NATS 1840 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Cyborg, Royal Enfield Bullet, Corrugated Galvanised Iron
15 May 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Nats 1840 lecture 20 - resistance to automobility. Resistance to the car in post wwii america. Post depression and war, car-centered recreation extremely popular. Car a symbol of prosperity, regular transportation (for work) and escapism, motor of economy. Elites criticized the culture of mass-consumption and low taste, loss of risk and adventure, homogeneity of commercial services, separation from nature, traffic. Pro-auto sentiment cut across all class and political barriers. Marxist critics: excesses of capitalist culture, distraction of workers. Illicit sexuality, remote areas, roadside motels, the car as a site for sexual activity. Cars portrayed in female terms, driving in masculine, sexual terms. Combination of car and driver: centaur in the 60"s, later cyborg . People feel free and equal as soon as they have their speed limit abolished, and horsepower replaces democratic conviction . Automobiles acceptable risk of death, cars were a, sanctioned form of violence.
