Lights, Camera, Action!

Historically, as humans evolve so do their technologies. Accordingly, with each new technology, new conflicts and issues arise within societies due to the advancement. Moreover, as humans are traditionally repetitive beings, culture and technologies tend to be repetitive as well. An important theme across culture is how technology repeatedly changes society and with each societal change; the technology conforms or adapts to the needs of the new society.

One important technology that has influenced America is the camera. With the advent of the camera in 1839, photography began transforming not only the art world but also the American culture itself. David Crowley and Paul Heyer, editors of Communication in History: Technology, Culture, Society state, "One of the key elements prefacing the transition to twentieth century society and culture was a new awareness of people, places and things fostered by photography.” (134). In essence, photography transformed our culture by allowing the public to have access to imagery not previously seen in the public realm.

Accordingly, as more people have access to cameras more visual rhetoric is broadcast across the country. An example of this is the sinking of the Titanic. Because of cameras and photojournalism, the public was able to see actual photographs depicting the aftermath of a catastrophe. Preceding the camera, such imagery did not exist. Importantly, photography began to evoke emotions from the public, ultimately desensitizing them to catastrophes.

In addition to desensitizing the culture to catastrophes, the camera is a significant technology that allows people to record everyday life. Previously, one commissioned a painter or artist to create an image to represent an aspect of one’...

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...e advent of technology like the camera individuals and society will change. In turn, the societal changes will cause a need for new technology.

Works Cited

Burnett, Robert, and P. David. Marshall. "The Look of the Web." Web Theory an Introduction. London: Routledge, 2003. 81-104. Books.google.com. 2003. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. http://books.google.com/books?id=SqZOzP2J1nwC&lpg=PA81&dq=Burnett%20and%20Marshall,%20%22The%20Look%20of%20the%20Web%22&pg=PA81#v=onepage&q&f=false

Crowley, D. J., and Paul Heyer. "Image Technologies and the Emergence of Mass Society." Communication in History: Technology, Culture, Society. Sixth ed. Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon, 2007. 133-82. Print.

Warschauer, Mark. "Reconceptualizing the Digital Divide." Firstmonday.org. 01 July 2001. Web. 15 Mar. 2011. http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/967/888