Jan 13:

I must now address an issue of some significance. Harold Innis. Here is a selected quote from the dear old chap, under the heading LIMITS TO UNDERSTANDING:

The task of understanding a culture built on the oral tradition is impossible to students steeped in the written tradition. The outlines of that culture can be dimly perceived in the written records of poetry and prose, and in the tangible artefacts of the excavator. Recognition of its significance has been evident in the centuries-old concern of scholars over interpretations of records. But the similarity of the Greek alphabet to the modern alphabet and the integral relation of Greek civilization to Western civilization implies dependence on the complex art of introspection. Individuals in different ages and nations have looked into the pool of classical civilization and seen precise reproductions of themselves. Renan wrote that ‘progress will eternally consist in developing what Greece conceived.’ Grote described the democratic tendencies of Grecian civilization, and E. A. Freeman stated that: “the democracy of Athens was the first great instance which the world ever saw of the substitution of law for force.’ More recently, Marxian interpretation has received its expected reward. The fundamental solipsism of Western civilization presents an almost insuperable barrier to objective interpretation of Greek culture.
     (Innis, H.A. Empire and Communications ©1986)        whoops there I go breaking copyright laws again!

I have come up with my own useful summary of the above dissertation:

LIMITS TO UNDERSTANDING:
Harold Innis.
     (Muma, D.A. Telling It Like It Is ©2004)

Wasn’t that a lot clearer? Now I might just be feeling particularly sore about this issue because we’re supposed to read (and understand) 100 pages of the man’s writing in the first two weeks of communications class, but I feel I have justification (beyond the mindless rage stewing deep within me) to make a stand. I mean sure you can figure out some sort of sense in the above quote, but the time required to do so transforms any eventual appreciation for what the man is trying to say into frustration and ill-will. And wouldn’t the world be much better if everyone was happy all the time? Yeah… thanks a lot Harold!

I gained great respect for my communications TA today when he cited Monsieur Innise as an important example of why writing style has almost the same importance as the ideas you are trying to get across. No shit. Later, while struggling through more prose more awkward than a hippopotamus tangoing, I found it quite intriguing, ironic even, when the article went on to discuss the idea that writing can never match the understanding conversation can confer. Says Socrates:

I cannot help feeling that writing is unfortunately like painting; for the creations of the painter have the attitude of life, and yet if you ask them a question, they preserve a solemn silence, and the same may be said of writings. You would imagine that they had intelligence, but if you want to know anything and put a question to one of them, the speaker always gives one unvarying answer.
     (Innis quoted it and didn’t source it. Maybe I should bring a plagiarism case down on his lame ass, too!)

And guess what? that actually made a lot of sense, and it was written down! Nice to see the art of writing has evolved so far in the last three thousand years, Mr Innis! Now to be fair, Socrates didn’t speak English and what he said probably sounded more like “abboo µa lampako du korakka Þakka….” and was likely translated by a kindly English gentleman with a monacle and a boler hat, but I’m not letting that get in the way of my rancorous tirade.

And now, just because the guy got his B.A. and M.A. at McMaster, they name a library after him, and we’re forced to study him as if he’s said anything worthwhile or something. Sigh.

Well, I must say that when Steph and I finish our forthcoming book entitled “Innis for Dummies” it should be considered community service in the form of massive stress relief regardless of any money we might make. Though I suspect it might take a saint to put up with working with Innis’ words for that long, and I don’t know that I’d call myself that. Interestingly, ‘Innis for Microbiologists and English Majors’ would probably be far easier to understand than what the guy churns, or rather churned, out himself.

I suppose since the old dude snuffed it (is now dead) it’s in bad taste to direct things of an untoward nature to him. And if you feel that way.. well, tough fuckin beans, Righteous McGoodster!

Thank you for your time.

(The above is dedicated all of the 300 other poor sods enrolled in CMST 1B03, who foolishly promised themselves “yes! this term i will do all the required readings for my courses”. My heart goes out to them.)