GROUP ESSAY
From the beginning of the 20th century to modern day, mankind created the first airplanes, silent films, and global networks of communication from the internet. However, it also saw the exploitation of workers and nuclear power. These events and inventions exemplify the increase in technology and industry of the time period, stemming from more efficient mass production and interconnectivity between consumers and manufacturers.
The invention of the airplane by the Wright brothers was the first true defiance of mankind against human nature. Normal citizens were suddenly able to take to the sky, opening a door to new, fantastical opportunities, but also grave destruction. Trained pilots were able to travel quickly from continent to continent, transporting goods or other passengers, in a way that was unprecedented in terms of speed and efficiency. However, this new invention was quickly turned into a war machine. Planes were equipped with machine guns and bombs, and, coupled with the advent of nuclear technology, humans had a new destructive capability that had never been seen before.
The discovery of nuclear fission unleashed an untapped source of power. This tremendous power would go onto power society and technologies today, as it currently provides approximately 20% of the world’s power. This power also has the ability to destroy humanity itself in the creation of the atomic bomb and coupled with the increased mobility with the Wright Brother’s plane a solution had to be made to avoid the destruction of humanity.
The Cuban Missile Crisis is an example of an event at a global scale that depicts the role of atomic weaponry in increased international hostility and competition for world power. The United States and the Soviet Union are two nations that clashed in an effort to surpass each other in terms of nuclear capabilities. While the Crisis involved a tense alternating one-upmanship between the two world powers, the objective of both parties in avoiding a nuclear war could not have been more imperative. It was due to this proxy war that the critical issue of communication between nations became prioritized. In an effort to resolve this issue and reduce the possibility of a nuclear war, including one unintentional, the Moscow-Washington Hotline was devised. The communication link, also known as the nuclear hotline, facilitated a direct and swift mode of contact between the leaders of the United States and Russia.
The rise of silent films introduced a new form of entertainment to the public. People were now able to visualize all the things they only thought was possible within their imaginations. Slapstick, the most common style of comedy where the protagonist usually endures violent tricks and/or absurd situations, just so happened to be Charlie Chaplin’s talent. Through it, he was able to make his character, The Tramp, connect with the everyday man. However, as technology advanced, Chaplin thought it would be crucial to make the movie, Modern Times, as to show the audience how people began to lose their humanity by uniting with the machines; he took it as far as to to ruin the image of the Tramp by giving him a voice, due to the demand of audio within his movies and conforming to the new technology.
Almost every aspect of modern life is influenced by the World Wide Web. The rise of the web caused an information explosion, which is why the era we live in today is often referred to as the Information Age. This relatively new invention, which came about in 1989, revolutionized the way humans interact with each other. The web is both a cause and effect of the trends we see regarding industry and technology in the 20th century. Its creation was a result of the ability to mass produce the parts needed for the web to operate. In addition, it was an answer to the general mass’ desire to be able to communicate their thoughts in an easier and more efficient way. At the same time, the web is also an instrumental tool used to manufacture goods in a more streamlined manner. Because the web creates a platform for diverse groups of people to interact, it is easier than ever for consumers to directly communicate with the producers. However, like many inventions originally intended to make life easier, the web has numerous applications that can be used in a malicious fashion.
The discussed events and inventions exemplify the increase in technology and industry of the 20th century, stemming from more efficient mass production and interconnectivity between consumers and manufacturers. We lose our humanity as we take to the skies, gain the power to destroy ourselves, and create an almost telepathic-alien communication in seconds.
The invention of the airplane by the Wright brothers was the first true defiance of mankind against human nature. Normal citizens were suddenly able to take to the sky, opening a door to new, fantastical opportunities, but also grave destruction. Trained pilots were able to travel quickly from continent to continent, transporting goods or other passengers, in a way that was unprecedented in terms of speed and efficiency. However, this new invention was quickly turned into a war machine. Planes were equipped with machine guns and bombs, and, coupled with the advent of nuclear technology, humans had a new destructive capability that had never been seen before.
The discovery of nuclear fission unleashed an untapped source of power. This tremendous power would go onto power society and technologies today, as it currently provides approximately 20% of the world’s power. This power also has the ability to destroy humanity itself in the creation of the atomic bomb and coupled with the increased mobility with the Wright Brother’s plane a solution had to be made to avoid the destruction of humanity.
The Cuban Missile Crisis is an example of an event at a global scale that depicts the role of atomic weaponry in increased international hostility and competition for world power. The United States and the Soviet Union are two nations that clashed in an effort to surpass each other in terms of nuclear capabilities. While the Crisis involved a tense alternating one-upmanship between the two world powers, the objective of both parties in avoiding a nuclear war could not have been more imperative. It was due to this proxy war that the critical issue of communication between nations became prioritized. In an effort to resolve this issue and reduce the possibility of a nuclear war, including one unintentional, the Moscow-Washington Hotline was devised. The communication link, also known as the nuclear hotline, facilitated a direct and swift mode of contact between the leaders of the United States and Russia.
The rise of silent films introduced a new form of entertainment to the public. People were now able to visualize all the things they only thought was possible within their imaginations. Slapstick, the most common style of comedy where the protagonist usually endures violent tricks and/or absurd situations, just so happened to be Charlie Chaplin’s talent. Through it, he was able to make his character, The Tramp, connect with the everyday man. However, as technology advanced, Chaplin thought it would be crucial to make the movie, Modern Times, as to show the audience how people began to lose their humanity by uniting with the machines; he took it as far as to to ruin the image of the Tramp by giving him a voice, due to the demand of audio within his movies and conforming to the new technology.
Almost every aspect of modern life is influenced by the World Wide Web. The rise of the web caused an information explosion, which is why the era we live in today is often referred to as the Information Age. This relatively new invention, which came about in 1989, revolutionized the way humans interact with each other. The web is both a cause and effect of the trends we see regarding industry and technology in the 20th century. Its creation was a result of the ability to mass produce the parts needed for the web to operate. In addition, it was an answer to the general mass’ desire to be able to communicate their thoughts in an easier and more efficient way. At the same time, the web is also an instrumental tool used to manufacture goods in a more streamlined manner. Because the web creates a platform for diverse groups of people to interact, it is easier than ever for consumers to directly communicate with the producers. However, like many inventions originally intended to make life easier, the web has numerous applications that can be used in a malicious fashion.
The discussed events and inventions exemplify the increase in technology and industry of the 20th century, stemming from more efficient mass production and interconnectivity between consumers and manufacturers. We lose our humanity as we take to the skies, gain the power to destroy ourselves, and create an almost telepathic-alien communication in seconds.