Session 5- Connected

            The film Connected: An Autoblogography about Love, Death and Technology by Tiffany Shlain is a fascinating documentary about humankind and technology.  She interweaves her own human experiences and the evolution of humankind to the present day and how that evolution has shaped the human brain (or vice versa).  The most fascinating thing about this film was that idea of connectedness and its significance. 

            Shlain cites her father’s idea that the human brain evolved when written language was invented.  The creation of a written form of language awakened new neural pathways in the brain that isolated “important” bits of information that needed to be communicated.  Shlain’s father also noted that there was a tendency before these “alphabets” came about that societies were more interconnected and identified more with female deities.  With the invention of the alphabet and a more “masculine,” left brain way of thinking, the system of patriarchy was further embedded in these societies.  I think this idea is captivating, but I do have some trouble with it.  This kind of theory makes sweeping generalizations about society and ironically sees the alphabet as an isolated incident itself.  I would love to read the book and get more details about this hypothesis, but I do think there is some validity to saying that patriarchy is embedded in a “left brain” way of thinking. 

            This film made me really think about what kind of impact technology has had on my life.  The modern world and everything we experience has in way one or another been shaped by technology.  There is no escaping it.  As far as the Internet, I would say that as a young person who has literally grown up with the Internet (in its invention and evolution) I would say it is a part of who I am.  I am an admitted addict to my cell phone and I spend far more time than necessary on the site/app tumblr.  This has had some gains and drawbacks in my life in terms of keeping me connected to the outside world and keeping me from being connected to people around me, but so it goes with any tool designed for humans to use.  The significance of the Internet and technology and social media is that because it was created by human beings it reflects them in that we have the capacity to do great things that benefit many people or terrible things that devour and destroy or both at the same time! It keeps us connected to things we wouldn’t have easy access to even two decades ago, but it can also keep us from connecting deeply to anything.  I think this was an important message within Shlain’s film: “To connect broadly is meaningless, unless we can connect deeply.”  I think that as a female, who is right brain oriented that this is something I identify with strongly.  That the things that drive me or keep me going in life are my strongest, deepest connections to people, animals, places, books, ideas, etc.  It has been something that has driven me to become a teacher and to help future generations by having some sort of an influence on who the students in my class become.  Human interdependence is an evolutionary necessity and I believe it is my duty to help foster that.

Responded to:
1.  Taylor Terhune
2.  Alaina Rowen