Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution Summary

A) “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution: Images of Technology and the Nature of Change”, by Cynthia L. Selfe, is a confusing piece of writing that i had to reread multiple times in order to grasp its idea. Technology has commonly been linked to social change since the technology itself is always changing. Some people have accepted these changes yet others are frightened by it. Those who accept it hope technology will make people more productive and responsible to the world. There are three narratives about change in this text: the “Global Village” and the “Electronic Colony”, “Land of Equal Opportunity” and “Land of Difference”, and “The Un-gendered Utopia” and “The Same Old Gendered Stuff.”

The “Global Village” and the “Electronic Colony” narrative is one of the most popular narratives the Americans believe, it states that technology will bring people of the world together and allow them to communicate with one another and work together for the greater good. This narrative also states that technology will eliminate geological borders, racial differences and ethnic differences. It appeals to Americans at a romantic level but it also terrifies us. We hold 20% of the world’ population yet we consume 80% of the world’s resources. This narrative, if it comes true, will take our privileged lifestyles and equally disperse the resources around the world. We are not ready for these changes that Global Village will require. Selfe then gives sample advertisements that appeal to the Global Village narrative, yet are tweaked to make them comfortable to us.

The second narrative is the “Land of Equal Opportunity” and “Land of Difference” narrative. This narrative is Americans’ second favorite. It states that the world of technology, especially the internet, is equal and fair to everyone. It is available to anybody and everybody. It reminds us about our country, America. Founded of the principles of fairness and determination, America is open to all citizens no matter what race, gender, or social status. We fancy ourselves as the symbol of democracy and we were for a time. We are concerned for the less fortunate. That is why this narrative appeals to us.

The third narrative is “The Un-gendered Utopia” and “The Same Old Gendered Stuff.” This narrative tells us that technology can be used to demolish the gender barriers in our society. It urges teachers and professors to work with computers to create new opportunities for any student of either gender. People still believe this narrative even though it has been proven wrong so many times. Men use computers differently and more frequently than women do. Yet this narrative continues to captivate us.

B) One claim that Selfe makes in her writing, “Finally, the 1990s retro series offers Americans the role of seductress - also a traditionally defined role for women, and one that has retained enormous strength even in cyberspace where change is expected to affect so many areas of our lives.(p. 315)” What Selfe is claiming is that the role of seductress hasn’t changed even in the internet where you would expect gender roles to change. She gives evidence in the form of advertisements. One ad features a seductress clinging on to a TV. The other ad is a woman staring into a computer monitor with no keyboard or mouse to interact with the monitor with. The only role of the woman was to basically just look good.

Another claim that she makes is, “The revision of the un-gendered Utopia into the Same Old Gendered Stuff narrative deals no less traditionally with men’s roles, it should be noted.(p. 317)” What Selfe is saying here is that men are given specific roles too. In the job, men are traditionally seen as the same tie-and-oxford look. At home, though, they have the roles of bikers, nerds, and sex maniacs. Her evidence is in advertisements. Four ads feature men in their workplace who look confident and in charge. The other ads have turned guys into bikers and nerds and generally violent people. Not literally though.

Lest we think the reveolution is a revolution summarry

In Cynthia Selfe's essay entitled "Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution" she talks about how the changing of teaching styles to the new technology of computers brings benefits as well as several fears to this change. On one side, she talks about how she hopes that "computers will make the students and the teachers more productive in the classroom...more effective as communicators and more responsibilities involved as literate citizens in world affairs.(p.293)" But on the other hand, the power of technology is very limited to what life is in the natural world. Selfe talks about how Americans are "the smart ones who use technological expertise to connect the world's peoples, to supply them with technology and train them to use it. (p.295)" Technology has invented a Land of Equal Opportunity as well as a Land of Difference. People invent ads that look like the 50's saying and showing how the things/objects you use in the ad will feel likes it's easier and/or simpler to use, and thus using the product in the commercial makes people in the real world think that using said thing/object will make your life simpler. Much like a figure shown on page 303 where a man with his dog talks about how Microsoft makes things in his life "as comfortable as an old shoe." Other ads make people feel like they are powerful and above everyone else, such as the Cisco Systems ad on page 304. Lastly, She talks about how ads similar to these have patterns of sexism, where men are shown doing things a stereotypical man doing such as riding a motorcycle and making comments about how they are rebuilding City Hall (both references found on page 319). As for women, they show them in rather sensual positions thinking that buying the computer screen a naked women is caressing (p.315) will make people (most likely men) want to buy that specific computer.

