Many of today's films of rebellion, especially those concerned with large-scale societal upheaval, can be attributed to the legacy of Fritz Lang's 1927 silent science fiction production, Metropolis. The German classic, set in 2026, examines the social crisis between the lower class and the upper class, or as Lang defines it, the workers and the thinkers. The thinkers live in luxury, in levels of the Metropolis high above the earth, while the workers, burdened with the duty of manually keeping the city alive, live in a level far underground. In this essay I will explore the film's characters and their acts of rebellion.
The film introduces us to a host of main characters: Joh Fredersen, an aristocrat who runs the city; his adult son Freder; Maria, a blatant rebel who desires to bridge the gap between the lower and upper classes; Rotwang, a scientist and philosopher, the intelligence behind Joh's conquests; and Grot, the foreman of the workers.
At the story's beginning, Maria brings a group of children from the worker's level up to the thinker's level so that they can “see their brothers.” She has a strong, intellectual presence, and, right from the beginning, it is obvious that she will be the rebellious force that, if possible, will end the capitalistic restraints on the world they live in. She's a most interesting character, as well, because until her appearance, no women are shown in the film. During the 10-hour work day, the men take elevators from their level to a level above theirs, but still underground, where the city's machines are housed. The women stay below with the children. Therefore, Maria's initial trip to the upper city with the children is an act of rebellion in itself.
Freder, the meek and mild son of Joh, is instantly intrigued by Maria, not only by her beauty and stunningly strong appearance, but by her interest with the upper world. After following her down to the worker's level, Freder learns, for the first time, the agonizing duty the workers have with running the machines. Until then, he had been protected and kept from traveling underground. At several points in the movie, Freder actually steps in to relieve a suffering worker of his duties. He's sensitive and pampered, yet with a kind heart and desire for equality that immediately tells him that this societal set-up is not right. Disgusted by what he sees, Freder runs to his father, questioning his reasoning for employing men to take on such toiling duties. “It was their hands that built this city of ours, Father. But where do the hands belong in your scheme?” It's obvious, at this point, that Freder aims to help Maria in her efforts to end the workers' struggle and to strive for equality among both classes.
As the story proceeds, Joh discovers plans scribbled on paper that insinuate that the workers are planning to revolt. Maria, the leader of this revolution, begins holding meetings in the catacombs, the lowest levels of the city, telling the workers that their quality of life is unbearable and encouraging them to do something about it. At one such meeting, she recites to the workers the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel, found in the Book of Genesis. In this story, a few men created plans for a beautiful, impenetrable tower, but they had no skill to build it, so they hired hundreds of workers to put the plan in action. But the creators had no concern for the workers, and soon, “The hymns of praise of the few became the curses of the many.” The workers rebelled against the creators, tearing apart and overthrowing the tower. The story is an inevitable omen foreshadowing the rebellious nature the city's workers would soon take on.
But while Maria wants the workers to understand the unfairness of their situation, she chooses to take a latent approach to victory. She does not encourage the workers to rebel violently; instead, she tells them to wait patiently, and that someone will come who will help unite the upper and lower classes. “Between the mind that plans and the hands that build there must be a Mediator, and this must be the heart,” she tells them. It is then apparent that Freder, the unlikely rebel, is the bridge Maria has been looking for.
When Rotwang, the mad scientist, creates a machine man that “never tires or fails,” Joh decides he has no more reason to rely on humans to run the city. Joh tells Rotwang to make the robot in the image of Maria, so that it can go to the workers and “undo Maria's teachings and stir them up to criminal acts.” Joh begins to exhibit his desire for the workers to kill themselves off. He doesn't care what they destroy or if they rebel at all. His main goal is to rid his world of them, and to put robots in their place.
Later, Rotwang captures the real Maria, and the robot goes to the workers in her place. This faux Maria has a sly smile and even appears evil. But the workers, who are easily impressionable, accept her as the true leader of their revolution. “I have preached patience but your mediator has not come and will never come!” she tells them. She insists that they immediately travel upwards to destroy the “Heart Machine,” the city's power station. The workers, joined by their wives, do so. Not one man or woman remained behind, however, all of their children did. Little did they realize, the destruction of the machines caused a flood in the lower levels, and all of their children likely perished. It is Grot, the foreman, who informs the workers of their mistake. “Who told you to destroy the machines, and thus, your lives?” he asks them.
