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Question 2: Technology and Progress
What do you think the author was trying to say about technology and progress? Is it an optimistic or pessimistic take or something else entirely? Was this done well and do you have thoughts on his views in this area as protrayed in the book?
Comments
I think the main message I took from it was the inevitability of change, and the sense that there was going to be an irrevocable loss of individuality. I admired the way that half the time one admired the villagers for taking on the global marketplace, and the other half one lamented it. I guess that that theme (loss of local identity, I mean) is not the most original take on technology, but I thought that it was done well.
I think we have to conclude the author's take is optimistic, though cautious, about technology. Or at least it was when he wrote the book. Things probably looked less scary and more promising back then. In our current global situation, I'm much less optimistic. The college dropouts who never took any civics classes and think they are so smart they are above such things are now driving the change. I don't know why we let them, except I guess because they bribe us with cat pictures and instant friends, which we seem to want.
I would guess that Ryman's other main point is that technological change will affect everyone - not just the class of people driving it. I think the book was effective at calling this out, but perhaps might have been more effective as a warning to readers had the villagers not fared as well in the end. Why did it end on such a positive note if it was a warning? These things seem conflicting.
I did enjoy that tension in the book between loss and gain that Richard identified. Maybe there was no 'purpose' to the book than to tell a compelling story - in which case I'd say it was successful. Perhaps looking for deeper meaninsg is a red herring.