Luke Egan’s Thoughts On Technology

Once upon a time, our lecturer Adrian said that culture and art is synonymous with technology.  That art and culture cannot exist without it.

So, this got me to thinking, is the new technology of blogs and social media really poisoning the younger generation’s ability to take part in ‘good ‘ol verbal communication’ or is it a defining point of our culture today?

In fact, while we’re at it, is social media forming a break between ourselves and others and the world around?  It is encouraging narcissism or just giving us a voice in the modern day?

While we were listening to Adrian he made an important point.  With all these ‘what if’, ‘but somehow’, ‘contextually’ type of discussions, it’s essential that we don’t take one side over another.  Sitting on the fence on complex issues surrounding technology is ok in my opinion.  Oh, and Adrian’s too.

The first area I found particularly interesting, as a writer and musician is this sense that culture and art cannot exist without technology. As per usual our lecturer had intense discussion (ok… debate*) with our tutors on this one.  The whole syntax question comes into it… is a tool the same as a technology?  Do we in fact need technologies for cultural practices or do we simply need tools?  And, where do we draw the line between what is a tool and what is a technology… when really, we have to develop and create tools to do these things which involves technology.  Wow, that was long winded, and probably very confusing.  But, I hope it at least sort of sinks in.

I suppose you can bring it down to something quite incredibly boring:  that all technology humans create has function.  E.g. paint brushes are used to paint, which produces art.

However, Adrian, I would like to counteract your broad statement here.  What about the human voice?  What about movement?  I mean, we can say that ballet requires technology, because in order to do some things we need block shoes to stand up.  And, we can even say that some people need a yoga instructor to do yoga.  But, the human voice is something so innately powerful, that I do not believe that we need technology for this particular artform.  Sure, technology is important to art and culture, and today I think we have developed an obsession with NEEDING to involve technology wherever we can.  But, this does not mean that art and culture cannot exist without technology.

I’ll address your other points in my next blog.