Reading Response #5

Ellie Garcia
English 100F
Reading Response #5

Cynthia Selfe, the author of “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution”, writes about technology and the ways in which it is shaping and molding society. She is writing primarily to an audience of English educators, and writes about the past and the media, and how it has shifted. She also writes about people and how their social status will determine their place in technology. Although it can be difficult to pinpoint her central claim she does have an overall thesis for her work. Selfe writes,” Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, an exclusive focus on the positive changes associated with technology, often serves to distract educators from recognizing how existing social forces actually work to resist change in connection with technology...; how our culture, and the social formations that make up this culture, react with a special kind of conservatism to technology, even as we laud the changes it promises to bring.” What Selfe is saying, in short, is that we follow the status quo, we want to recognize the good that technology has to offer, but we are distracted through it and we fail to recognize how society is reforming technology.
One of the subsequent claims that Selfe makes is the idea of the land of equal opportunity. This idea also branches off to say that it is available to all that want it regardless of race, color, creed or class. This land of equal opportunity is founded on the concepts of hard work and fair play in the section titled “Land of Equal Opportunity”. This land is available for all people that are open to changes in technology and lifestyle as well as competition. Especially when tempered by a neighborly concern for less fortunate others that are the hallmark of our democracy. Selfe uses the evidence of advertisements in order to support her claims. One of the advertisements she uses is one is where a Caucasian male is sitting by the fireplace with what we as a “white society” consider to be “man’s best friend”. The advertisement promotes a computer friend that will help your computer, and you be “as comfortable as an old shoe.” Basically what Selfe is supporting with this evidence is that we are strongly founded on the ideal of American values. We know that we must work hard to attain what we desire, and to reach our goals and dreams. And, in this society effort is rewarded regardless of social status.
A second subsequent claim that Selfe makes is that of “The Land of Difference”. Selfe claims that, “If technology is to improve the lives of all Americans regardless of race and class and other differences, our collective ability to envision such a world is not evident in these images.” What Selfe is saying is that if we are to advance through technology than the advertisements she shows do not clarify the want for this to occur anytime soon. Essentially, we must change these images and views before we can begin to see the positive outcomes of technology. I agree with this statement because to me in my own life personally it is evident that we are so influenced by the media that we get confused. I know that I can get confused, after all there are so many mixed messages. We should “buy this and sell that”, “do this and throw that away.” If these messages are confusing me, than there is no question in my mind that they confuse other’s at various times of the day.
Finally, Selfe covers many strong points on her paper in regards to where technology is attempting to take us, and what must be done in order for it all to function, and ultimately impact us correctly. How we must act in society, what views must be changed and corrected, and how advertisements are changing and must do so in order to catch our attention and essentially ensnare us. Ultimately, it will be up to us though to decide how we respond to the messages and how we choose to evaluate them.