Introductory Essay:
Technology in the Imaginary City
Due 10 Sept. Worth 10% of your grade
You will be graded on thought and ideas, but you will also get copious feedback on writing abilities, style, grammar, syntax, and so forth. While you will not loose any points on this paper for mistakes in this latter category (I’ll give you an unrecorded grade), I will put those who do not perform well in that regard ‘on notice’ and be harsher on the regular papers.
Over at Pattee/Paterno special collections, there is an exhibit called “Imaginary Cities” on display in 104 Paterno (east end of the ground floor, straight past the elevators). It is a display of numerous books from the Arthur O. Lewis Utopian Collection, which they claim to be one of the best in the world. The display is up until Sept. 14 and is open from 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday.
Please go and view the display and consider the question:
What role does technology play in the utopian city?
It should be obvious that by asking about the utopian city, this question also addresses the utopian life as well. I ask you to think broadly, laterally, and make connections here. You need to cite the works you refer to from the display, but I do not require any other outside sources. However, I certainly will not stop you from reading up on the material you are looking at…
This question is intentionally broad and open-ended. I am not looking here for a deep connection to any specific philosophies or philosophers, but rather a reflection on what role technology plays in our lives and in these imaginary cities. Remember that there is a historical context to many of the items on display, so you might be cautious about making broad assertions about how things “are” now versus then.
Old Essay Topic (pre-2006)
Assignment 1: Introductory Essay
Minimum of 5 (full) pages, double spaced
Your Relation to Technology
In essay format (i.e., don’t just number these questions; make the response a compound whole and make the writing flow), please answer the following questions (in any order):
- What is technology? **DON’T** look up the definition in a dictionary. Instead tell me what your perceptions are. What are its characteristics? Its components? Its scope?
- What are the earliest memories of technology that you have? What was the technology? Where was it? What was/is your reaction?
- What is your relationship to technology today?
- Why does/doesn’t technology matter to you?
If you would like to muse on other things technological, that’s fine, too. Use this essay as an opportunity to muse on technology, it’s place in society, your life, and the world. If you have outside information, by all means, bring it in.
