English 3332 students:
For our Friday, April 1, blog, please read “Contemporary Period: 1945 to the Present,” pp. 950-53 in our textbook, before you post your comment of at least two well developed paragraphs. Please write about the influence of computer technology in America after World War II, drawing upon both what the textbook's editors say about this topic and on what you already know about it.
After you post your comment, please reply in one well-developed paragraph to at least one of the other students' comments.
Viewing for Monday:
Arthur Miller. Death of a Salesman. ASU library streaming video.
As was the case for The Iceman Cometh last week, watching (and listening to) a relatively unabridged production of the play, which is linked below, is essentially the same as reading it, so for Death of a Salesman, we will rely on the video. It is about one hour and 45 minutes long.
Instructions for watching the film in the ASU library's streaming video collection:
1. Click on this link: ASU library's streaming video of Death of a Salesman
2. Type in your ASU username and password.
3. When the web page for the video opens, click on the triangle play icon.
4. Enjoy!
Have a relaxing weekend,
Dr. K
The Information Age, thanks to the internet, is riddled with far-reaching upsides as well as downsides. Because of the anonymity of interactions and the unescapable feeling of isolation with the impersonality of it, the internet has shaped the minds and ideas of a generation and beyond. The isolation is felt on a personal level of human interaction, but the availability of new information allows for the breaking down of barriers that once separated cultures and tastes. Most people now have a limited, if not working knowledge of things that, in the past, were unobtainable. This knowledge allows for people to tackle subject matter even if they are unfamiliar with it because of the accessibility of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the text that literature nowadays, is not “escapist.” This commitment to realism forces audiences to face the world they live in, rather than to imagine a different one. One could argue that this creates a more active literature that calls for action, but I believe otherwise. The introduction of the internet has created a more aware populace around the world, and this is represented through the things that are written. Audiences have gained voice to their opinions which is heard by others who have gained ears to listen, but many people have lost the ability to act. Perhaps the isolation of the internet has caused a violent spread of a sense of futility or the anonymity has caused a general indifference, either way, many have taken their concern to literature (on and offline) and in turn, the audience of said literature has lived through the words of the author. Lived in the words, but not moved further with the ideas.
I love how you discuss the isolation that the internet and computers impose of society. I think that computers are a great thing, but we have to be able to step away from the keyboard and still be able to socialize with other people face to face. It is very easy to become someone you are not when you are not being seen.
DeleteWhile I believed that it was evident that the widespread use if technology and the internet specifically has bred a sense of isolation into the world at large, it had never occurred to me that the information that was being found on the internet could be creating a sense of futility. It makes sense that, with all of the knowledge of the world and it's happenings that can be found on the internet, people would feel an inescapable inability to actually affect any change on the world. The overall sense of futility has definitely bled into postmodern literature and made it less about escapism and more about confronting the world around you.
DeleteWe had similar ideas about everyone having a newer way to thinking and I really like that you said although we now have all these thoughts, we still suffer to take action! It's true that these days we can speak about everything we want in life on the internet but we never leave it long enough to actually accomplish it.
DeleteI really liked your last paragraph and how you said we are living with a "violent sense of futility." I think that describes our generation incredibly well. Everyone can be an author with the push of a button but no one is made to feel valid.
DeleteDirectly following World War II, there was a technological boom that continued well on into later years and has not slowed in present years. Computers, which were enormous and basic machines only of use to scientists, mathematicians, and the like, became desktop computers designed for home use. From there the computer developed into laptops, netbooks, and tablets, with each new iteration becoming more compact while also becoming more powerful. Phones, previously wired and only available for use from the use of the home or workplace, have become mobile and now have most of the abilities of a computer, all in the palm of a person's hand. These technological advances have served to make sure that people across the world, not just in the United States, are connected in ways they have never been before.
ReplyDeleteWhile people were more connected than they had even been before, this supposed connectedness has also contributed to a feeling of isolation while also promoting anonymity. It is said that the constant use of devices such as computers and cell phones are decreasing the amount of time that people actually spend communicating with each other. This can lead to a feeling of being adrift despite the supposed connectedness that technology is promoting.
Its a tad hard to pin point the differences in our responses because we are centered around one in depth topic, but I like the detailed mention of various outlets of technology that you mention (phone, tablets, netbooks, etc), because after World War II, we have advanced as a whole in this world with technology and the way we connect with people. It use to be a television, a phone, and a radio, now you can find that all in one on a single device such as a smart phone.
