Thinking Activity:The Culture of Speed and Slow Movement

The Culture of Speed and the Counter Culture of Slow Movement

When we talk about technology it is always helping us in one and another way.As we know that it is helping us in each and every steps Whenever we go whatever we come across, there might be some functions that connects thorough technology. It has made our life tremendous fast and more efficient. Ranging from kitchen appliances to home entertainment gadgets like televisions, home theater system, CD, DVD and Blu-Ray players, disc jockey mixer (DJ Mixer), various video game machines; medical and healthcare equipments like sphygmomanometer, treadmill, nebulizer; to communication devices like smartphones and computers. Right from the thinkers to manufacturers and distributors of these technologies are the people who are in power. As a consumer society, we are influenced by their marketing and advertisements and we attract towards the products and we purchase them. Thus consumerism works. In this blog we shall see how the term technoculture came into being and what are the concept of speed and slow movement.

Click here to follow the blog link given by Dr. Dilip Barad.

Paul Virilio - Dromology

The word Dromology is derived from Greek noun 'Dromos' which is used for race or racetrack. With this meaning in his mind he coined the term Dromology which means "Science of Speed" According to Virilio Speed became the soul agent of progress. He further said that…..

"There was no industrial revolution, 

only Dromocratic Revolution, 

There is no Democracy only Democracy, 

There is no Strategy only Dromology."

With the help of technology and computers we can communicate with people from any corner within no time. But Virilio is Critical of thought and said that technologies distorting 'Real' reality by replacing real time and space with "Virtual Realities."

A German sociologist, Ulrich Beck propounded the term Technoulture in his book Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. He further explains how risk theory works in various cultural artefacts like, in cyber world we find computer anti-virus software are sold on the grounds of risk and threats of bug attacks. Things which are governed by risk becomes the risk society. Beck explains that risk are not real but they are about becoming real. When a certain risk is predicted, it is just an assumption of future incident. But when risk becomes real it becomes a disaster or catastrophe.

It can be said that today's society is risk society. People are constantly acknowledged with several risks through various mediums. These risks are majorly health related. Several examples of risk society can be taken such as the industry of edible oil. The manufacturer of sunflower oil might highlight the hazards and risks of heart attack by consuming other edible oils such as groundnut oil, til oil etc. The television watchers will accept the theory of risk explained by the company and purchase sunflower oil. Costumer will also do mouth publicity for that oil company, by emphasizing on the risk of heart attack, and will also say the benefits of using sunflower oil.

The another example can be taken of toothpaste. Numerous companies are there in the market which sell their toothpaste through various gimmicks such as the element of salt in the toothpaste. One more example of risk society is the risk of losing touch with the world. Especially dating sites and social media sites are the most frequent in using such risk factors to increase their viewers and users.

We are constantly connected with business and related things.Many times we read quote as given below in business sector 

"Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme related documents carefully."

In the business and corporate world, this quote is often found at the bottom line of any mutual fund company's documents.So we can say that  the entire business sector is running on the base of risks. Some amount of money is invested in a business and there is no certainty to gain profit. Everything is dependent on the other factors such as market capitals, gold prices, foreign exchange, crude prices per barrel, people's temperament towards fashion, entertainment and their daily requirements.

👉Concept of speed and slow movement

In the era of doing everything fast and first, this slow movement tries to explain to retain the connection with nature and humans among whom we live by. Journalist Carl Honore explains with very agreeable statements that the world needs re-connection with itself. 

Reference:

(1)Guerin, Wilfred L., Earle Labor, Lee Morgan, Jeanne C. Reesman, John R. Willinghan. 'A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature'. 5th Indian Ed. OUP. New Delhi. 2007.

(2) Nayar, Pramod K. An Introduction to Cultural Studies. 2nd ed., Viva Books, 2011.

(3) Barad, Dilip. “Slow Movement.” Slow Movement, 7 Feb. 2020, dilipbarad.blogspot.com/2020/02/slow-movement.html.