Por la galaxia Gutenberg (Through the Gutenberg Galaxy) - (The Surfer's Guide)(Spanish)

Abstract

Reseña retrospectiva y crítica del libro de Marshall McLuhan LA GALAXIA GUTENBERG (1962), un texto clásico de los estudios mediáticos, que versa sobre el impacto cognitivo y comunicativo de los medios de comunicación, la imprenta como el primer medio de comunicación de masas, y la revolución de las comunicaciones electrónicas en el siglo XX. Presto especial atención a la relevancia de las ideas de McLuhan para la comunicación en red, páginas web, blogs, etc., así como a las limitaciones de sus planteamientos desde la perspectiva actual.

This is a critical retrospective review of Marshall McLuhan's book THE GUTENBERG GALAXY (1962), a classic of media studies. McLuhan deals with the cognitive and communicative impact of media, with the printing press as the first medium of mass communication, and with the revolution of electronic communications in the twentieth century. I summarize or quote McLuhan's main tenets, and in my review I am especially attentive to the relevance of his ideas for computer-mediated communication, websites, blogs, etc., as well as to some limitations of his ideas which have come more clearly into view in hindsight.

Note: Downloadable document is in Spanish.

Keywords: Criticism, Media, Cultural criticism, Mass media, Media studies, McLuhan, Gutenberg Galaxy, Print, CMC, Print, Printing press, Books, Communication, Internet