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ReplyDeleteComputers changed the world in the most astronomical ways possible this started in WWII when Alan Turning created the Enigma Machine. This machine was able to decipher Nazi messages. The Enigma Machine was the first “computer” able to perform extraordinary measures after WWII. Computers since then have allowed contemporary literature to come from an abundance of different means. We see literature everywhere. We all post Facebook posts, Twitter Tweets, and the ever growing popular blogs. This is literature and we all read it. We are all authors now.
ReplyDeleteNot only have computers opened up the world of literature, but have also allowed the news to travel faster. We are able to see live feeds of world events happening before our eyes. From pictures that came from Vietnam during the war to the suicide bombing that recently happened in Brussels. Computer Technology is now something that is normal; we couldn’t imagine living without our phone. America became a super power because of our use of this new found technology and our ability to use it; because of this technology has also become dangerous. When you think of the Contemporary time period and the age of the computer you see that it also coincides with an abundance of wars.
I enjoyed your discussion of the history of technology and how it came to be a major factor. I agree that we are all authors, now. This availability and opportunity to write and be read is truly a unique experience that only the committed authors of the past were able to feel. I view literature economically, however, and when the internet is flooded with text of varying skill-level and differing opinions, something is lost.
DeleteThe Contemporary period, was a postmodern period where the style and quality of writing changed into a variety of experiences from writers to be felt by many many readers. But this time period did more than introduce new literary concepts into play, this time period seeps into the already successful time period of the industrial revolution.
ReplyDeleteThe evolution of various technologies in the contemporary period after World War II helped influence more advance in the technologies, such as computer technology. With computer technology advancing, more things (such as news, writings, radio, etc) were able to be received widespread, in not just the United states, but across the world. This was especially rewarding for the writers of the contemporary period, because their ideas and experiences were able to finally be shared to a much larger and broader audience. This connection with computer technology has increased positively over time. And the development of social sites like Facebook is a means to connect to those far away from you
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DeleteI agree, with the advanced innovations of the computer, not only did the world get smarter, but it finally had a way to be informed quickly and efficiently. I like how you connected the use of computers with the effectiveness of the writers of that time.
DeleteAs we all know, there were many influences of computer technology in America following World War II. The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer or ENIAC, is considered the first true electronic computer designed to make US artillery more accurate. Forerunners of the modern computer were also developed, including the British Colossus which was used to decode encrypted German messages. Page 950 states “computers, once clunky, inefficient machines the size of houses that could do little for common citizens, became sleek, portal, cheap and finally indispensable household appliances that connect us to one another.” This led to computers and software that made work easier and more efficient than ever before. This process of invention increased after World War II and has not slowed down since.
ReplyDeleteAnother technological innovation that occurred during and after WWII was radar and sonar. The United States Navy coined the term RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) in 1940. Not only did RADAR help the military to detect unknown outside forces, they are also used in your microwave to help heat up objects. Civil aviation and meteorology have obviously benefited from the development of radar. Dr. Robert Ballard famously used sonar to find many significant wrecks deep underwater, including RMS Titanic, the battleship Bismarck, the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, and the wreck of John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 (bigdesignevents.com) Most relevant to people today, perhaps, is the contemporary use of radar guns by local law enforcement to detect speeding.
The United States after World War II was stronger than ever and although there will always be bumps in the road, it finds a way to keep moving forward. The technology we had allowed scientists to create the atomic bomb with the big "clunky" computers they had and after World War II, those computers became more modern, becoming something that every household could have and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that became easier for everyone with advanced technology and computers is the power to get their ideas out to the public easier. They now had the opportunity to publish their works and express their writing easier. In a way, I believe it helped people create new opinions and thoughts while hearing others with the technology they were given.
I agree with you summary here, the textbook highly commends America's progression of technology. Writers have an advantage through the use of internet to demonstrate their works, however the internet is also a disadvantage for them. It's distracting and creates more images in the minds of the reader. Written literature does not assuage the reader from it's original stand point. However, it is a wonderful idea that you can easily access literature from the internet and through the use of ebooks.
DeleteExactly, this new technology opens up the minds of this generation that the past would have never come to think of. Gay writers and women of literature would have never been taken seriously or even a response for that matter.It is a lot easier to become "known" in this world. By the click of one finger, you can share something with entire universe. Pretty mind boggling if you ask me but pure excellence.
