Qixuan Gao

doi:10.18686/rcha.v2i4.4266

Medium is the Message: Examining McLuhans Theory in East Asia

Qixuan Gao

Abstract

This paper explores the importance of McLuhans media is the message theory to the dissemination of popular culture and regional influence in East Asia in the 20th century. By analyzing the historical process of the development of popular culture in China and Japan, the
paper illustrates the key role of print media and television media in shaping national identity and social change. At the same time, the paper
also points out the limitations of McLuhans theory in fails to fully consider the socioeconomic factors in East Asia. Reviewing the historical
process of the popular culture movement and spatial revolution in East Asia in the 20th century through McLuhans theory helps us understand the media influence and its deep-seated significance in the current era of information explosion. McLuhans media is the message
theory still has important analytical value, and its limitations need to be further explored in order to better understand the media dynamics of
contemporary East Asian society.

Keywords

McLuhan; East Asian popular culture; Imagined communities; New media theory

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References

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18686/rcha.v2i4.4266

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