When Rotwang tells Maria of this deception, she is crushed, knowing that the workers took the robot Maria's word as her own. She uses this outrage and anger to escape from the scientist, joining up with Freder to save the children who were left behind.
As the workers realize their error, mob psychology breaks out and their outrage is reverted to Maria, whom they hold responsible for inciting them to rebel in the first place. They track her down (remember that this is actually the robot) and prepare to burn her at the stake. As she burns, it is exposed that she is really a robot. All hell breaks loose and the workers are even further outraged.
In all of the madness, Joh breaks down, fearing that his son has been killed. It is the first time we see real humanity in him. Towards the film's end, Freder, in a heroic effort to save the real Maria, shoves Rotwang off a roof, killing him. It is poetic to see Joh, typically barbaric and uncaring, distraught, worrying for his son and wishing for his well-being, and to see Freder, typically sensitive and loving, fighting to the death for Maria and her cause. When Joh realizes Freder is alive and well, he appears to succumb to the idea of equality amongst the classes, if for nothing more than to please his son.
The final scene shows the foreman Grot and Joh Frederson standing face-to-face. Freder, the newfound mediator, steps between them, uniting their hands to shake. Alas, the mind that plans, represented by Joh, and the hands that build, represented by Grot, are united by the heart, the unlikely rebel Freder.
Maria encouraged rebellion through cooperation, with a non-violent approach that attempts to bring about equality through intelligence and patience. It seems to me that this type of rebel is the most effective. Freder rebelled against his own father, taking the same humanistic approach as Maria, trying to convince Joh that his opinions were unfair and unacceptable. It's ironic that Joh's breakdown occurred through his heart, when his love for his son, the “heart” of the story, became greater than his lack of concern for the workers.
Metropolis speaks volumes about society yesterday, today and tomorrow. It comforts me to know that the world I live in isn't the only one that has felt oppression and inequality. It also comforts me to know that the cycle of rebellion in such situations is inevitable, and that no superpower can continue forever. I'm grateful for the rebels in our society who do their best keep everyone on an even playing field.
Showing posts with label davies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label davies. Show all posts
Saturday, March 7, 2009
My "Wild" World of Technology
My Declaration of Independence
I wish to be free from those who tell me how to live.
Free from all forms of advertising -
television, Internet, print, and the inserts
I find in my daughter's Barbie packaging,
telling me to buy more of their products.
Free from conventional politics, religion and philosophy.
I want to find my own way of thinking
and I want others to think for themselves as well.
Free from name brands,
from Coach, from McDonalds, from Doritos, and Microsoft.
Free from traditional “jobs.”
I want to claim my education and find a career I enjoy.
I want to wake up each morning, smiling at the tasks ahead of me.
I want to help people who are grateful for my assistance.
And I don't want a corporate monster boss looming over my shoulder.
Free from America, the “land of the free,”
which has been tainted by capitalism, social norms and closed minds.
My Wild World of Technology
While I think Christopher McCandless pursued his adventure, as documented in Into the Wild, somewhat carelessly, I have great appreciation for everything he stood for and attempted to live by. McCandless took the greed of Americans to heart; he saw no need to live a lavish existence. In fact, he despised those who stuck to the mainstream, buying into all the capitalism this country has to offer. While I'm not quite prepared to go trekking off into the wilderness, I, too, choose to live my life more simply, foregoing excess and overindulgence. In this essay, I will detail ways I use technology to live a more simple, enjoyable life. While I may be known to boycott anything at the drop of a hat because I don't agree with the principles that lie within it, technology is the one arena I have come to appreciate. I don't think the business of technology is a greedy one. With all it has to offer, people are better off to invest in it and reap the benefits. Today, with expenses at an all-time high and income at an all-time low, I have found it imperative to make sacrifices to survive. Technology has helped me achieve this goal.