DeleteAfter World War II, the nation had experienced a technological boom that has continuously strived over the years to today. We are living in the Information age where our information solely relies from the media and from the internet. The internet is shaping the minds of future generations and shaped the minds of past generations. It is a scary thought, what is seen on the internet is sometimes and majority false. The textbook warns us of the factors, however on the other side, the internet is a great advantage, helping the nation to further educate themselves and allow for more freedom
ReplyDeleteThe textbook also mentions that computers were once the size of houses mainly used by the government or math purposes. Throughout the years, computers have evolved into more complex and technical devices. From the huge computer, there was the slighter smaller version of that, to the desktop computer that was famously found in the 1990s, to a smaller version computer called the laptop, and finally in nowadays we see tablets, and iPads. Mobile devices are just the same. From the telephones that have cords to mobile touch screen, smart phone, technology has advanced and America wouldn't be the nation it is now without these advances. However, each system has a fault, the textbook mentions that through the growth of technology and the use of the internet, it's supposed purpose was to keep everyone connected through Facebook, Twitter, and etc, but more people are becoming disconnected from one another, the amount of time people spend on Facebook is actually causing a decrease in communication. Lastly, I believe the textbook to command American's progression on technology, but also warns it's citizens to focus less on the internet and more on literature and what people have to say and write about.
Following World War II, the United States was the most powerful nation. The technology became advanced, high, and popular. Most computer desktops, which were the size of a small child, became laptops, slimmer, and mobile. The Information Age was suddenly upon us, and technology has become something that Americans (and most of the rest of the world) have embraced: by the middle of the booming 1990s the future had arrived, and now seems to keep reinventing itself everyday(950).
ReplyDeleteComputers, phones, appliances, and every other technology developed in this "smart" world, has grown drastically in the last few decades. We are now capable of communicating with anybody all over the world, when in the 1950s, Supreme Courts were separating education between whites and blacks. Also, this technology advancement has helped wars, poverty, and cultures within the US and around the world.
I like how you applied it to today's world and how much the technological progress has shaped our world today. It's true, we've grown tremendously in the past fifty years. From having our first President of color to communicating around the world, technology and progress has helped in more ways than one.
DeleteAt the beginning of this time period, big changes were happening. Wars were ending, scandals were happening, and technology was arising. The computer was on its way into homes and phones became cordless and mobile. The chronology change scared some people as does any big change does but it was also embraced. Information was easier to come by and literary artists had new outlets of publishing.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the view on technology could also be seen as scary to some people. Technology had helped created weapons of mass destruction that terrorized and obliterated many places during the war. School shootings and bomb threats became more prevalent in later times as technology progressed. Our textbook states, "we are connected all the time, and yet, rapidly accelerating technology can have the effect of intensifying isolation or anonymity." While we can feel very connected and safe, there is also a feeling of terror and lonesomeness.
In our effort to connect the world, we have created an alternate world-the world of the internet. This world is in fact many worlds, onefor each person that is disconnected to a lesser or greater degree from our actual lives. We have used computer techonolgy and the internet to realize on a new plane Henri Bergson's idea of each person living in their own world. The difference is that now instead of each person having one interior world all their own, they have at least two, and these are not fully connected. This "Bergsonian Schizophrenia" is expressed both in things people publish online they would never publish in real life and in the use of the internet world in general.
DeleteComputer Technology has hurt the writing of contemporary America as well as helping it.
ReplyDeleteTo start with, computer and smart phone technology has helped contemporary literature by making it more accessible for authors and readers. The relative anonymity of internet publishing has made it easier for people to say things in writing they might not have had the courage to previously. Also, the ability to publish views on the internet has given authors independence from editors and publishers. Thus, views that have in past times been censored based either on content or probability or prejudice, etc. are now entering the world of contemporary literature. Blogs and internet articles are also much easier and cheaper to access for people. As an ardent lover of physical books, I have nevertheless purchased several audiobooks because I did not want to wait for a book to arrive if I ordered it online. I had to read it right away. Instant access is an advantage of this age of computers.
However, computer technology has also hurt us because it has created impatience on the part of readers. In our world of high-speed downloads, etc. we can get much information with a simple Google search, but this has led us to be too impatient to expend the effort to think critically or do deep research. Because of this, media such as blogs tend to deal only superficially even with important concepts. Because few will read or take the time to understand well-developed articles that require time and critical thinking, people are not writing at that level. Thus, I think computers have hurt us by damaging our intellectual discipline as readers and thereby pushing authors to over-simplify to meet their audiences' expectations.
