Post 3

 

This cartoon is representating of the technological advances concerning communication in long distance. We can't find more information about it. It is in the form of a timeline.

 

It shows four drawings. In each other there is a man who is trying to communicate something : The first is a man without any clothes, who is playing with a tree trunk and sticks. But actually, he is doing some noise in order to communicate with fellow men, in a great distance. In fact, people used to exchange with homing pigeon for example, or by doing significant sounds, like african tribes nowadays.

The second picture represents a man with glasses who is writing something like a letter, with a pen and some ink. Effectively, men communicated with each other thanks to writing, but they also continue doing it.

However, as we can see in the third drawing, today men also speak by phone. Actually there is a man who is wearing a purpple suit and calling someone.

To finish, the fourth image shows us a man with blond hair, as we can see all around us, typing in the keyboard of his phone.

 

Indeed these days we can easily communicate with our mobile phone, typing messages or sending photos... It takes no more time than one or two minutes. However before, ways of communication were not very efficient : To send a message it took more time and more efforts than nowadays.

Men have searched for something which could allow them to talk to each other. Writings were the first invention which was a complex one, which required specific knowledge and material. Nevertheless, it was neither safe nor effective, given that, sometimes letters had to cross many countries, or to go through many people. Some piece of information could hardly be sent. Thus, these problems rose the telephone line question, and latter, the mobility question. The fact is that a telephone line was problematic as there were note telephones everywhere. The man had to find an other solution to this key issue. The message put across by the document is that communication is always getting better. Moreover, even if the stages are very different, it shows that it is promising : Technology can make great steps.

Howsoever, isn't it a vicious circle, because every time that we find a solution for our problem, a new obstacle stands.  

 

To my mind communication headway permit human beings to exchange easier and easier. It has improved itself many time, and I think it will never stop searching something that could be better. Generally, the progress has no limits. 

Besides, I think that the document could be better with more precisions. I find that stages are missing, like "Internet" or "email".

When technology is too much / is missing

 

 

 

When Technology is too much

 

Description : This video is stuctured around 2 main narrative voices : A character illustrating what the voice-over says, while a singer often merely repeats what's just been said.

The setting is a Christian home and a Church. This particular context is meaningful.

We can notice on various occasions that the man is addicted to high-technology products, mostly Smartphones. He is shown as a family man, unable to interact with his wife except through his phone, and as a Church-goer, incapable of attending worship without all his phone vibrating all the time, making him look like he is full of the holy spirit. Finally, he is depicted as a computer geek/guru whose life has become extremely complicated instead of having been simplified.



Interpretation : Basically, this video means that high technology has become a religion for some people, even for Christians, who are not supposed to be materialistic.
In the Christian lifestyle, quite a few Church-goer and believers tend to focus more on materialistic issues than on spiritual ones.
Technology reigns supreme for many people who revere it, as a God enlightening his followers.
Is the technology a real progress for humankind ?

When Technology is missing

Description : Two people are stuck on an escalator un a place that seems literally empty, deserted. The man is upset, annoyed, he could be an office worker walking to his job. The woman claims that she is already late, this is the last straw, that breaks the camel's back. At one point, she is about to cry and begs for a phone. In short, the two of them look helpless, clueless.

 

Interpretation : We can relate this situation to a fairly common one in real life : getting stuck on an elevator. However, the difference is that in this situation, people have a right to feel panicky, freak out. Whereas on an escalator, there is no reason whatsoever (at all) to be scared. The video points out the increasing reliance of human beings on technology.

If it goes missing, it's as if a crutch had been taken away. These two people can't ever climb. Which would be the normal thing to do. Technological progress makes humans lazy or at least less prone to / inclined to take initiatives, to think by themselves ...

Chapatte cartoon, herald tribune

We can assume that this humorous cartoon was drawn in May by Chapatte, after the Cannes festival.

It deals with the notion of progress, and more precisely with the technological evolution. Furthermore, it tackles the issue of illegal downloading. Indeed, these are both highly-debated issues.

At first sight in the foreground we can notice a couple of celebrities who is signing an autograph to a fan on the Cannes festival red carpet. The man of the couple, who could be a director, seems to lose his temper, however the fan, who wears a tee-shirt with a "@", is delighted. By means of a speech bubble, we learn that the fan had downloaded all of the director's movies. In the distance we can make out the entrance of the festival. The crowd which is screaming and photographing is also illustrated in the background.

The cartoonist clearly denounces the behaviour of some webusers. He represents them through the fan. In fact the cartoon suggests that people pirate private things on the web without any scruples.
The message put accross by the illustrator could be that the technologic progress goes too far. It can also be a criticism of those who use it without having any respect for the others and their achievements. However some people don't even know that downloading films or music is something bad, as we can imagine thanks to the expression of the fan.

To my mind this document conveys a sense of humour, given that there is a kind of compliciy between the illustrator and the reader. Actually it shows a reality that everybody does and that everybody hides. It is a bit provocative as all of us may feel concerned. This is clever enough to amuse readers, and also to make us become aware of the fact that this behaviour is excessive, but I wonder if a cartoon could really change people's minds. I completely agree with the cartoonist and as far as I am concerned I find that it is a very inventive way to show something delicate. We can easily notice the lack of comprehension between the two men at watching the cartoon, and this disagreement is for me a crucial problem in the world .