The Postal Service vs. Online Banking, E-mailing
At several points in my life, the U.S. Postal Service has had me boiling. When I was eleven years old, it tried to destroy the post office in Wakefield, my hometown. I took petitions door-to-door, begging my neighbors to help me fight for this establishment. Even though I was young, I understood that Wakefield only had a corner grocery, a fire department, and a post office, and I wasn't about to let one of our only three landmarks be taken away. My petitioning stopped the destruction of the post office. Fourteen years later, when I served as editor of The Pike County News Watchman, the Postal Service swooped down upon Wakefield once more. They had recently been successful in shutting down the Stockdale Post Office and several others throughout Southern Ohio. Their goal for Pike County was – and still is – to close all branch stores and send postal customers to a consolidated office, the one located in Waverly. This conversion, if completely successful, will have some residents, such as those living in Cynthiana, driving nearly 30 miles for postal service. Unfortunately, the U.S. Postal Service won their battle in Wakefield. The office was closed over a year ago and replaced with a row of metal mailboxes. Since, I've done everything I can to boycott this government entity. The rising and ridiculous costs of postage is something I avoid falling prey to as much as possible. I invest in online banking and bill-paying, and for years I haven't had the need to communicate with friends by mail; e-mail and social networking is sufficient. I just can't sit back and let the government charge me outrageous prices for postage, then shut down all of my county's branch post offices so that we have to buy even more gas at sky-rocketing prices in order to travel to the consolidated office that they say simplifies the business. Talk about fascism.
Downloading vs. the Music Industry and Cable Television
Alright, I'll admit it, I download everything under the sun. Music, movies, television shows, e-books, audio books, literally everything. I do this to send a personal message to the failing music industry and to cable television providers. Neither of these businesses have a clue how to be successful. The music industry fights its customers over the right to listen to the purchased product, and cable television blinds its customers with relentless advertising and packages with networks no one wants to view. They have many options, such as pay-per-play for musicians and a la carte for cable subscriptions. However, they continue to perpetrate a war against their consumers that eventually sends them to the Internet, to a world where, although illegally, millions of individuals obtain their entertainment for free. Corrupt business has turned loyal customers, who are more than willing to pay for entertainment, if the price is right, into pirates.
Open Source vs. Microsoft
When Windows Vista and Microsoft Word 2007 came out, people started complaining. Both programs are difficult to use. Vista is well-known as the program that asks you questions about everything. “Are you sure you'd like to (fill in the blank)?” is a phrase Microsoft users are familiar with. Not only are the security features on the programs overzealous, simply owning the software costs an arm and a leg. My alternative: open source. At home, I have two computer systems, both running on Linux with Ubuntu and Kubuntu, versions of the operating system. I use Open Office as my word processor, The Gimp as my alternative to Photoshop, Amarok as my music player, and a host of other free open source software. Open source programs are those created by individuals who offer up the software's code for others to alter and improve upon. No copyright infringement or binding contracts, the purpose of the open source movement is to avoid software that is restricting and demanding of excessive royalties. I'm proud to say that, aside from my use of the computers at the college, I've successfully boycotted Microsoft for nearly a year now. Now, my computer does exactly what I tell it to do. It doesn't ask questions or suffer from corporate limitations, viruses and other threats are unheard of, and best of all, it's absolutely free.
Advertising Blindfold
Thanks to my avoidance of cable television, I've also been able to avoid many of the impressionable advertisements of the modern age. I hate advertising. If there is one goal I have in life, it is to avoid being swayed by advertising at all costs. I further exempt myself from purchasing propaganda by using the Adblock and Flashblock extensions on Mozilla Firefox, my Internet browser of choice. These extensions block all advertisements from my Internet browser. I don't even know they exist. As far as junk mail and other forms of print advertisement go, limitation is key. I'm very careful of who gets my address; I'm certain to never give it away if I think the receiving party may share my information with advertisers. Once you live by this code of conduct, vultures become obvious, and steering clear of them becomes easier.
