Discuss the following before next class:
Do new technologies, such as the Internet, satellite TV, computers, etc., necessarily mean the decline or loss of existing technologies, such as oral traditions and writing?
Consider the oral traditions of the Pygmies that we heard in class. How are these new technologies likely to transform these traditions?
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15 comments:
Existing technologies, such as oral traditions and writing, could never be erased by new technologies. These traditions are so deeply rooted in our culture, I beleive there will always be a desire for the older traditions.
New technologies will transform the Pygmies oral traditions because new technology makes their traditions accessable to the entire world. These old traditions would only be heard if you were there to experience them. With new technology, we are able to experience these oral traditions without actually being there.
Daniel Marcus
I do not believe that new technologies are declining or losing sight of existing ones. People rely on old technologies just as much as new ones- eg. Some individuals like to speak with others personally instead of using a phonetic or cellular device, experiencing a more interactive encounter rather than having a barrier between the two.
As Danny theorized, it will not change the oral traditions of the Pygmies so much as developing ways of sharing their traditions world-wide. Although, they may be curious to try different things if they were given new technology. As it remains, technology is allowing the world to be connected with each other, experiencing different cultures and learning how they live and interact throughout civilization.
As technology progresses forward the practices of the past tend to become, what may be considered art. Music used to pass on traditions and culture but has been superseded by books (and soon the internet).
If one considers the fact that these old traditions are in themselves advents of the human condition, then one could surmise that any tool, be it language, music or a blog is just the extension of humanity.
Old traditions generally never truly die. Soldiers still salute one and other even though they are not wearing the middle aged helmets and visors that created this tradition.
-Darren Neville (or G Neville, brap brap)
The growth of technology stems from the massive evolution of civilizations worldwide. Without traditions that lay the foundation for this evolution (such as oral traditions and writing), technologies like the wheel, the printing press, and the telephone would never have existed, and these new technologies are so dependent on old ones that they could not possibly be forgotten or replaced.
New technology has definitely made it possible for the oral traditions of the Pygmies to be carried on and remembered, however, one must consider the fact that these particular traditions have been passed on through generations and tribes for many years before the advent of recording devices. This has allowed for a natural evolution of the language and music of the Pygmies through subtle changes in nuance and tone during the passage of these chants and stories, and it's entirely possible that this evolution will be completely halted once recording (and other devices) has become commonplace among "primitive" cultures.
Lisa Zych
I think it's evident that we rely too much on technology whether we like it or not. The fact that we're even responding to the question via internet blogging is an example of how we utilize the simplicities technology has to offer.
In the case of using the Pygmies as an example of 'digitizing' their musical traditions, it has allowed us to experience a culture that many would not have the chance to without the creation of the CD. There's no question technology has been a positive connecting individuals globally.
Technology or not, traditions change over time whether we like it or not. As long as the underlying ideas remain we've continued to pass on the tradition.
Let us take advantage of our technological advances and explore what they have to offer.
I don't think existing technologies mean the decline or loss of existing technologies such as oral traditions and writing.
Old technologies such as oral traditions and writing have been essential for the spread of human wisdom and knowledge. They are more direct ways of human communication. People always need them.
New technologies will always come. But their development is somehow based on the old traditions and aiming at better serve old traditions. For example, humans invented new technologies to record some important oral materials.
Old and new technologies work hand in hand to better serve human; the Pygmies we heard in class is also an example. In this process, old technologies are not being substitued.
Karen Zhang
Technology changes everything we do. In North American culture, when new technology is introduced, we must purchase it, or become familiar with it right away, while it is still fashionable. Some technologies, such as blogging and web-based chatting, has been responsible for a decline in phone and verbal interaction. It has almost eliminated the need for a face-to-face conversation; People are able to hide behind their digital identities, and get a wrongful sense of anonymity.
In the case of the Pygmies, this need to 'keep up with the Joneses' does not exist. Their culture has very strong, primitive traditions that have been adhered to, regarding personal interaction, chanting and song. Thankfully, technology has allowed the recording of their music and thus creating the ability to share it with other parts of the world that would otherwise never know of the Pygmies.
