Human beings have a biological want and need to be close to one another. A supportive hug, a congratulatory pat on the shoulder, or a respectful handshake are all acts of skin to skin contact that can be incredibly meaningful. To be touched is personal. It can be invasive, but it can equally be incredibly compassionate.
As Claudia Benthien explains in her book, Skin: On the Cultural Border Between Self and the World, skin has “a plural sense of closeness, intimacy, and eroticism.” (221). Our skin, and the touch of another is a quick, sensitive reminder of our humanity. Interestingly, this humanity has been inching dangerously close to technology. We change the appearance of our tactile skin for 2D appearances. We, as humans, are constantly renegotiating what nature tells us is absolute – perhaps the limitations of our skin – as we constantly work to achieve a standard of perfection and immortality. As Ollivier Dyen’s argues in his book, Metal Flesh and the Evolution of Man: Technology Takes Over, “we exist in order to inseminate this planet with representations, ideas, and culture, with conscious and thinking dynamics” (6). We, as humans, move our thinking and feeling far past our skin and into concepts. We are not purely physical beings, but creatures of thought and ideas. It is important, however, for us as humans not to lose sight of the tactile limits. The physical must remain close to the technology that is ever-working to perfect appearances.
We, as living, tactile humans must not get lost in the escape of media. Technology that brings adventures on second life, communications via e-mail, and conversations over text message should not serve as replacements for interpersonal communications. Perhaps the warnings presented by the oft-dramatized fear that robots will take over the world should not be taken so lightly. If we, as humans, are uncomfortable talking to a person face-to-face, or get along with our friends and significant others better with the aid of facebook, it may be time we re-examine the “outlandish” claim that technology is taking over the world.
Works Cited:
Benthien, Claudia. Skin: On the Cultural Border Between Self and the World. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
Dyens, Ollivier. Metal Flesh and the Evolution of Man: Technology Takes Over. Boston: The MIT Press, 2001.
This was my favorite part of your post: "Technology that brings adventures on second life, communications via e-mail, and conversations over text message should not serve as replacements for interpersonal communications. Perhaps the warnings presented by the oft-dramatized fear that robots will take over the world should not be taken so lightly."
ReplyDeleteIt reminded me of watching Terminator for the first time. I feel no one understood the severity of technology until now, and that is why so many issues are arising. One example was when that boy died from playing too many video games, he didn't get up from the computer to eat or drink and in turn died.
We need to have boundaries and form a disconnect between our physical bodies and technology. The post secret clip you put up really meant something to me. I feel that way many times- way too connected to my cell phone, to the point where I feel naked when it's not in my hand. This is not normal nor is it okay. We have to be careful and start making boundaries now before this continues to harm future generations.
-Olivia Smith