J. Robert Oppenheimer is a Jewish-American Physicist, who is called the "father" of the atomic bomb, and“leader” of the Manhattan Project.
J. Robert Oppenheimer becomes famous through the new media at that time (television), and he is a "dramatic" person with some controversy. McLuhan cited his opinion on children having the sense he lost, which inspired him to solve some of my top problems in physics, because he is a famous person and his thought be more persuasive and more likely to influence others.
In the book THE MEDIUM IS THE MASSAGE, McLuhan cited his thoughts about amateurs: "There are children playing in the street who could solve some of my top problems in physics, because they have modes of sensory perception that I lost long ago." —J. Robert Oppenheimer (93).
I think the main reason to cite the quote from J. Robert Oppenheimer is that he is famous and "dramatic." While citing a well-known person can be persuasive. Also, there are lots of people comparing him with characters in shows, so his story is somehow easy to understand. But specifically, in the quote here, I think a reason that McLuhan uses J. Robert Oppenheimer's quote about amateurs is that he is a great physics, but his top problems in physics solution can be inspired by children playing on the street. The contrast here is really interesting.
Here's the link for my powerpoint. research report
Wow! I never really thought about this quote in this way and why McLuhan added Oppenheimer in that section of the book. Now though, I can see the relationship between mass discovery and the simplicity of child learning and education, the contrast IS really interesting!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to learn today what this dramatic controversy is that Oppenheimer started! Controversy is what makes art, haha.
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