The historical development of communication technologies from writing to social media.

In this course, we have examined the historical development of communication technologies from writing to social media. Historical knowledge is valuable in its own right – educated citizens and professionals should, at minimum, be able to recognize the complexity of the past and the long human struggle to communicate, directly and authentically, over distances and through time. Historical perspectives can also be useful in our efforts to understand contemporary developments. No two points in time or place are the same – indeed, past lives and past contexts are unique and unrecoverable. However, the study of the past can offer insight into recurring themes and issues. The following three questions are designed to give students an opportunity to apply historical knowledge and theoretical concepts gained in this course to pressing contemporary issues. Please answer each of the following three questions in a 500-word short essay. (Together, the three essays total 1500 words minimum.) You must answer all three questions. Each short essay should include references to relevant assigned readings to support your answers. IMPORTANT: When incorporating direct quotations from the assigned readings, be sure to use double quotation marks and include the author’s last name and page number on which the quotation appears. For example: According to Marx, “The idea that technological improvements are a primary basis for – and an accurate gauge of – progress has long been a fundamental belief in the United States” (p. 33). OR “The idea that technological improvements are a primary basis for – and an accurate gauge of – progress has long been a fundamental belief in the United States” (Marx, p. 3). Question 1 The introduction of new media is often controversial. Advocates of new communication technologies typically argue that the new technology will lead to improvements – social, political, economic, and/or moral. However, opponents often disagree. For example, the phonograph, the telephone, and movies were criticized when they first appeared. In this short essay, please respond to the following questions: Why were the phonograph, the telephone, and movies initially seen as a threat? Describe specific criticisms of each of technology. (Be sure to use examples from relevant assigned texts to illustrate your points.) Looking back that these criticisms, were critics correct in any of their negative predictions? What related problems do recorded sound, telephones, and movies still pose today? Question 2 New media are often confronted with questions of authenticity. Today, social media platforms are struggling with the problem of “fake news” and the emergence of realistic video impersonations, or “deepfakes,” threaten to make all videos untrustworthy. This is not a new problem, however. The introduction of writing and the telegraph posed similar challenges. In this short essay, please response to the following questions: How did the written word and the telegraph pose threats to authenticity? Describe specific examples of how each technology challenged the truth of personal identity, social relationships, and understanding. (Be sure to use examples from relevant assigned texts to illustrate your points.) Looking back at these earlier problems, and thinking about new communication technologies today (e.g., fake news, deepfakes), why does authenticity always seem to be a problem? What do communication technologies always seem to lack? What are they unable to reproduce or simulate? Question 3 The history of technology is closely connected to the idea of progress. Even the arrangement of this course – chronological from old to new – seems to suggest a history of continuous technological improvement, a march of progress toward more immediate and efficient ways of communicating. Yet, as we’ve learned, the idea of progress is problematic. New technologies introduce unforeseen changes in the way people interact with each other, technology, and the environment. Consider, for example, the popularity of Instagram. When Instagram was founded in 2010, it was designed as a quick and easy photo-sharing app that allowed users to enhance their artistry with an array of creative filters. Today, the app has more than a billion users and a major influence on everyday life. In this short essay, please respond to the following questions: Drawing upon your own experiences and general familiarity with Instagram, consider the app’s social influence. What problems has Instagram caused for users (e.g., social, psychological, political, economic)? How does the design of Instagram seem to encourage these problems (e.g., the interface, recommendations, content that appears in one’s feed, metrics)? How does the example of Instagram challenge the idea of technological progress? If Instagram represents “progress,” what is it progress toward? How should we define progress? For this question, draw upon readings by Marx,Preview the document Winner,Preview the document and MorozovPreview the document to support your answer.