In chapter one of Gender Circuits, Shapiro argues that technology and science have influenced humans ability to manipulate their natural environment. Consistent advancements in the fields of technology and science are being made which eventually could (and may already have) lead to a complete disconnect between human kind and nature. Shapiro states that "the rise of science afforded people the idea that we can-even should- understand the natural world through the use of observation and analytical reasoning. This encouraged and facilitated the development of new technologies to shape and manipulate the natural environment" (Shapiro 48). This logic has also produced the idea that humans should control the natural environment and are entitled to do so. The concept of humans disconnect from nature is where we begin to see what the advertisement of Sun Mad Raisins portrays: technology being integrated in almost every aspect of our lives. An example of this is shown in how food production has changed over time. At one point people in communities had a relationship with the farmers who were producing the food that they purchased and ate. Today, food production has expanded tremendously from technology and consumers walk into grocery stores generally unaware of where their food is coming from and how it has been prepared. There are positive and negative consequences to the advances that technology offers to our lives. In the example of food production, one could argue that technology is beneficial because it allows companies to mass produce food and get their product to more consumers for generally a cheaper price. One could also argue that having technology assist in food production takes away from the quality of the food we consume today. After all, we are trusting many companies and corporations to produce food responsibly. This is quite the challenge since corporations and companies are out to make money. Overall, we should question to what extent technology is beneficial in these areas that so deeply influence our lives and well being.
I'm currently taking a course on environment in sociology and we had to read this article... it's very interesting and I hope it makes others consider where their technology will end up.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/01/high-tech-trash/carroll-text.html
Its interesting that an increased understanding of nature has led to distancing ourselves from it. I feel like we sort of have a "master complex" feeling about it, like that we know and control so much of nature that it can never hurt us. But eating genetically modified plants, and animals from factory farms is definitely hurting us, maybe in small ways that we are still choosing to ignore.
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