Selfe Summary

From what I understand so far of Self's essay is that she is letting her readers know from an educators point of view the feelings on technology and social change in america today. She has said that" on some level , english departments have come to terms with technological change" but she also has said "however, even though educators have made these adaptations, we remain decidedly undecided about technology and change." Selfe is basically saying that even though she can see the benefits that technology can bring to one's life, there is also that fear of the technology because of the changes it can bring to the familiarness of one's life. In this essay, as I understand, Selfe brings in 3 narratives,#1 "the global village and the electronic colony" In this narrative she is saying how americans feel like the computer will help benefit us, or help us help people around the world By creating a unified world system free from all injustices due to race,sex,financial status. Of course there is also a down side to this narrative, with a system in place like this one as selfe states "But it becomes a world in which different cultures and people exist to be discovered,explored,marveled at, in a sense, known and claimed- by those who can design and use technology" so to me that doesnt seem very wonderful for us or the other cultural people around the world. selfe goes on like this in her other 2 narratives, showing us the pro's and con's of what technology can do for us or how it can harm us. A claim that is interesting to me from selfe is "As much as americans might like to think it,technology is not the solution for all of the worlds problems-and, indeed,it might be a contributing cause to many of them"(301)She goes on to say how "technology,in these ads,is an american tool.And we use this tool for reveal all too clearly our values as homo faber-the tool maker." Selfe suggests "that americans are not using this technology to help the world without a cost,but to multiply our own markets and to increase our own cultural profits at the expense of others." Another claim from Selfe that I found interesting was her claim that "because our culture subscribes to several powerful narratives that link technological progress closely with social progress,it is easy for us-for americans,in particular-to believe that technological change leads to productive social change."(293) She supports this claim by stating that Vice President Albert Gore has noted that the global information Infrastructure (GII) would increase opportunities for intercultural,communications among the peoples of the world. Selfe herself states "more importantly,an exclusive focus on the positive changes associated with technology,often serves to distract educators from recognizing how existing social forces actually work to resist change in connection with technology;how they support the status quo when technology threatens to disrupt the world in any meaningful way;how our culture,and social formations that that make up this culture,react with a special kind of conservatism to technology,even as we laud the changes it promises to bring." Like with all positive thing in life we need to be careful of the negative things that come along with it. Technology is a tool that is capable of progressing americans in a good direction but it can also be a downfall to us as a whole if we're not careful.