Brass tacks

A media haiku

Casings on the ground,
medium is the message,
etched in those brass tacks.

Discussion

This haiku was inspired by the horrific assassination news of the United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson. Bullet casings were found at the scene with the words “defend,” “depose,” and “deny” on them.

Marshall McLuhan, somewhere in Understanding Media I think, although I can’t find it at the moment, makes reference something like the when the gun is used, the medium is the message. Since I’m curently studying all things McLuhan, this was in my mind when I heard the news. Which, also is another McLuhan reference. We “hear” the news because we are in the global village, where acoustic space is dominant.

Lastly, there is a perhaps antiquated American phrase, “Let’s get down to brass tacks.” These brass tacks are the tacks that would seal a coffin. McLuhan was a big fan of puns, often starting his lectures with them. So I particulary liked this connection of brass tacks sealing a coffin but also bullet casings are brass.

All of this to explain 17 syllabes.