CMN2160 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Spacetime, Staples Thesis, Understanding Media
Document Summary
Technology shapes society and can be a cause of social change. Emphasis from content onto emphasis of form. Innis and mcluhan both went to u of t. A history of the canadian pacific railway. The fur trade in canada: an introduction to canadian economic history. 1917 - innis was injured to the right thigh and was no longer able to serve in. War had a major impact of his view on the world: particularly the way that canadian troops were treated as a resource, he felt like he was treated like a pawn the army. He did his phd looking at the canadian pacific railway. Staples thesis (fishing, fur, forestry: staples are the core elements of trades and resources, innis argued that canada relied on single commodities, staples very much shaped the view of canada. Innis is trying to position canada as an empire - trying to move away from the staples thesis.