Extracts from A. Murphie and J. Potts (2002), Culture and Technology (Palgrave MacMillan)

This piece analyses the link between technology and culture, in particular how the emergence of new media forms, multimedia and digital media, are heavily related to technology. It discusses the ‘pervasive influence of technology [and how it] makes the issue [of culture] pertinent to a number of other pursuits and disciplines’. It further discusses what is technology and technique and how these terms are applied to the creation of media and culture.

They suggest that cultural ramifications of technology are numerous and highly volatile, often ‘making fools of modern day prophets’. They further discuss what culture is, discussing its use in history and its changing meaning. Finally, they link technology and culture to a range of concepts. It is an interesting piece, and relates to another subject I have studied (Popular Culture) and is relevant in its discussion of culture and the emerging form of the internet, in particular.