Marshall McLuhan was a Canadian philosopher and teacher who is often considered the founder of the field Media Ecology. He received an MA in English at the University of Manitoba and then decided to receive a second BA from Cambridge. In addition to teaching at several universities, McLuhan published many scholarly works, most notably Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. Other works include The Machanical Bride, The Gutenburg Galaxy, The Medium Is The Massage and many others. McLuhan was fascinated with the idea of how history and culture are modified and to an extent determined by technology. He was often criticized for his radical ideas. Up until his death in 1980, McLuhan's theories of media and culture we met with mixed opinions. Some considered him an oracle of the information age, while others, including some of his collegues tried to stifle his work. However, more than twenty years after McLuhans death in the 21st century, his concepts have become more relevant as technology has evoloved.

The documentary McLuhan's Wake, just released on DVD, is the first film singularly devoted to Marshall McLuhan. It is an visual and poetic journey through Mcluhan's life and his theories. It contains archival footage and audio recordings of McLuhan himself, as well as narration by director and son Eric McLuhan.

Eric's attempt to make the film stylized in a way that complements his fathers philosophy proves unsuccessful, however. The documentary does not benefit from a convoluted storytelling approach. At times the film is coherent and much like a standard documentary, while other times the director employs symbolic imagery and animated scenes. I feel that as the singular documentary devoted to the life and ideas of Marshall McLuhan, the film should stay away from unconventional or overly artistic devices that might distract the viewer from the information being given.

As we venture farther into the technological age, I think that McLuhan should continue to be examined. His bold ideas and ability to think outside the box certainly will resonate with me for years to come.

Currently on display at MoMA is Doug Aitken's sleepwalkers. The installation runs daily from 5:00 to 10:00pm and consists of eight large video projections on various facades of the museum. The video follow five city inhabitants on their individual nocturnal journeys. The videos have a broken narrative--no beginning or end. The videos are a continuos and intertwing portrait of the metropolis and its inhabitants. In order to experience the show, the viewer must circle the museum structure creating an interactive component to the show.

Doug Aitken, who lives and works in Los Angeles has a vast body of varying works, including photography, sculpture, video and more. His work has been featured in many group and solo exhibitions around the world. Aitken's work often deals with the relationship between architectural structures and their interaction with urban environments. Another concept he explores is travel and movement, and when they fuse with daily life.