Artist and art theorist, co-author with McLuhan of Through the Vanishing Point (1968). Bob recalls Parker's boast that he "taught McLuhan everything about art" and rejects it; Cameron offers the measured version — Parker may have helped prompt McLuhan toward art theory, but confused the suggestion with the realization.
Across the dialogues
How much did Parker really teach McLuhan about art? — his boast, and Cameron's measured correction
Parker claimed to Bob that he taught McLuhan everything about art — that McLuhan knew nothing about it — a boast Bob flatly rejects.
"I interacted with Parker several times. He said he taught McLuhan everything about art — he said McLuhan didn't know anything about art."
Cameron's measured reading — Parker may have helped prompt McLuhan to turn toward art as a way of developing his thinking.
"What he may have done is he may have helped prompt McLuhan to look into art as a way of developing his thought."
Parker's real contribution was a suggestion, not the achievement — he mistook prompting McLuhan for doing the work himself.
"Parker probably was important to McLuhan in suggesting something, and then Parker confused the suggestion with the realization. It certainly didn't help with the realization."
His contribution to Counterblast disputed on air — Bob strips him of the design work and puts him at parties in New York, Cameron holds the line that the graphics were his
The received attribution stated plainly against Bob's account, and not withdrawn when Bob pushes back.
"That's what Harley did, the graphics."
Connections
Co-author of Through the Vanishing Point (1968); may have prompted McLuhan toward art theory, though he overstated the debt.