The four short films.
1. Bendito Machine III
The ecological & social implications of obsession on technology: we are in thrall to technological changes The film's characters seem to have no choice. They worship each new change. The result of each change is waste: a scrapheap/environmental pollution.
The characteristics of various technologies are portrayed as inhuman & manipulative. To me, this brought back memories of Vance Packard's The Hidden Persuaders (1957) which describes how advertisers manipulate expectations and induce desires. Packard argues that advertisers identify compelling needs which lead consumers to buy products. He questions the morality of such advertising techniques..
2. Inbox
It's dystopian in the sense that the modern world is automated & impersonal. But it's utopian in the sense that technology can connect us & lead to personal relationships. Is there a suggestion that online relationships don't/shouldn't replace personal face-to-face contacts?
3. Thursday
Patterns in life; technology v. nature.
Technology is all-pervasive but also vulnerable.
Technology has agency but in some ways so has nature i.e. the birds.
4. New Media
Technology has taken over & polluted the world.
My wife Mary detected echoes of The Day of the Triffids.
No comments:
Post a Comment