Marshall McLuhan developed a framework to assist in identifying the properties of new technologies according to four characteristics, which he called the Tetrad. Your task will be to apply the tetrad to recording technology. Think about recording technology in relationship with music and sound at large.
Look at Edison’s 10 Phonographic Usages for inspiration AND other tetrads pertaining to the CELL PHONE and FACEBOOK.
Answer each of the four questions with one point. (Remember: there are no right or wrong answers – you’ll gain a lot just by grappling with these questions.)
1. ENHANCEMENT: What does this new technology enable, enhance, intensify/amplify or accelerate?
2. OBSOLESCENCE: What is pushed aside or obsolesced by this new technology?
3. RETRIEVAL: What recurrence or retrieval of earlier actions and services is brought into play by the new form? (McLuhan: “The content of any medium is an older medium.”)
4. REVERSAL: What characteristics does this technology reverse into when pushed to its limit?