Other Ways I Fight “The Man”
Eliminating oppression by the powers that be is simple. I've taken many steps to be sure that I live my life deliberately, the way I choose to. Every day, I find new ways to cut corners, to save money, and to live by my convictions. I aim to work in a non-profit industry, avoiding corporate corruption. I opt for a cell phone and high speed Internet instead of keeping a land line in my home. After all, a land line would be the easiest thing for the government to wire-tap if they should ever choose to do so. I wear off-brand clothing; I wouldn't be caught dead looking like a walking billboard for someone I've already given my money to. I'm a loud-mouthed Liberal. I don't push my opinions on others, but when I hear a viewpoint other than my own, I make sure the party sharing their ideals knows there is another side of the coin. I suspect Chris McCandless would think my efforts respectable, although he didn't seem to be a technological kind of guy. Many individuals interviewed in Into the Wild commended McCandless for at least attempting to live by his convictions, for doing something that very few people try to do. I may not practice every moral that I preach, but I do live my life somewhat on the wild side, taking steps to personal freedom that I feel are vitally important to my existence.
I wish to be free from those who tell me how to live.
Free from all forms of advertising -
television, Internet, print, and the inserts
I find in my daughter's Barbie packaging,
telling me to buy more of their products.
Free from conventional politics, religion and philosophy.
I want to find my own way of thinking
and I want others to think for themselves as well.
Free from name brands,
from Coach, from McDonalds, from Doritos, and Microsoft.
Free from traditional “jobs.”
I want to claim my education and find a career I enjoy.
I want to wake up each morning, smiling at the tasks ahead of me.
I want to help people who are grateful for my assistance.
And I don't want a corporate monster boss looming over my shoulder.
Free from America, the “land of the free,”
which has been tainted by capitalism, social norms and closed minds.
My Wild World of Technology
While I think Christopher McCandless pursued his adventure, as documented in Into the Wild, somewhat carelessly, I have great appreciation for everything he stood for and attempted to live by. McCandless took the greed of Americans to heart; he saw no need to live a lavish existence. In fact, he despised those who stuck to the mainstream, buying into all the capitalism this country has to offer. While I'm not quite prepared to go trekking off into the wilderness, I, too, choose to live my life more simply, foregoing excess and overindulgence. In this essay, I will detail ways I use technology to live a more simple, enjoyable life. While I may be known to boycott anything at the drop of a hat because I don't agree with the principles that lie within it, technology is the one arena I have come to appreciate. I don't think the business of technology is a greedy one. With all it has to offer, people are better off to invest in it and reap the benefits. Today, with expenses at an all-time high and income at an all-time low, I have found it imperative to make sacrifices to survive. Technology has helped me achieve this goal.
The Postal Service vs. Online Banking, E-mailing
At several points in my life, the U.S. Postal Service has had me boiling. When I was eleven years old, it tried to destroy the post office in Wakefield, my hometown. I took petitions door-to-door, begging my neighbors to help me fight for this establishment. Even though I was young, I understood that Wakefield only had a corner grocery, a fire department, and a post office, and I wasn't about to let one of our only three landmarks be taken away. My petitioning stopped the destruction of the post office. Fourteen years later, when I served as editor of The Pike County News Watchman, the Postal Service swooped down upon Wakefield once more. They had recently been successful in shutting down the Stockdale Post Office and several others throughout Southern Ohio. Their goal for Pike County was – and still is – to close all branch stores and send postal customers to a consolidated office, the one located in Waverly. This conversion, if completely successful, will have some residents, such as those living in Cynthiana, driving nearly 30 miles for postal service. Unfortunately, the U.S. Postal Service won their battle in Wakefield. The office was closed over a year ago and replaced with a row of metal mailboxes. Since, I've done everything I can to boycott this government entity. The rising and ridiculous costs of postage is something I avoid falling prey to as much as possible. I invest in online banking and bill-paying, and for years I haven't had the need to communicate with friends by mail; e-mail and social networking is sufficient. I just can't sit back and let the government charge me outrageous prices for postage, then shut down all of my county's branch post offices so that we have to buy even more gas at sky-rocketing prices in order to travel to the consolidated office that they say simplifies the business. Talk about fascism.