I consider technology as a part of natural evolution. Has anyone ever asked this question that what was the medium of transferring collective wisdom/knowledge/experience (Not necessarily human- Birds, bees, elephants, dolphins and dogs do have a very limited form of language too) before language and writing system were invented?
For example, how does a salamander know that changing its color to green while sitting on a tree brunch will minimize its risk of being prey of any predators? Obviously, it was not that individual salamander’s lifetime experience; Ruther, this defense mechanism evolved over million of years, throughout generations based on collective/ compounded/ cumulative knowledge of ‘survival of the fittest’. So question is, how these information were passed over generations? It can’t be Brain or memory because brain dies with individuals. Anyway, the answer is DNA.
Before any concept of language (Oral, written or sign) existed, all species unknowingly used to store their life experience into their DNA in chemical form and the information was then ‘copied’ via genes to future generations. However, this process was entirely biological. But when we invented structured language or writing, we were no longer dependent on DNA entirely; Ruther, evolution experienced a giant leap as the introduction of mind/consciousness and ability to deal with abstract ideas ‘partly’ replaced biological evolution. Now, our wisdom and experience not necessarily ‘dies’ as our brain dies; we can store them outside of our biological body in different ways (engraving, cave painting, myth etc.) other than DNA or Biochemical process.
But, the point is, has evolution stopped in biological level? No. Similarly, Technology is an extension of human intellect/ consciousness and I think it won’t replace our ‘second’ evolution, our mental and emotional capacity. For example, calculator is a technological extension of our natural ability to do little mathematics in our brain. Yes, obviously it affected our ability to perform some quick calculations inside our head, but it doesn’t mean that we have forgotten how to add, subtract, divide or multiply as a theory! It is the memory and information, which are most important (to be passed down through generations), not the skill set or application. And since calculators are widely available now a days, there’s no reason not to depend on it!
However, those who won’t be able to adapt with the new evolution - ‘The technology’, will eventually left behind like chimpanzees couldn’t make it to become a Homo-sapience. From a political, socio-economical point of view, the term ‘Digital divide’ often explains the scenario where a major portion of the world population won’t be able to access all the benefits of technology.
New technologies, such as the Internet, satellite TV, computers, etc., do not necessarily mean the decline or loss of existing technologies, such as oral traditions and writing. Past generations have relied heavily on older forms of technology such as oral and writing as they have adhered to human nature and mankind. There is always an emphasis on existing technology as opposed to new technology.
Considering the oral traditions of the Pygmies heard in class new technologies are likely to transform these traditions by driving social change. Technologies such as the Internet and computers make it accessible for the rest of the world to be apart of Pygmy culture, traditions, and values.
-Muhammadali Jaffer
New technologies do not necessarily mean the decline or loss of existing technologies. Instead, new technologies mean an alteration in the way older technologies are used. It means a change in the way our society views the older technology. Society adapts to new technology.
New technologies will alter the way in which traditions are passed down from generation to generation in Pygmy culture. These new technologies will make various traditions more accessible to the outside world. New technologies will open their culture to new ideas, and therefore will alter their traditions and society. This change is not necessarily negative.
Erkant Qyshkollari
Present technologies are widely used in our world today. I personaly dissagree with the statement that new technologies are declining or losing sight of existing ones such as verbal and listening skills. My observation is so because, it takes one to first learn the simple skills of verbal, reading and listening communications to evolve further and use advanced communication technologies such as cellphones, fax machines, computers, etc.
Moreover, the older communication traditions will not, and cannot die. These new technologies play the simple role of tools for us to better and quicker spread means of communication in any form.
The way we use the technology influence today and how we interpret the past. In the Pygmies case the technology serve to the transmission of an oral culture.
Without the technology it would be really hard for a student to hear this music. Technology allows people to rediscover history, rediscover the world. It helps to an ordinary people to go to the past in few seconds.
The appropriate use of technology has a significant benefit for the whole society. Besides, oral history has a long history, including so many thoughts, life experiences since ages. People use the oral history sometimes naturally or know it with the help of their environment.
Therefore, the technology can not remove all this knowledge. As long as humans survive, each culture’s oral history will continue.
The technology will just help to find out the other oral histories.
Fusun Uzun
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