global Village refers to the fact that there is a reduction in “time” and “space” between people around the world in respect to globalization changing and affecting our world in many ways. Marshall McLuhan discusses and talks about the concept of the Global Village, and how that with this reduction in space and time, essentially we become more centered on the public opinion and Global concepts. Hence we become a part of a Global Village a concept created by McLuhan.

In my personal opinion I would describe our global village very interconnected as the advancements in technology increases the speed and the accuracy of information being passed from each person. McLuhan talked about this shrinking of the world around us, as things are now accessible to all the people around the world. We therefore keep in better touch with information and news happening all over the world in real time. This then influences the different cultures and people in the global village as information is passed quickly around the world people can see fashion trends and memes. Essentially following trends and popular opinion and less developing individual people.

McLuhan talks about the loss of our individual selves and becoming the “tribal” man, as we rely more on the opinions, ideas and thoughts of others our being individual is a little bit lost in our digital age. As we all went to be like famous people following trends in the social media e.g. Facebook, twitter. With some many instantaneous forms of communication it’s hard to not be a part of this large Global community. McLuhan concepts on media even though part of a different era still contain many insights and wisdom into exploring the world of technology and social mediums in which we use to become Global. Therefore becoming more a part of the Global Village that McLuhan talked about.

It is my belief that technology will continue to develop and we will be more connected. Though I still maintain that we may be part of the Global Village, it doesn’t mean that we lose our individuality to this, as though part of the tribe we still maintain our own selves and differences.

Marshall McLuhan — The World is a Global Village (CBC TV) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeDnPP6ntic

McLuhan M, 2014, Media Research: Technology, Art and Communication, The Hot and Coll Interview, Taylor and Francis, retrieved 23 July 2015, <http://encore.deakin.edu.au/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2971220>

Marshall Mcluhan Full lecture: The medium is the message — 1977 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImaH51F4HBw