...What Does it Mean to be Human in an Age of Modern Technology? What does it mean to be human in the age of modern technology? Many feel that technology is only a useful tool and has not changed what it means to be human. Others argue that today’s technological advances have become so rapid, sophisticated and ingrained in daily life it is taking away from the interest, welfare and humanistic nature of our society. Most all do agree that technology has certainly played a role in humanity’s social and behavioral progress throughout history. However, to what extent technology really drives the development of our social and behavioral changes can elicit a heated discussion. Humans are driven, curious creatures that seek to solve problems and have a need for social interactions. As well they desire some form of system of belief (though not necessarily religious in nature) and aspire to be part of something collective or feel a sense of purpose to life. Countless studies provide that human behavior arises out of the interaction between individuals and their environment. Although environments do influence human behavior, many contend the basic tenets of humanity such as compassion, the need to have connected relationships and the desire to improve upon our lives have not changed in the face of technology. However, it is clear that human attitudes and expectations today are certainly very different than even several generations ago. Much of which, is a direct result of technological...
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...Click. Click. Click. As society is being consumed by technology, culture is changing. Society’s role is to help our culture grow as a whole. In our culture, technology helps communication and our whole society thrives off of new advancements. However, in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, the people that live in this story experience life a whole different way. Their whole lives revolve around technology. The characters never leave their house to experience reality and always have their eyes plastered to the parlor walls. Bradbury’s perception of culture in the society of Fahrenheit 451 and modern day society recognizes the chaos that our society is evolving into, yet contrasts the way technology enhances, creates our identity, and is reliable...
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...Technology’s Impact on society Humanity has evolved from the essence that separates humans from beasts. The ability to use the mind for reason. Reason is the ability to analyze, create, deduce, and formulate. It is reason that enables human beings to strive to invent; it is through invention that mankind has developed society and created a better world. We could say that technology is the sum total of instrumentally useful culturally-transmissible information. Technology is a word used to collectively describe or portray the advancements, abilities, creations, undertakings, views, and knowledge of a singular group of persons: we as human-kind. When there is talk about the relationships between technology and humanity, it is evident that we have to deal with the interrelations between some very complex phenomena. Technology, science, society or systems of societies, and systems of rights of a universal nature. The discovery and development of a large number of powerful energy sources-coal, petroleum, electricity etc. have enabled humanity to conquer the barriers of nature. All this has facilitates the growth of fast modes of transport, which in turn has transformed the world into a global village. In the “old days”, we used phones for talking to each other. That was it. Not for texting. Not for browsing the web. And not for playing Angry Birds (a nightmare, I know). In the past, technology was a bonus, not a necessity. We did not rely on technology to get from point...
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...Small Project 2 Culture means to cultivate, and comes from the Latin colere. Culture is generally all that complexity of ideas and actions that includes knowledge, art, beliefs, law, morals, customs and all the habits and skills acquired by man, not only in family, but also for being part of a society as a member. Each country has its own culture, which is influenced by several factors. Brazilian culture is marked by cheerfulness and joy, and this is also reflected in the music, in the case of Samba, which is also part of Brazilian culture. Taking that into consideration, we can say that many past cultures played a significant role in the whole world to create the cultures that we are currently making part of. The main characteristic of culture...
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...Technology and Social Change SOC 100 One of our best well-known scientists, Albert Einstein, quoted “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology have exceeded our humanity” that was credited in a 1995 movie called “Powder”. It is no secret that the advancement of technology is drastically increasing in a rate where it is almost impossible to keep up with. Many individuals believe that it is slowly taking our attention away to what is really valuable in our lives, while others strongly considering that it will bring us together and provide cost-effective solutions to our everyday life and industry field. Social change refers to a modification or adjustment in the social order of the society (Schaeffer 2015, p.392). This can be influenced by any traumatic event that took place, culture of the society and even the geographical location. Technology alone does not cause social change, but it is highly characterized related in different aspect of society across the world. It is inevitable to escape from social change because the society is continuously advancing in order to extend human capabilities by the use of different tools, equipment, and innovative software. The Pace of Technology, magazine article by Ron Johnston, states “Much of innovation is stimulated by the identification of new needs, which drives a search for new or existing technologies that can be adapted to meet that need.” Computer technology became one of the top essential needs following the cellular...
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...Construction of Youth Culture Introduction The purpose of this paper is to address the role in which globalization plays in the social construction of youth cultures. The phenomenal impact of communication technology on youth culture has generated a continuous debate since the 1970’s (Andrew, 2003, p. 1). The emergence of youth culture was a result of consumer market, which created diverse styles for young people worldwide (Grixti, 2008). Since the introduction of globalization, there has been a dramatic change in youth culture causing a greater shift within societies. As globalization rapidly changes, the world becomes more complex place for young people (Bourn, 2008). Therefore, a significant number of youth globally are having difficulties identifying themselves and finding their sense of belonging in this world (Bourn, 2008). Sociologist has provided strong evidence that globalization on youth culture has not only contributed positively to society but also have negative impact on the current global youth (Kahn & Kellner, 2002). To outline the aforementioned statement, the scope of this essay will confine on youth culture and the influential paradigm that contour youth cultural globally. The theoretical perspective such as post-modernism will be explored to provide a depth understanding of cultural studies. Altogether, this discussion examines the impact of globalization on communication technology and music and fashion industry of youth culture by observing different...
