Literary-Terms-Technoculture-Speed-And-Slow-Movement

In the 21st century, particularly in Science&Technology society, though we're given many facilities, swiftness, comfy towards any work but it had say directly or directly have snatched the peace of mind. It has stolen the traditional five sensing abilities of human. Those are tasting, listening, speaking, reading and smelling habits. Speaking, smelling and tasting are yet to be done in some measure, especially speaking aspect, with the help of adaptability but what is about the two essential skills, which are the roots for empathically understand the given content and so though with influence of technology, a person is marred from any new ideas, concepts and variation. Hence why not to be slow? Slowness doesn't mean to be idly waiting for opportunity but offering reliability towards a person's work. Which we're going to see further in the same writeup.

 

Snail Pace VS Warp-Speed Pace 

Definition of slowness and speed:

Slowness denotes dullness, inertness, sluggishness, idleness and which is not usual but time seeking. A thing done unwillingly and stupidly. 

While one the other side if we see "the definition of speed". It denotes, haste, hurry(unconcerned of direction, moving as air moves, which has no volume but thinness, If metaphorically seen) insensible and which is associated with snatching, acquiring someones position, which actually leads towards committing crimes.

With reference to "three texts on speed culture", but with different contexts; subsequently by 'Jean Baudrillard : Simulcara(seemingly real objects)and Simulation(the imitation of prevailing situation), Paul Virilio : Dromology, Ulrich Bech : Risk culture, we're going to describe how a culture is looking when in speed, how it is reflecting on people as well as one's life, who unawarely suffers, and can't wake up until and unless, didn't get a "wake up call of illness" for committing insanity, which he / she has done with himself / herself, unconcerned about the dire consequences. As everything needs a solution, it also has a solution, but it will be with balance and slowness of life, which isn't literal but beneficial. 


Jean Buadrillard's "Simulacra_And_Simulation" is about the situation, which is captured in image, a distortive representation, of any object, art, music or dance. Which according to 'post-modernism's effect' is a disparate fragmented experience, constantly keeps on bombarding on music, dance or on any form of art. 

Postmodernism Art.

As 'postmodernism movement' is the result of 'modernism movement', everything in this specific period was in 'distortive / repairment state, where any image, picturizing the prevailing situation of that time, seemed to be artificial/superficial but not coherent and in depth, it had loosen the depth.
Refering to "Paul Virilio's Dromology" whose very meaning is borrowed from ancient greek and which means "the science / logic of speed": It says that it is the structuring of warfare and modern media culture.

Example of Warfare : 

A game, which is based on battle.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_of_Duty:_Modern_Warfare_(2019_video_game)

Modern Media Culture

Anything, which suddenly happens and as it starts moving in speed, at first it looses it's very essential nature, and try to overcome something, which is moving so slowly. That is a possession of territory.

 

Imperialism

Colonialism

But here possession doesn't have any concern with laws and contracts(as it is done between two countries)but with movement(speed) and circulation(spreading). While concerning Imperialism and Colonialism, it can be seen as forced to forge on documents of law and contracts.

For example 

Any of the mediums of modern media through which information is widespread and it is conveyed through various social platforms, so it also has 'speed tendency'.

Media Culture 

Moving further this very thing also is responsible for undermining democracy, the very value of democracy is subverted by democracy itself. Instantaneous communication has marred the charm of detailed discussion and consensus aspect in any field.

 

A variety of mediums through which "instantaneous communication" is done.

On equivalent level, if it has positive side, concerning competence and potentiality of power, it also has its negative side, which will contribute in marring person's personality, which is actually very essential for wroughting the world.
If in brief we talk about "Ulrich Bech's Risk Society". It is an entanglement of solution and problem. If one thing is resolved at once, it definitely on other side, would have problem. So men / women / professionals aren't free from problems. Those who're not professionals, have to suffer a lot with anxiety, insecurity especially concerning technical field (computer science).
Where computer itself is a device, which has many problems, from simple error of texting to complexive anti-virus problems. Where a person, if he / she isn't aware of or ignorant of such devices may have to suffer a lot and it has layered up of problem and solutions, so one is needed to work with presence of consciousness of mind.
All three tendencies can be moderated with "slow movement" as introduced in "the world institute of slowness"(1999) and in praise of slow movement. As it has concernment with healthier, happier and productive prospects of life. Though it seems to be at snail pace, but it is at right speed. It is qualitative rather than quantitative, it isn't counting hours and minutes of working, but savoring(taking pleasure) from work.


Thus the three different ideas of "technoculture" which has advantages as well as disadvantages, not sufficing with universality, rather concerning partiality in providing, benefits or misbenefits of technology, that seems to be weighing on one side rather than weighing equally. 

Thankyou
Samiya Kagdi
A Learner at PG Center
Department Of English
MKBU

Works Cited 

'Slowness&Speed', Merriam-webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slowness/speed, accessed 29th April, 2020.

Barad, Dilip. "Slow movement: A cultural shift towards slowing down a life's speed", Dilip Barad's blog, Dilipbarad.blogspot.com, https://dilipbarad.blogspot.com/2020/02/slow-movement.html. 

