The Four Laws of Media

1
The Four Laws of Media

• Marshall McLuhan

2
Accleration

• What does a new form intensify, make possible or
  accelerate?
• Printing press ? anti-social behavior

3
Obsolescence

• As a form enhances a new situation, prior
  conditions are displaced.
• Written alphabet ? memorization

4
Retrieval

• What older actions return inherently in the new
  form?
• Text messaging ? telegraph

5
Reversal

• When pushed to its limits, a new form will tend
  to reverse its original characteristics.
• Television ? customized, disharmonious

6
The Four Laws of Media

• Marshall McLuhan