Books, Art, and Technology by Samantha

Books, Art, and Technology by Samantha - June 2014 Scholarship Essay

Reading books has greatly contributed to my love of art. A great book is not made from a careless individual merely throwing words on a page. So, when I am asked what I would write, I am challenged not only to think of the subject, but also of the meaning and feeling to what I would like portrayed to my audience. From time to time I stumble across these ideas; random thoughts that I believe might make a good topic to address and just how I would address them. Most recently, I have found the idea of our reliance on technology to be one of great corollary.

I cannot, being the stickler that I am, write a book throwing out some media-ized ”facts” about our Country’s reliance on technology, or give any one-sided explanations as to our past and future. So I will keep it as explicable as possible, writing only what I have found to be true, and what I have learned from living my whole life in a technologically advanced world. I can only hope that this is current enough to get my point across and to explain not only my true optimism for our future, but also my worries, because let’s face it, we all have them.

In the great scheme of things we are all tied to the same fate, so why try to make any advancement in our quality of life? I praise the people who have invented these great technologies. They are a wonderful mix of a hard worker and an artist, seeking out the areas in which we can improve, while working with the changing times. Along with these advancements, though, has come a treacherous reliance on them.

Writer Isaac Asimov quoted: “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” Does this mean that we are losing our common sense? That our generation will be known for their incapability to provide without technology? I hope not. It is the belief of many that technology and machines are creating an ease-of-use lifestyle which is threatening our ability to be self sufficient. The truthfulness of this thought comes when our technology fails us. Technology has done wonders for business and record keeping, but unfortunately is not permanent. When computers malfunction it is frustrating and destroying for companies.

How much technology is too much? It is my worry that we will most likely never see a limit to this ever growing business. Today, I am able to sit from my bed and have anything I could ever want or need delivered directly to my doorstep. I am able to speak to someone without ever sitting in front of them. This is no doubt convenient, but is not healthy for us physically or mentally. Human interaction is quintessential for a fulfilled life. The ultimate cost could very well be the loss of ability to communicate face-to-face. I find this idea very scary. I fear that people will begin confusing the span of their connections on the internet with “living in the moment”.

An infatuation with social media has begun corrupting our focus on life. Staying locked up in a room on Facebook is no way to enjoy the moment around you. People have found a way to synthesize happiness or synthesize freedom through living vicariously on other’s Facebook feeds. Although entertaining, this has become an unnessicary distraction.

When you weigh the benefits of technology with the downfalls, you see how this amount of dependence and distraction is unhealthy. My book would hopefully change some people’s habits, and at the least give a couple perspectives on the topic. If I ever am graced with the pleasure of putting my thoughts into a book I can only hope that it is as artfully expressed as the books which have been sent into my life. Before I can write a masterpiece though, I will need to do some experiencing life of my own, and take a break from technology myself.