Bech, Ulrich. "Risk society: Towards a new modernity. Trans. Mark Ritter. London: Sage, 1992. 
Baudrillard, Jean. "Simulacra & Simulation". Trans. Paul Foss, Paul Patton, and Philip Beitchnan. New York Semiotext(e), 1981. 

Virilio, Paul. "Speed & Politics: An essay on Dromology. New York: Semiotext(e) 1977[1986]. 
Berg, Maggie & Barbara Seeber. "Slow Professor: Challenging he Culture of Speed in the Academy". University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division, 2016.

Cultural studies - workshop - Kalyaani Vallath ma'am

Welcome readers!

This also represents an institutive culture

From various concepts analysis an exceptional study called "cultural studies" came into being, where other disciplinaries are somewhere biased and digged with prejudices and taintment, with this it isn't the case, but here it suggests enlightenment, sweetness and accepting everything, whether it is religion, politics, idealism, society, and ultimately drawing oneself to the expansion of human perfectibility and that is concerned with cultural studies, particularly emphasises on "likeness to everything"!

The cultural studies

Images in fractions Suggest a core idea for elasticity with anything either if it is a literal heaven or hell, stressing oneself to such an extent, that if one is dissolved, evolved or fermented of it no matters, but  knows how to come out of it, concerning others welfare .

Understanding about the concept called cultural studies:

"Cultural studies" interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary  study of each specific culture comprises of; religion, society, politics, (school of thoughts comprising various disciplinaries), philosophed culture etc. When in other cultures, there are many deficiencies; as religion suggests rigidity and so it makes one blind to see about what is happening in and around him/her, whereas society propagates social order, where one has to act according to the society, if fails then he/she is criticized/banished from the society, Politics indicates hierarchical positions of power structure and undergoing corrupted tendency, while thought of school can be regarded with each and every aspect and idealism of life.

What cultural studies do with interdisciplinary fragments:

According to "Mathew Arnold" if one is directly denying to accept the prevailing tendency of any field, for example take religion then it will lead to "anarchy" to do away with this, and to establish "a harmoniuos society" one should accept, though for time being, what is prevailing, then by being amiable with that one should try to propagate and express their ideas, but with acceptance to the prevailing one. Then perhaps it will lead to enlightenment, sweetness and likeness to others.For example: In our class, an idea of "posthumanism" was introduced by "Kalyani Vallath ma'am" where that very idea was suggesting that: though this is an era of 21st century, but people of India are still in under influence of "conventional life" where they're not able to adapt themselves as per the situation. We were given an illustration by "Modern times" film-Michel Jackson: where "the protagonist himself is working in firm, but has become over obsessed of the mechanized world, that he lost his sensibility towards the working manner, so what happens: when a lady is walking through the path outside the firm, worn  knee length coat, but "at breast part, with equal proportionate, on both sides, buttons are stucked and he considers those to be the screw, which he is going to operate but fails to recognize that it is not what he is looking for.

Also another example of "imitative culture" was postulated in the class, where we had seen in the video, people wearing clothes, hairstyles, makeup, their outer appearance, but it was only for branding oneself and for rivalry purpose. Likewise at one side it suggests obsessiveness, while at other boundary it indicates competition going on in the world, but a true humanbeing is required to find himself/herself in between, neither obsessed nor competitive.

So here two aspects are shown, that a person shouldn't be over obsessed with technology or do away with it, but it should be moderated as literature does, travels through music and painting,  but not merge itself with it, as the time progress the superficial part is removed, while the other which suggest totality has Marks in person's personality as well is in any arena of the field.

With multidisciplinary also it deals with the same tendency.Hence this was the understanding provided us by "Kalyani Vallath ma'am" in his "one day workshop" at "Department of English". She herself was presenting an amiability with all cultures as she shared many experiences associated with domestic life, style of one's living, somewhere though one isn't willing to but one has to made one's mind flexible with it, whether it is what, doesn't matter, necessity must be considered at first and try to empathize with others, who aren't blessed and aren't even able to get what we're getting, so they must be contemplated.

AN EXPLAINATION OF CULTURAL STUDIES TO A LAYMAN:

 Conversion into dialogue form:

A layman: Hi! 

Me: Hello!

It will go on in subsequent manner-

Me:How're you?

Layman: All fine! What about you?

Me: Same here..

Me: you look nervous..You can share, your worries with me, if you like to, you will feel better..

Layman: Answer me one thing, what is religion?

Me: Religion is man's fabricated structure, comprises of values, rituals, style and manner of living, some imposed rigidity regarding religious beliefs, one has to live their life.

Layman: ok. Now tell me what is society?

Me: Society also follows a specific order of life, which comprises class differences, their different values, raising conflicts from it, a specific kind of lifestyle concerning class system and the power structure prevailing in the society. Where something from economic perspective can also be seen. I suggest you to refer some of the books, which will give you the idea of the society, prevailing then at ancient times, after that and as usual life.

Layman: You mean to say, if I'm the part of  society, I have to contribute accordingly. But in the case of failing in doing so, am I to face any consequences?