Downloading vs. the Music Industry and Cable Television
Alright, I'll admit it, I download everything under the sun. Music, movies, television shows, e-books, audio books, literally everything. I do this to send a personal message to the failing music industry and to cable television providers. Neither of these businesses have a clue how to be successful. The music industry fights its customers over the right to listen to the purchased product, and cable television blinds its customers with relentless advertising and packages with networks no one wants to view. They have many options, such as pay-per-play for musicians and a la carte for cable subscriptions. However, they continue to perpetrate a war against their consumers that eventually sends them to the Internet, to a world where, although illegally, millions of individuals obtain their entertainment for free. Corrupt business has turned loyal customers, who are more than willing to pay for entertainment, if the price is right, into pirates.
Open Source vs. Microsoft
When Windows Vista and Microsoft Word 2007 came out, people started complaining. Both programs are difficult to use. Vista is well-known as the program that asks you questions about everything. “Are you sure you'd like to (fill in the blank)?” is a phrase Microsoft users are familiar with. Not only are the security features on the programs overzealous, simply owning the software costs an arm and a leg. My alternative: open source. At home, I have two computer systems, both running on Linux with Ubuntu and Kubuntu, versions of the operating system. I use Open Office as my word processor, The Gimp as my alternative to Photoshop, Amarok as my music player, and a host of other free open source software. Open source programs are those created by individuals who offer up the software's code for others to alter and improve upon. No copyright infringement or binding contracts, the purpose of the open source movement is to avoid software that is restricting and demanding of excessive royalties. I'm proud to say that, aside from my use of the computers at the college, I've successfully boycotted Microsoft for nearly a year now. Now, my computer does exactly what I tell it to do. It doesn't ask questions or suffer from corporate limitations, viruses and other threats are unheard of, and best of all, it's absolutely free.
Advertising Blindfold
Thanks to my avoidance of cable television, I've also been able to avoid many of the impressionable advertisements of the modern age. I hate advertising. If there is one goal I have in life, it is to avoid being swayed by advertising at all costs. I further exempt myself from purchasing propaganda by using the Adblock and Flashblock extensions on Mozilla Firefox, my Internet browser of choice. These extensions block all advertisements from my Internet browser. I don't even know they exist. As far as junk mail and other forms of print advertisement go, limitation is key. I'm very careful of who gets my address; I'm certain to never give it away if I think the receiving party may share my information with advertisers. Once you live by this code of conduct, vultures become obvious, and steering clear of them becomes easier.
Other Ways I Fight “The Man”
Eliminating oppression by the powers that be is simple. I've taken many steps to be sure that I live my life deliberately, the way I choose to. Every day, I find new ways to cut corners, to save money, and to live by my convictions. I aim to work in a non-profit industry, avoiding corporate corruption. I opt for a cell phone and high speed Internet instead of keeping a land line in my home. After all, a land line would be the easiest thing for the government to wire-tap if they should ever choose to do so. I wear off-brand clothing; I wouldn't be caught dead looking like a walking billboard for someone I've already given my money to. I'm a loud-mouthed Liberal. I don't push my opinions on others, but when I hear a viewpoint other than my own, I make sure the party sharing their ideals knows there is another side of the coin. I suspect Chris McCandless would think my efforts respectable, although he didn't seem to be a technological kind of guy. Many individuals interviewed in Into the Wild commended McCandless for at least attempting to live by his convictions, for doing something that very few people try to do. I may not practice every moral that I preach, but I do live my life somewhat on the wild side, taking steps to personal freedom that I feel are vitally important to my existence.
"Into the Wild" and Me
“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future.” (56-57)
Christopher McCandless took the initiative to change his situation, venturing into the Alaskan wilderness, where he would become one with his surroundings. It's ironic because he wanted nothing to do with his surroundings in the “real” world, where he felt plagued by consumerism and conformity. Most of those who speak of McCandless's adventure and subsequent death focus on one issue: whether or not the young man was mentally stable. Before I read Into the Wild, when I only had sketchy details of McCandless's story, I, like many nay-sayers, thought the man was a little “off his rocker,” and that his unpreparedness cost him his life. However, after finishing the tragic tale, I'm not so sure.