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...Culture: The Foundation for Technological Development Since humans first walked the earth there has been a focus on the inventing of tools and technologies to better the quality of everyday lives, and a comparison of life through the different eras exemplifies the impact that new technologies have had on society. Delving into various “evolution timelines” of technologies provides us with important insight into how and why new technologies are developed, and the impact that these technologies have on society. Portable music devices are an example of a development that emerged from a social need, yet have had a significant cultural impact. Looking at this example and the perspectives of various theorists we aim to explore the initial impact that certain technologies have had on the development of society and ultimately how culture shapes new technologies and media forms. Different theorist’s definitions of the term “technology” need to be looked at collectively, as there is not one explanation that can wholly encapsulate a true definition. Theorists have opposing views on what technology is, therefore their individual perspectives will always shadow their definitions to some extent. For example, Lorenzo Simpson’s definition of technology suggests it is “a constellation of knowledge, processes, skills and products [that aim to] control and transform”, this comes from a culture shapes technology perspective as it highlights that technology comes from the “knowledge, processes...
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...REFLEXIVE SOCIETY AND ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF RETAIL INDUSTRY Michael Adiwijaya Lecturer Staff, Petra Christian University Surabaya S. Pantja Djati Lecturer Staff, Petra Christian University Surabaya ABSTRACT Globalization is continuing process which could not be avoided by every nation in this world where the globalization trends contribute big impact toward society life and toward the development of retail industry. The impact of globalization toward society can be seen on the changing in several aspects such as economic, politic and legal, social and culture, and technology as well. Meanwhile the globalization impact toward the development of retail industry can be seen on online retailing activities and on the internalization process of retail operation. Key word: Globalization Trends, Impact of Globalization, Society Changing, Development of Retail Industry. 1.1 Backgrounds Backgrounds for this analysis are separated into two main parts; they are globalization trends and the typology of reflexive society . 1 1.2 Globalization Trends Globalization or the global exchange of goods and ideas between human populations is a process that has been existed for 2.5 million years, but that has been intensified during the last 500 years, mainly under the influence of the Western European expansions. (Schulp,2006). Every nation in all around the world experiences the process of globalization and its effect on the country and its society, starting...
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... THE ROLES OF CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY ON THE FUTURE OF ENTERTAINMENT ——————————————————— Patience Madigan TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………….. 4 THE ROLES OF CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE FUTURE OF ENTERTAINMENT 1.1 OVERVIEW ……………………………………………………………… 4 1.2 OBJECTIVE ……………………………………………………………… 4 2. DISCUSSION …………………………………………………………………… 5 2.1 TECHNOLOGICAL FORCES ON ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY … 5 2.1.1 1950’s ……………………………………………………………… 5 2.1.2 1960’s ……………………………………………………………… 5 2.1.3 1970’s ……………………………………………………………… 5 2.1.4 1980’s ……………………………………………………………… 5 2.1.5 1990’s ……………………………………………………………… 5 2.1.6 2000’s ……………………………………………………………… 5 2.2 CULTURAL FORCES ON ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY …………. 5 2.2.1 1950’s Mass Culture ……………………………………………….. 6 2.2.2 1960’s Counter Culture …………………………………………….. 6 2.2.3 1970’s Punk Culture ………………………………………………... 6 2.2.4 1980’s Heavy Metal and Rap Culture ……………………………… 6 2.2.5 1990’s Grunge and Rave Culture ………………………………...… 6...
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...Fundamental Concepts Society - Society is made up of people, groups, networks, institutions, organisations and systems. These aspects of society may include local, national and global patterns of relationships. People belong to informal and formal groups, within and between these groups there are patterns of interactions. Culture - Culture refers to the knowledge, ways of thinking, feeling and behaving that give each society its coherence and its distinctive way of life. Culture is demonstrated by the beliefs, customs, values, laws, arts, technology and artefacts people generate and use as the interpret meaning from their world and solves present and future problems. Environment - Every society is located in a particular physical setting. The attitudes and values people have in regard to their environment greatly affect interactions between the person, society, culture and environment. Environments present societies with opportunities and restraints. Time - Every person, society and environment is located in time and is changing through time. Our perceptions of time as past, present and future are also important for social enquiry and action. These perceptions draw on past events that influence our present. They need not determine our future. We can perceive a range of possible future that can assist our decision-making. Power - involves a capacity to influence others to follow a course of action or point of view they would not otherwise follow. Authority - Authority implies...
