McLuhan and Cardijn having a cup of coffee.
In this era of growing mass communications, multimedia, and the rise of autonomous technology such as AI, we must discuss what we do in religion, including what and how we study history, scripture, culture, praxis (CST), etc. We must realize that a religious message delivered through a personal conversation is far different than what is happening in the culture, which is much influenced by the mass media. And what we do here in the Cardijn Reflections falls more in the personal conversation format. A mass media message delivered as a personal discussion differs significantly from one broadcast on multimedia, television, or shared on various social media, not just in reach but also in how it's interpreted and experienced. Our 'public' messaging often is more to the 'family' of Cardijn associates than the 'public.' Our role in this discussion is crucial, and our insights are highly valued.
This concept challenges us to look beyond the content and understand how the medium shapes our understanding, social interactions, and cultural experiences. The medium fundamentally alters our perception and interaction with information, and each new medium doesn't just add something but changes the entire sensory landscape. The way we communicate is as important as what we speak. In the Cardijn movements, 'Media' can be seen as an extension of human spiritual and communal experiences. Consider the transformative power of media, as seen in the scholarly work of the institute, which has fundamentally transformed religious messages - from oral traditions to written scriptures, from printed texts to televised sermons, and now to digital platforms.
We are in an era of societal phase change, and understanding the culture and its future by understanding the unfolding patterns is critical. As the great hockey player Gretzky once said, "I skate to where I know the puck is going."
Using the See-Judge-Act method to understand better where to skate. Using the Marshall McLuhan concept of the "medium is the message."
SEE (Observe): This stage is about carefully and objectively observing a situation or context. In McLuhan's framework, the "medium" through which we observe dramatically shapes our understanding.
For McLuhan, how we perceive (the medium) is just as important as what we perceive (the content)
The tools and technologies we use to observe fundamentally alter our interpretation of reality. In See-Judge-Act, 'seeing' is not just passive observation but active, critical engagement. It's about taking responsibility for understanding the situation and its implications and then acting upon them.
JUDGE (Analyze): This stage involves critically analyzing the observed situation and interpreting its deeper meanings and systemic implications.
McLuhan would argue that the analytical tools we use (economic models, sociological frameworks, etc.) are "media" that shape our understanding.
The judgment is about moral assessment and understanding the broader context and interconnections.
The medium of analysis (academic discourse, personal reflection, collaborative dialogue) transforms the meaning.
ACT (Respond): The final stage involves concrete, purposeful action based on the previous two stages.
McLuhan's insight suggests that the medium of action is itself a message.
How we choose to act communicates something beyond the immediate action.
Technologies, platforms, and methods of action are not just tools but powerful agents that can reshape the original situation. Your actions, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on the social realities you engage with.
Practical Example: Imagine observing urban poverty:
SEE: Using ethnographic research, community conversations, statistical data
JUDGE: Analyzing systemic causes, economic structures, and historical contexts
ACT: Implementing community-based solutions, policy advocacy, direct support
McLuhan's essential contribution is to remind us that our perception, analysis, and action methods are not neutral. They actively shape and sometimes transform the realities we encounter.
The See-Judge-Act method, viewed through McLuhan's lens, becomes more than a linear problem-solving approach. It's a dynamic, recursive process where the media of observation, analysis, and action are integral to understanding and changing social realities.