I was immediately overwhelmed and drawn in by Into the Wild. There was something so haunting, so disturbing, so passionate about the story that I couldn't put it down once I started it. To see someone so brave stand up for what he believed in, and to learn of how he lost his life to the very thing he was investing in, was heartbreaking.
McCandless ventured into the wild without telling his parents. He felt that his mother and father stood for everything he despised. A lavish life was not what he desired, although his parents were quite well-to-do and expected him to follow in their footsteps. On pages 21 and 64, McCandless talks about his estranged relationship with the couple, first telling his sister that he'd no longer accept gifts from his parents because “they will think they have bought my respect,” and later, “Once the time is right, with one abrupt, swift action I'm going to completely knock them out of my life.” It must have been so terrible for the couple to learn of their son's death, and hard for his sister when she realized this adventure may have been the “swift action” her brother was talking about. Statements made by McCandless such as this make one wonder if he knew his demise was imminent all along.
While many people criticize McCandless for being too unprepared for the Alaskan wilderness, I beg to differ. Yes, he took the expedition without a map or a compass, but he managed to find his way around just fine. And while critics claim his lack of knowledge about nature and hunting is what killed him, I think if McCandless hadn't had a mishap with moldy potato seeds, he just may have survived.
“Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.” (168)
Into the Wild meant a lot to me because there have been many times I've wanted to pack up and hide away from civilization. But I simply couldn't do it if I tried. I praise McCandless's name for his efforts, and I will never forget the story of his admirable protest.
Christopher McCandless took the initiative to change his situation, venturing into the Alaskan wilderness, where he would become one with his surroundings. It's ironic because he wanted nothing to do with his surroundings in the “real” world, where he felt plagued by consumerism and conformity. Most of those who speak of McCandless's adventure and subsequent death focus on one issue: whether or not the young man was mentally stable. Before I read Into the Wild, when I only had sketchy details of McCandless's story, I, like many nay-sayers, thought the man was a little “off his rocker,” and that his unpreparedness cost him his life. However, after finishing the tragic tale, I'm not so sure.
I was immediately overwhelmed and drawn in by Into the Wild. There was something so haunting, so disturbing, so passionate about the story that I couldn't put it down once I started it. To see someone so brave stand up for what he believed in, and to learn of how he lost his life to the very thing he was investing in, was heartbreaking.
McCandless ventured into the wild without telling his parents. He felt that his mother and father stood for everything he despised. A lavish life was not what he desired, although his parents were quite well-to-do and expected him to follow in their footsteps. On pages 21 and 64, McCandless talks about his estranged relationship with the couple, first telling his sister that he'd no longer accept gifts from his parents because “they will think they have bought my respect,” and later, “Once the time is right, with one abrupt, swift action I'm going to completely knock them out of my life.” It must have been so terrible for the couple to learn of their son's death, and hard for his sister when she realized this adventure may have been the “swift action” her brother was talking about. Statements made by McCandless such as this make one wonder if he knew his demise was imminent all along.
While many people criticize McCandless for being too unprepared for the Alaskan wilderness, I beg to differ. Yes, he took the expedition without a map or a compass, but he managed to find his way around just fine. And while critics claim his lack of knowledge about nature and hunting is what killed him, I think if McCandless hadn't had a mishap with moldy potato seeds, he just may have survived.
“Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.” (168)
Into the Wild meant a lot to me because there have been many times I've wanted to pack up and hide away from civilization. But I simply couldn't do it if I tried. I praise McCandless's name for his efforts, and I will never forget the story of his admirable protest.
Reactions to "Culture Jam" by Kalle Lasn
The overall point of “Spring” in Kalle Lasn's Culture Jam is to introduce the “culture jammer,” the hero behind the information war the author predicts is looming. Lasn details individuals, organizations and philosophies throughout history that have challenged popular culture and consumerism. He lays out his argument clearly and persuasively, and turns his reader into a jammer ready to take on a battle of his or her choice. As Lasn paints the culture jammer's portrait, the reader identifies with the intentions of the movement, discovering a desire to stand up and take action. The author's writing style is easily understandable and enjoyable, and he presents data in a no-nonsense manner that embarrasses the average American for being “cool.”
