Difference between revisions of "325--2011--Week 2 Questions/Comments"
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The fact that individuals of the colonial period employed a mixture of self-sustainment and third-party aide and manufactures much more closely resembles the modern period than the stereotypical colonial “Jack of all Trades” model has and gives much more of a realistic idea of contemporary objects.-Nicole Steck | The fact that individuals of the colonial period employed a mixture of self-sustainment and third-party aide and manufactures much more closely resembles the modern period than the stereotypical colonial “Jack of all Trades” model has and gives much more of a realistic idea of contemporary objects.-Nicole Steck | ||
| − | Beginning reading McGraw’s article, I found the comment, “…secondary literature tells us little about which tools, practices, and knowledge early farmers and farm wives customarily employed.” Up until this year, I was never taught the difference between primary and secondary sources. I found it interesting that looking at ownership of these tools, and inventory lists was the way McGraw approach it to find out what she needed, allowing a direct look at the material content of technology that American commonly employed. I found it interesting that items need greatly at the beginning of the century were completely useless just by the mid-centuries, such as the example of the carts versus a wagon. At first a wagon was looked as a luxury then created into a necessity for the agricultural world. I wonder will items that we use everyday, such as cell phones, become useless by 2050? – Megan Gallagher | + | Beginning reading McGraw’s article, I found the comment, “…secondary literature tells us little about which tools, practices, and knowledge early farmers and farm wives customarily employed.” Up until this year, I was never taught the difference between primary and secondary sources. I found it interesting that looking at ownership of these tools, and inventory lists was the way McGraw approach it to find out what she needed, allowing a direct look at the material content of technology that American commonly employed. I found it interesting that items need greatly at the beginning of the century were completely useless just by the mid-centuries, such as the example of the carts versus a wagon. At first a wagon was looked as a luxury then created into a necessity for the agricultural world. '''I wonder will items that we use everyday, such as cell phones, become useless by 2050?''' – Megan Gallagher |
It continuously amazes me how our technology continues to reinvent and expand upon itself. American society has gone from spreading the "necessity" of axes for cutting down logs for a country home to killing entire forests so we can expand our lavish and comfortable lifestyle. We recognized the importance of clearing land for homes back then, and we've expanded and "improved" upon this venture for today's living standards. Ideas and society deemed "necessities" have been a priority that's grown throughout the many years. It's just interesting to see that inventions AND these percieved necessities have been elaborated in a similar process. -Stephanie Lipscomb | It continuously amazes me how our technology continues to reinvent and expand upon itself. American society has gone from spreading the "necessity" of axes for cutting down logs for a country home to killing entire forests so we can expand our lavish and comfortable lifestyle. We recognized the importance of clearing land for homes back then, and we've expanded and "improved" upon this venture for today's living standards. Ideas and society deemed "necessities" have been a priority that's grown throughout the many years. It's just interesting to see that inventions AND these percieved necessities have been elaborated in a similar process. -Stephanie Lipscomb | ||
| − | I thought it was interesting how McGraw approached early technology. She makes a point to detail what exactly technology could be/could have been which really surprised me with her definitions. Generally, in thinking of technology, I only really think of tools, but she made it clear that not only tools, but land organization, plant and animal behavior, and the understandings of both were included in the early technology of the colonies, just to name a few. It was also interesting to see which factors actually influenced the growth of technology in the colonies during this time, such as ethnic background, rise of the market economy, selective tech transfer from Europe, and how much the frontier influenced the industrialization of America. I would have never thought that the frontier could have in any way influenced the industrialization at all, but McGraw makes that clear in her essay. I also wondered why there was such a selection in tech transfer from Europe, but with immigrants from different countries, an established technology by one of the various countries is obviously going to be more favorable than some of the others. -Claire B. | + | I thought it was interesting how McGraw approached early technology. She makes a point to detail what exactly technology could be/could have been which really surprised me with her definitions. Generally, in thinking of technology, I only really think of tools, but she made it clear that not only tools, but land organization, plant and animal behavior, and the understandings of both were included in the early technology of the colonies, just to name a few. '''It was also interesting to see which factors actually influenced the growth of technology in the colonies during this time, such as ethnic background, rise of the market economy, selective tech transfer from Europe, and how much the frontier influenced the industrialization of America'''. I would have never thought that the frontier could have in any way influenced the industrialization at all, but McGraw makes that clear in her essay. I also wondered why there was such a selection in tech transfer from Europe, but with immigrants from different countries, an established technology by one of the various countries is obviously going to be more favorable than some of the others. -Claire B. |
== Leo Marx's "The Machine" == | == Leo Marx's "The Machine" == | ||