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... "The art of life lies in taking pleasures as they pass, and the keenest pleasures are not intellectual, nor are they always moral", this quote was once said by a Greek secular artist, by reading this quote one can presume that most philosophers and thinkers alike look for a deeper meaning within their lives and throughout society. Previous to this course my viewpoint and attitude were based on the people of which I surround myself with, the life experiences I have encountered and the way in which we make our decisions and why. Following my studies I have found this foundation of my knowledge to be valid and rather accurate although there are numerous factors which make up our decisions and how we end up where we are, studying sociology has assisted me in becoming more aware of different factors which I may have not considered to make up a society and how in turn this has enhanced my sense of identity. In relation to individuality and where I am in society I have found there are a number of entities which define me within the social order, that being of where I have lived in the world, the people I surround myself with, the cultures I have endured and seen, the values I was taught as a child and to this day as an adult and the way in which I come to make my decisions. Attending 13 schools and living in 3 continents over 7 major cities all over the world up until the age of 16 I found this hard to deal with as a child, the older I become the more I realise how...
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...Introduction The Internet is the decisive technology of the Information Age, as the electrical engine was the vector of technological transformation of the Industrial Age. This global network of computer networks, largely based nowadays on platforms of wireless communication, provides ubiquitous capacity of multimodal, interactive communication in chosen time, transcending space. The Internet is not really a new technology: its ancestor, the Arpanet, was fist deployed in 1969 (Abbate 1999). But it was in the 1990s when it was privatized and released from the control of the U.S. Department of Commerce that it diffused around the world at extraordinary speed: in 1996 the first survey of Internet users counted about 40 million; in 2013 they are over 2.5 billion, with China accounting for the largest number of Internet users. Furthermore, for some time the spread of the Internet was limited by the difficulty to lay out land-based telecommunications infrastructure in the emerging countries. This has changed with the explosion of wireless communication in the early twenty-fist century. Indeed, in 1991, there were about 16 million subscribers of wireless devices in the world, in 2013 they are close to 7 billion (in a planet of 7.7 billion human beings). Counting on the family and village uses of mobile phones, and taking into consideration the limited use of these devices among children under five years of age, we can say that humankind is now almost entirely connected, albeit with...
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...postmodernism was the most fashionable and debated topic of the 1980s. A wide and diverse range of social theorists have argued that today's world is organized by accelerating globalization, which is strengthening the dominance of a world capitalist economic system, supplanting the primacy of the nation-state by transnational corporations and organizations, and eroding local cultures and traditions through a global culture. Contemporary theorists from a wide range of political and theoretical positions are converging on the position that globalization is a distinguishing trend of the present moment, but there are hot debates concerning its nature, effects, and future. Moreover, advocates of a post-modern break in history argue that developments in transnational capitalism are producing a new global historical configuration of post- Fordism, or postmodernism as an emergent cultural logic of capitalism (Harvey 1989; Soja 1989; Jameson 1991; and Gottdiener 1995). Others define the emergent global economy and culture as a "network society" grounded in new communications and information technology (Castells 1996, 1997, and 1998). For its defenders, globalization marks the triumph of capitalism and its market economy (see apologists such as Fukuyama 1992 and Friedman 1999 who perceive this process as positive), while its critics portray globalization as negative (see, for example, Mander and Goldsmith 1996; Eisenstein 1998; and Robins and Webster 1999). Some theorists...
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...Purpose We propose that the university must hire more faculties from cross cultural societies at American University of Kuwait. This will encourage students from different societies to take an admission in AUK and consequently it will improve the university rating, profits and reputation. Secondly, the upgraded system of technology within University requires more qualifies technical staff so that to share the workload in an efficient manner. The human resource department of American University of Kuwait must plan to hire more faculties before September 2012 so that to include the fresh hiring in the new program. Problem with Current policy Being the students from different societies, it is our basic need that our culture must be respected. Moreover, we must have awareness about the culture of our co-fellows. As according to the current policy of American Universities, students are treated in an American fashion. They are taught about American customs and their norms. It is for this reason that most of the teachers are from America; thus making the rule of an American culture. Due to this selective hiring of faculties, students from other societies don’t get satisfied with the teaching methods and the course work. Secondly, there are librarians of the same culture and religion in the University. They are unable to maintain the high class collection of books, sources and links of other societies. A single person maintains the collection of books of all departments that is language...
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...IMPACT OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY ON SOCIETY Group Memebers Asad (13-811) Aqsa ( 13-720) Daniyal( 12-816) Maham (13-695) Usman( 12-822) CONTENTS Introduction * Society * Culture * Diversity: Monoculturalism, Multiculturalism Cultural diversity and harmony in society Cultural diversity and Conflicts in society Impact of cultural diversity on social institutions of society References Part 2 Cultural diversity and harmony in society. The word "diverse" refers to Variety and the Cultural Diversity is a variety of human societies or cultures present in a specific area. Understanding different cultures is very crucial for us as community builders. Regardless of what part of the world we reside in we have to work and build relationships with people of various cultural backgrounds. Cultural diversity is acknowledging, accepting, celebrating and valuing the numerous ways that people live and interact in the world .Basic culture of other societies cannot be ignored. Groundwork of this acceptance is that every culture and race has made a significant input to history When we read the word "Harmony" a question that most of us ask ourselves is . What actually is harmony? According to Professor David de Kretser "The word harmony brings to my mind a sense of happiness, as one might get by listening to a piece of music that blends notes to yield a pleasant, comfortable feeling without any harsh note that "jars" one's body." Harmony is...
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