I enjoyed most everything Lasn had to say in “Spring,” but the item that sticks with me no matter what is the quote inserted after the introduction, which is referenced later in the section (123): “World War III will be a guerrilla information war, with no division between military and civilian participation.” This quote by Marshall McLuhan is one of my greatest fears. Information is what drives society today. An article on Global Research describes the Information Operation Roadmap which was released buy the Pentagon in 2003. Excerpts of the document detail the increasing threat posed against military sanctions on the Internet and state: “We Must Fight the Net. The Department of Defense's 'Defense in Depth' strategy should operate on the premise that the Department will 'fight the net' as it would a weapons system." This was preceded by the following comments from The Project for a New American Century's Rebuilding America's Defenses, published in 2000:
"It is now commonly understood that information and other new technologies... are creating a dynamic that may threaten America's ability to exercise its dominant military power."
"Control of space and cyberspace. Much as control of the high seas - and the protection of international commerce - defined global powers in the past, so will control of the new "international commons" be a key to world power in the future. An America incapable of protecting its interests or that of its allies in space or the "infosphere" will find it difficult to exert global political leadership."
"Although it may take several decades for the process of transformation to unfold, in time, the art of warfare on air, land, and sea will be vastly different than it is today, and "combat" likely will take place in new dimensions: in space, "cyber-space," and perhaps the world of microbes."
It's clear that Lasn's reference is right on target. Since our freedoms were written into l aw, they've been challenged. The freedom of press, speech, religion, etc., has faced us for years. Now, we prepare to fight for freedom of information.
Lasn says that most intellectuals like to talk, but fail to take action when they're concerned about a particular issue. He says that academics are to blame as well, and that while most university courses preach the ethical practices of anti-consumerism and free thinking, they never give their students any real ammunition to stand up for something. (116) I completely agree with this opinion. The generation I am from is preached to about racism, feminism, sexism, and all the other “isms,” however, I don't see many students inspired enough by their studies to take action. The act of teaching requires more than simply regurgitating information to a group of people these days. I praise educators at all levels who challenge the system norms in order to urge their students to become involved.
I found Lasn's description of the “emulator” on page 102 considerably interesting. I've always thought of mainstream consumers as “sheep” or “robots,” but I've never heard the term that Lasn introduces. The urge to consume is absolutely driven by the urge to escape one's own reality. People dress fashionably, wear make-up, have plastic surgery and dye their hair to become something that they're not. They drive Hummers so that they feel bigger than they really are. They watch 10 hours of television a day so that their imaginations can carry them away to a fictional life. Until I read about the emulator, I chalked all of this up to the need to conform; now I see it as the need to escape.
Lasn has big dreams, and that's what's scary. As a fellow culture jammer, I see the desperation in saving our planet, closing the gap between the rich and the impoverished, and in promoting free-thinking and the access to information. How do I jam this culture? I don't buy name brand clothing unless it honestly fits me better (like Levis jeans). I don't subscribe to cable or any other television service. Therefore, I don't watch commercials. I limit as much advertising from my view as possible. I accomplish this by trashing every insert that comes in my newspapers, by using Adblock and Flashblock extensions in my Mozilla Firefox web browser, and by boycotting radio. My entertainment comes in the fashion of downloading, where I choose the music I listen to and the movies I watch, and commercials and networks don't tell me which television shows to become hooked on. I also use open source software. My operating system is free, my programs are free, and I don't have to fear the threat of viruses on mainstream options. Best of all, I get to boycott Microsoft, which has been a goal of mine for some time now. I'm eco-friendly as well, and take advantage of both giving and receiving materials from thrift stores. My family has recently started limiting our intake of waste. We're taking simple steps, like buying jugs of water instead of bottles. Anything to reduce the amount of waste we contribute to our nation's landfills is worth it. Lasn says that taking these small steps isn't enough, and I do agree. That's why I'm aiming for a career in information technology where my voice can be heard more clearly. I'd like to work in a field where I can orchestrate the types of mass jamming Lasn speaks about in his book. I hope that more people take heed to his message, and change their tune real soon.
