To say we have entered the age of technology would be an understatement. Cell phones, laptops, television and iPods are all literally at everyone’s fingertips. Most would say that using these technological devices makes our society more advanced. People are able to increase the amount of work completed, communicate with one another, as well as entertain themselves, all at hyper-speeds. These aspects of this new age technology are definitely beneficial. However, there is a new problem developing from these hyper-speeds.
People are able to experience different aspects of life through technology. They can look at paintings online, they can live their dreams through shows such as “American Idol” and they can watch videos and look at pictures of places on the Internet. Some would say that this is a positive aspect to the use of technology. I, however, feel that it is fast-forwarding the depletion of our culture.
There is a certain sense of awe and appreciation that develops when one is able to marvel at objects such as the Grand Canyon or a Claude Monet painting. The sense of size, color and space give the viewer the opportunity to fully absorb the beauty. This appreciation is lost when these activities are experienced through technology. We are cheapening important cultural icons by ignoring the real thing and only experiencing them through technologies such as the Internet or television.
Reality TV shows allow us to live vicariously through those who are on them. We no longer have to aspire to become an American Idol because we have an entire show that allows us to do simply that by watching it. We watch them sing, cry when Simon Cowell has ripped them to pieces or feel just as victorious as they do when we find out that they have made it to the final two. We can even choose who we think should win. Yet again intensifying the false lives we are living through these people.
When you do not have to experience life in person, you cannot grow to be a well-rounded human being. How can people call themselves “cultured” when they have not even experienced reality? Reality is tangible, stimulating your senses. Reality is smelling, hearing, seeing, touching and tasting. This is why someone can grow and learn from actually observing and participating in something that is 100 percent authentic. Living life sitting in front of your computer, talking to friends on AOL Instant Messenger and watching television all the time is not living life.
Some would argue it is constructive to be able to view important works of art and famous places at the touch of your fingertips because not everyone has the opportunity, or the money, to be able to travel to historic locations such as Rome. This I understand. The problem occurs when technology makes us lazy. We know we do not have to actually spend the money to see the genuine artifact because we can fall back on the Internet, or in some cases, cheap replicated versions. Who is going to sit on an airplane for more than 10 hours to see the Eiffel Tower, when they can travel to Las Vegas and see the replicated version?
Shows such as “Star Trek” are thought to represent a time in the future. I, however, would not be surprised if we started seeing hollow-decks popping up next to nightclubs (making this future increasingly more realistic than one would think).
Experiencing life solely through technology is like making a copy of what real life should be. With each new copy, the lines become blurred, the letters bleed together and before long, you can no longer distinguish what it is you are actually looking at.
Jenna McDaniel is a junior art education major and a weekly columnist for the Daily Forty-Niner.