To conclude I believe the advent of computer technology is a mixed blessing. Certainly, like the printing press before it, it has done much to help the dissemination of knowledge and ideas, but it has hurt us by robbing us of the patience and motivation to make the effort needed to achieve thorough understanding and treatment of subject matter.
I agree that the Internet has done as much to harm literature as it has to help it. With all the new young writers given a better chance at discovery through Internet publishing, there are very few who have actually come around as commercially successful or critically adored, giving contemporary literature more of a "quantity over quality" feel than the eras that came before it.
DeleteBe it through blogs, Facebook, Twitter, or even Youtube, Americans in this day and age are constantly in contact with one another, even if they're physically hundreds of miles away. The creation of the Internet has made communication easier in the past two decades than it has in the past two centuries - and yet, we're somehow more isolated than we've ever been. Today's image of a stereotypical loner is no longer the elderly couple that lives alone miles outside of the nearest town - who talk only with the same one store clerk when they go out once every week - but the young adult who sits in his house and communicates with hundreds of people every day via various Internet blogs. It's the anonymity that comes with such massive exposure which gives us this growing feeling, which has become the focal point of much of the contemporary literature we read today.
ReplyDeleteSince their invention in World War II, computers have become an incredibly useful part of society. As the book pus it “computers, once clunky, inefficient machines the size of houses that could do little for common citizens, became sleek, portable, cheap, and finally indispensible household appliances” (950). They have been integrated into everything: schools, universities, homes, phones, et cetera. Digital books might one day take over English classes. They are incredibly useful and they have shaped the modern day society. Information is readily available at all times with the integration of computers into society. The change of the times has also changed literature and publishing.
ReplyDeleteWith the integration of computers into society, it is so easy to quickly publish things. Because of the desire for information immediately, “publishers now offer e-books that can be downloaded instantly” (951). People need instant gratification and publishers deliver. You “can hold libraries in the palms of our hands” (951) with how readily available everything is now with computers.
I really agree with you on how you mentioned that people require instant gratification these days and due to technological advances we are able to fulfill those needs.
DeleteFollowing the end of World War II the United Steas surfaced as the most powerful nation in the world. During the extent of the war the United States was able to it's technological advances to produce the atomic bomb. The United States was able to suceed in this advancement due to the fact that American factories were quickly able to convert to making guns and tanks during wartime to aid the effort, American cities were untouched by the devastation of war unlike the opponents, and american factories and farms were proven crucial to the victory of it's Allies military. Also American engineers discussed the topic of producing essentially free power through atmoic fission.
ReplyDeleteHowever, after the war and by the mid1970's the United States began to see its decline with conflivts in human rights, war and poverty. Although by the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century the United States had pnce again began to see even more technological advancesthat would change the landscape of the country. " However the principle of the information age is that we are all connected, all the time; and yet reapidly accelearating technology can have the effect of intensifyingisolation or anonymity" (950). Following the end of the Cold War, the United States rose once again as a global super power. With this computer and cell phones became efficient, portable devices that had finally became useful and beneficial to the public. " The Information Age was suddenly upon us, and technology has become something that Americans (and most of the rest of the world) have embraced: by the middle of the booming 1990's the future had arrived, and now seems to keep reinventing itself every day " (950). The decades following the World War II led to many advances in computer technology in our society due to cultural changes, outcomes of war and the everchanging landscape of our country.
People have definitely embraced technology, you are right! EVERYONE has a cell phone (smart phone, most likely), a computer, a tablet, and even smart TVs! Technology is every where and becomes more and more prevalent every single day. It connects us and divides us all at the same time.
DeleteMajor technological advances began happening after World War II, and are still happening today. As described by the textbook, "The validation of all human experience through writing is more nearly possible than ever before in American history" (951). The Information Age has connected humans more than ever, but it has also isolated us. Literature today is available every where- facebook, twitter, e-books, online journals. However this literature is not necessarily comforting or unifying (951). This leads to feelings of isolation. There are more ways now than ever to witness human experience, but it isn't always a happy experience. Contemporary literature is blunt (951). It does not allow you to live in a fantasy land.
ReplyDeleteHuman connection via computers is not always a good thing. Humans everyday become "keyboard warriors" thanks to the internet. This "connection" also has us very divided. People see something they are offended by, and thanks to the anonymity of the internet, people can engage in arguments to "defend" themselves.
Technology has advanced the world of literature for the good and the bad. It gives us insight to anything and everything all over the world and connects humans everywhere. Yet, there are still feelings of isolation.