Media To The Future

Herbert George Wells(1866-1946)is one of the most prominent British novelists from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century.His scientific romance When the Sleeper Wakes,published in 1899,is essential to his imagination of the future and deepens his thinking on socialist issues.Through the protagonist Graham’s visual and sensory perceptions,the novel portrays a highly technologized future world,revealing the distortion of humanity under the manipulation of power,money worship,and machines.In this novel,Wells makes a very detailed depiction of media and technology,to which Graham’s attitude has undergone sharp changes with constant observation and interaction throughout the story.The existing studies lack systematic analysis of the intricate media depicted in the novel,not to mention Wells’ s views on media.Therefore,it is innovative for this thesis to study the work from the perspective of media,which will also help to understand Wells’ s overall thoughts.With perceptions inspired by Marshall Mc Luhan’s media theory,this thesis examines the “Pan media trend” of Wellsian future society and reveals his vision of human beings and the future.The trend of Pan media is mainly reflected in the mediated things and the mediated Man.The first chapter discusses the leading material media in the novel from two aspects: the traditional media and the new media.It points out the Pan media trend of things in Wells’ s writings and his view on the impact of material media on human society.The second chapter focuses on the trend of mediated Man,investigates the mutual construction between Man and media,and explains the connotation of “Man as media” hidden in the text.It elaborates on Graham’s medialities and their embodiment by digging into his materiality and functionality.Chapter three explores Wells’ s speculations about collectivism and his vision of the future society.With the gradual deepening of self-awareness,Graham changes from an individualist to a collectivist,and finally realizes his ultimate destiny as a human medium by sacrificing himself for his vision of society.The last section of this chapter further interprets Wells’ s views on “media” and “future” by coalescing evidence from Wells’ s other fiction and political articles.It clarifies the primary characteristics of the Wellsian socialist view and reveals his vision and advocacy for collectivism and socialism in the historical context.