Reading 19: Technopoly
Keywords
1. Ecological: The reading shows both the positive and negative aspects of technology. Technology is both a “burden and a blessing” (5). It also describes the effects of technology as “ecological” because it doesn’t just put something into the world or take something out of it. “One significant change generates total change” (18). The change of creating technology creates changes in many different aspects of life. For example, when the microwave was created, it did not just affect cooking, it also affected the time families spent together. The reading gives the example of the TV creating change in all of America: in schools, churches, homes, industries, etc. Because of this, it is practically impossible to consider all consequences when a technology is first invented.
2. Taxonomy: Postman describes the taxonomy of culture having three categories including tool-using cultures, technocracies, and technopolies. He explains how every culture used to be tool-using, but gradually transformed into technocracies. In tool-using cultures, the culture’s beliefs directed what tools were built and how they were used. In technocracies, it was just the opposite. He didn’t get into the technopolies in chapter two, but I’m assuming it is just when a culture is completely controlled by technology, so much so that the culture loses its authenticity.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you tend to take the stance of a Thamus, as skeptic of technology, or do you find yourself like a Theuth, viewing it as a positive influence on our lives?
2. What can we do, as architects, to make sure that we don’t become controlled by technology and let it influence us in a bad way?