AHSS*1060 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Arpanet, Produsage, Substantivism
Mass Communication - AHSS 1060
Chapter 6: Communication Technology and Society: Theory and Practice
Perspectives on Technology
-How do devices fit into society?
Connected to social, political, and economic structures, enabling communication
across time, across space, and with an unlimited number of interlocutors
-Slack and Wise (2007): Technologies are inherently social and cultural; they are
products and practices that assume their specific form thanks to their particular
connections.
-Williams (1974); Technology reflects the overall organization of the society in
which it exists.
Thinking about Technology
A. Instrumentalism: technology is a value-neutral tool that helps us achieve our
goals more efficiently
B. Technological Determinism: technology operates according to an inherent,
internal logic; it can be explained without reference to society,
C. Substantivism: technology operates according to its own inherent logic at the
expense of humanity. We have become slaves to technology and our desire for
greater efficiency and control.
a. Ellul’s “The Technological Society”
-Technological progress exacts a price.
-Technological progress raises more problems than it solves.
-Negative effects of technology are inseparable from the
positives.
-All technology has unforeseen effects.
b. Grant’s “Technology and Empire” - Dominant doctrine of modern
liberalism: the belief that human excellence is promoted by the
homogenizing and universalizing power of technology
D. Critical theory: humans have choices regarding how they develop, use, and
engage with technology.
E. Constructivism: technology is socially constructed and shaped by social forces.
To succeed, technology must find a supportive environment.
Closure: the fixing of the device or system into a socially recognized object
Determinist illusion: Social origins and possible alternatives are forgotten (e.g.
QWERTY keyboard)
Socio-technical ensemble: any machine arises from a socially defined intention of its
developers.
Technology and Western Society
1. Technological Imperative
-The belief that we should continuously develop and implement new
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Chapter 6: communication technology and society: theory and practice. Connected to social, political, and economic structures, enabling communication across time, across space, and with an unlimited number of interlocutors. Slack and wise (2007): technologies are inherently social and cultural; they are products and practices that assume their specific form thanks to their particular connections. Williams (1974); technology reflects the overall organization of the society in which it exists. We have become slaves to technology and our desire for greater efficiency and control: ellul"s the technological society . Technological progress raises more problems than it solves. Negative effects of technology are inseparable from the positives. To succeed, technology must find a supportive environment. Closure: the fixing of the device or system into a socially recognized object. Determinist illusion: social origins and possible alternatives are forgotten (e. g. qwerty keyboard) Socio-technical ensemble: any machine arises from a socially defined intention of its developers.