I enjoyed most everything Lasn had to say in “Spring,” but the item that sticks with me no matter what is the quote inserted after the introduction, which is referenced later in the section (123): “World War III will be a guerrilla information war, with no division between military and civilian participation.” This quote by Marshall McLuhan is one of my greatest fears. Information is what drives society today. An article on Global Research describes the Information Operation Roadmap which was released buy the Pentagon in 2003. Excerpts of the document detail the increasing threat posed against military sanctions on the Internet and state: “We Must Fight the Net. The Department of Defense's 'Defense in Depth' strategy should operate on the premise that the Department will 'fight the net' as it would a weapons system." This was preceded by the following comments from The Project for a New American Century's Rebuilding America's Defenses, published in 2000:
"It is now commonly understood that information and other new technologies... are creating a dynamic that may threaten America's ability to exercise its dominant military power."
"Control of space and cyberspace. Much as control of the high seas - and the protection of international commerce - defined global powers in the past, so will control of the new "international commons" be a key to world power in the future. An America incapable of protecting its interests or that of its allies in space or the "infosphere" will find it difficult to exert global political leadership."
"Although it may take several decades for the process of transformation to unfold, in time, the art of warfare on air, land, and sea will be vastly different than it is today, and "combat" likely will take place in new dimensions: in space, "cyber-space," and perhaps the world of microbes."
It's clear that Lasn's reference is right on target. Since our freedoms were written into l aw, they've been challenged. The freedom of press, speech, religion, etc., has faced us for years. Now, we prepare to fight for freedom of information.
Lasn says that most intellectuals like to talk, but fail to take action when they're concerned about a particular issue. He says that academics are to blame as well, and that while most university courses preach the ethical practices of anti-consumerism and free thinking, they never give their students any real ammunition to stand up for something. (116) I completely agree with this opinion. The generation I am from is preached to about racism, feminism, sexism, and all the other “isms,” however, I don't see many students inspired enough by their studies to take action. The act of teaching requires more than simply regurgitating information to a group of people these days. I praise educators at all levels who challenge the system norms in order to urge their students to become involved.
I found Lasn's description of the “emulator” on page 102 considerably interesting. I've always thought of mainstream consumers as “sheep” or “robots,” but I've never heard the term that Lasn introduces. The urge to consume is absolutely driven by the urge to escape one's own reality. People dress fashionably, wear make-up, have plastic surgery and dye their hair to become something that they're not. They drive Hummers so that they feel bigger than they really are. They watch 10 hours of television a day so that their imaginations can carry them away to a fictional life. Until I read about the emulator, I chalked all of this up to the need to conform; now I see it as the need to escape.
Lasn has big dreams, and that's what's scary. As a fellow culture jammer, I see the desperation in saving our planet, closing the gap between the rich and the impoverished, and in promoting free-thinking and the access to information. How do I jam this culture? I don't buy name brand clothing unless it honestly fits me better (like Levis jeans). I don't subscribe to cable or any other television service. Therefore, I don't watch commercials. I limit as much advertising from my view as possible. I accomplish this by trashing every insert that comes in my newspapers, by using Adblock and Flashblock extensions in my Mozilla Firefox web browser, and by boycotting radio. My entertainment comes in the fashion of downloading, where I choose the music I listen to and the movies I watch, and commercials and networks don't tell me which television shows to become hooked on. I also use open source software. My operating system is free, my programs are free, and I don't have to fear the threat of viruses on mainstream options. Best of all, I get to boycott Microsoft, which has been a goal of mine for some time now. I'm eco-friendly as well, and take advantage of both giving and receiving materials from thrift stores. My family has recently started limiting our intake of waste. We're taking simple steps, like buying jugs of water instead of bottles. Anything to reduce the amount of waste we contribute to our nation's landfills is worth it. Lasn says that taking these small steps isn't enough, and I do agree. That's why I'm aiming for a career in information technology where my voice can be heard more clearly. I'd like to work in a field where I can orchestrate the types of mass jamming Lasn speaks about in his book. I hope that more people take heed to his message, and change their tune real soon.
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