Me: Yes, ofcourse. Either you will be banished or criticized by the society or society will  urge on you to do as their regardance.

Layman: Sorry to hear this, feeling so helpless. Then what you say one should always be suppressed under religion and society, we people don't have any chances to come out of it, only because we don't know about the things prevailing in society, and as lacking in knowing the ways and means ?

Me: No, it's not so..First you should know the ways and means, and the guts of tackling it, then you might be very amiable with the society and also with religion. There is an area, which suggests acceptance of every beliefs, values, rituals, tendencies going in and around us, and expanding its roots based on it, it leads a human towards better society and also urge a human to do something for the betterment of society!

Layman: Is it so? What are you saying! Could you please name that area?

Me: yes, why not..It is nothing but a cultural studies, which comprises all interdisciplinaries and multidisciplinaries  subjects in it, like; society, religion, politics, philosophised society, digitalised society and other going to perhaps include in it, in coming time..

Layman: Wow! This sounds interesting..

Me: Exactly! It is very interesting..

Layman: Hmm..So will you guide me further how to access through this society? 

Me: Yes, Why not? See you don't have to access through this but you have to understand the way of the world, and somewhere you're also required to become amiable with that tendency for time being, but this doesn't mean that you have abandoned yourself for them, but you have to learn from the other society members, first you have to merge in them, and then gradually  you can enlighten them towards what is the actual way of living life, but you should be an outsider, you shouldn't be biased with your idealism also. Then only it will lead towards sweetness, enlightenment and likeness for life and others. 

Layman: It seems to me difficult!

Me: No it isn't difficult if you want to become so and see it will also give you the pleasure of living life among others and with others.

Layman: Yes, that's.. I will try to implement this in my life, thankyou for your kind information!

Me: My pleasure to serve you as such!

Layman: Your nicety, thankyou!

Me: Always welcome! 

Thus would be the manner in which I will try my best to explain a layman.


If I am asked to introduce "Cultural Studies" in interview my answer would be as follows...


First of all simply I will start with what tools I am utilizing for teaching, so they can understand well:
For example: there are two blackboards; white and black- both are representing different identities; one gives reflection of then prevailing educational facilitative tool and another is contemplating digitalized world. As both have different identities, they must be belonging to different cultures and as I'm here I'm also belonging to some other culture, that you can see in my personality, in my talking and behavioural manner, but I can't act with you as per my culture, here culture as has some norms, values, regulations for students as well as teachers, we also have but I have to follow thus culture for time being that is called "adaptability" or "flexibilty" towards various tendencies, keeps on confronting in our lives. Similarly you have to also cultivate such things in your life, that is called "life skills", which you should also learn, much required and essential for a humanbeing.
Which also comprises many essential skills like "working in team, listening properly, solving problems, interview skills, adaptable skills" and many, which comprises in it.
As such I will introduce "Cultural studies" in interview, If I'm asked to.



Any catchy examples given by "Kalyani Vallath ma'am" during her one day workshop:
During our ongoing session on "cultural studies" ma'am has given many examples of day to day life, of her journey from "Kerala" to "Bhavnagar" how she compromised with the gujarati food here, while there their food also differs along with their eating manner.
Then she also said their way of living life in "Kerala" where she is used to bring outside food, but doesn't cook food at home(this also suggests her folding culture, it can be assumed that people of Kerala must have "culture of food", while she doesn't concern it so).
Then she also told about the "political identity" which prevails in various areas of fields, and how people are establishing it for their own welfare.
She had given her own example: that if she has come here that doesn't mean it is only for the students, but their is something politically hidden in it, that she didn't reveal explicitly, but one can understand.
She also emphasised on "Feminine perspective" that nowadays wives want their husbands to cook in house and they want their freedom,  is this idea appropriate regarding feminine perspective? And she told that how it will be mirroring to you if your husband is cooking and you are working outside and she expressed "ridiculity" for this idea.
Then she also told about the manner in which any institute or people are working and indicated the suggestive politics, going on inside. Everything is established on "Politics" , "Politics" is centralized in every arena of life, and if  people willing to, can't deny or do away with politics.

Some may be feeling for some examples to be catchy, I'm not denying, those were,  but I personally feel that it has a  connection with "common sense" where a person has to adapt and act as the situation's requirement not as person wants to act, that would be mine own perspective, towards any examples propagated by "ma'am" (Kalyani Vallath).


Anything else.. 

She had also discussed many points regarding cultural studies with the help of digitized tool called "pptx. Presentation" and prompted many ideas of "Frankfurt school", "a thought of school", "posthumanism", "imitative tendency of culture", which also gives a new birth to a different culture, how it is established, what are the demands of that particular school according to which the responsible establishers have to work for "the culture" and how it comprises many ideas regarding culture, how they are to apply cultural studies on 'interdisciplinary" and "multidisciplinary studies".



Hence was the understanding yielded by "ma'am" which I have covered in my entire blog as well as given reflection in many views.


Thankyou
Samiya Kagdi
A learner at PG center
Department of English
MKBU


Applied sources:
Ma'am's one day workshop in Department of Englsih.