"Capitalism derealizes familiar objects."
Mass production paired with the ever evolving world of technology aids in derealizing what was once so commonplace and simplistic. Take for instance the iPhone. Is it a phone? An iPod? A camera? A laptop? A social indicator of personal wealth and social status? I believe it is D, All of the Above. On the brink of this technical revolution, a cell phone can no longer be just a cell phone. Cars, phones, homes, clothing, computers, etc. are continuing to evolve so much so that thier resemblance to their original "self" is far from what it used to be. And then, since everyone wants everything to be "newer/faster/better" there will always be something "better than the original"
The original cell phone, whose structure and weight is similar to that of a cement block (so I've heard,) is the "real" cell phone. The original computer, which took up an entire room, is now being replaced by the MacBook Air, which is thin enough to fit inside a manilla envelope. However, as generations pass, children of this decade will only acknowledge the three pound computer with as their "reality." But the mass production of this object will continue to deplete its individual authenticity, making it "less real."
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1 comment:
interesting, particularly in light of your habermas entry on "classic"--i'd love to hear you p;ush this idea a little further
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