[Dee Dee Halleck on Marshall McLuhan]

Dee Dee Halleck takes a look back at Marshall McLuhan's theories and their widespread worship by her generation. She speaks her thoughts straight to the camera, like a personal dialogue with the viewer. She says that upon further reflection, McLuhan's theories were actually very dangerous. "Those of us who know, who've worked with portable camcorders, we know that it's not easy...that we're busting our balls to change the world."

00:06Copy video clip URL After adjusting the video camera, Dee Dee Halleck begins speaking about Marshall McLuhan. She tells of how he made epigrams, and the number of people who consumed them. She then goes on to critique his epigrams and their influence on the critical abilities of a “generation.” She says that she “hopes” people “overcome that acceptance of media.”

01:20Copy video clip URL Halleck challenges the perception of McLuhan as an academic, noting that he worked for a number of advertising agencies and magazines. She says that McLuhan was integral to the success of Bell Telephone Co.

02:19Copy video clip URL “He struck the responsive chord,” Hallec says about McLuhan and his optimism. “He helped us with our anxiety about the media,” she also notes.

02:56Copy video clip URL Halleck analyzes McLuhan’s cybernetic perception of “media being an extension of man.” She says that this stance removed the active involvement of people who create media. However, Halleck notes, his epigrams were often use by people involved in activist media.

04:48Copy video clip URL “There’s something much more ominous there,” Halleck says about McLuhan’s body of work — ignoring any particular epigram. She also notes that history seems to have forgotten McLuhan, at least past his global village.

05:30Copy video clip URL The surge of personal camcorders, Halleck says, has driven a larger recognition of McLuhan’s work — as well as a misconception of what media is really like.

06:52Copy video clip URL Halleck turns off the camera.

06:57Copy video clip URL Tape ends.