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The electric age ... established a global network that has much the character of our central nervous system.
Marshall Mcluhan
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Interpretation

What this quote means

McLuhan compares the global network of the electric age to our nervous system, indicating its integral role in communication and connectivity.

Marshall McLuhan's quote emphasizes the transformative impact of the electric age on human society, illustrating how the global network, akin to the central nervous system, connects individuals and disseminates information at unprecedented speeds. This metaphor highlights the profound changes in communication patterns and social structures brought about by technological advancements, suggesting that just as our nervous system coordinates and facilitates bodily functions, the global network shapes and influences human interactions and behaviors.

Themes

Electric AgeGlobal NetworkNervous SystemCommunicationTechnology

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about the influence of technology on society, one might say, 'Marshall McLuhan once said that the electric age established a global network resembling our central nervous system, reminding us how interconnected we are today.'

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The poet, the artist, the sleuth, whoever sharpens our perception tends to antisocial; rarely 'well adjusted,' he cannot go along with currents and trends.
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Quote by Marshall Mcluhan | QuoteProject