One claim that Selfe makes is "it is clear, for instance, that fewer girls use computers in public secondary schools than do boys, especially in the upper grades... (p.306)" The evidence shown by this claim is that first, this essay was made back in the 90's where computers were fairly new, so computers were aimed toward men and that games on the computer are designed for boys, as well as computing environments, which are constructed for males, by males (p.306.)

Another Claim made by Selfe was "at some level, English Departments have come to terms with technological change (p.292)" This is true concerning the fact where English teachers adjust their budgets for equipment to "accommodate an ongoing program of purchases and upgrades, accepted computer studies as a new area [as of the early 90's] of scholarly focus, integrated technology into various curricula, and modified many programs to include technology training and use. (p.292)" Even to today, technology evolves an also evolving teaching society where teachers at a number of public and private schools as well as number of colleges moved from an analog way of teaching, to a digital version.

Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution Summary

A.
In Cynthia Selfe's article she voices the fears and facts of technology around the world. Selfe explains in the first narrative that Americans have grown used to things being done for them; like researching things on the internet instead of putting in time of going through books; and we have created our own environment (our own world). She gives an example by saying that we as americans watch something on the TV or internet and think we have experienced that feeling or that place because we have watched it on the TV or internet; even when we haven't stepped out of our house. In the second narrative, Selfe puts emphasis on the fact that although American is indeed the land of opportunity, it is only the land of opportunity to those who can afford it or make it to this country to try and get to a higher status then they were in. She also goes on to say that no matter what language you speak, the ethnicity you are, etc. you always can have the opportunity to be succesfull in America. The third and last narrative focuses on feminists and the people who think that everyone can get along and be happy no matter what sex you are. Selfe points our that even though many women use the technology available to them like teh internet and Tv and such; the actual users and benefiters were and are supposed to be men. Now there are a ton of stuff for women to use as desired. The un-gendered utopia focuses on non-judgemental work between both sexes. The main goals is that both men and women escape the sterotypical references etc that are always given out to men and women.
B. "If citizens of all kinda are to have access to technology and the opportunities it provides, we do not see such a narrative imagined in the Land of Difference narrative; if technology is to improce the lives of all Americans regardless of the race and class and other differences, our collective ability to envision such a world is not evident in these images."
Selfe is saying that although the American dream is somewhat to make all people equal; it is not so because if we did want that, that evidence would be more evident in our advirtisments. The advertisments would show a plethora of different people; whereas the advertisments actually made do not. They only show the "higher class"; or "the most fortunate people".

summery

Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution

            A short time ago, I read chapter 16 in “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution,” by Cynthia L. Selfe.  Through close reading and contemplating I have gained a new intellectual outlook towards the way Americans use technology.  Many Americans would describe computers as a blessing because they have the ability to provide equal opportunity to all. Selfe would disagree and backs her argument up with different advertisements found on the Internet.  “Like most images, they tell rich and powerful stories about the social contexts in which they are produced.” (P. 294) In other words Selfe believes a picture is worth a thousand words, and the advertisements provided strongly back just how far America still has to go in order to achieve the status of a utopia.

            As many of us already know, America is a global leader to the rest of the world.  Due to the popularity of the Internet, Selfe expressed a slight amount of concern over our country losing its current economic benefits.  In order to prevent this from happening, America has taken on the position of “discovers” and “suppliers” to the world.  Because the internet provides an instant connection to the rest of the world, people have the opportunity to receive glimpses from around the globe.  Unfortunately, what people come across may likely be a false interpretation of what is really accruing in the rest of the world.  One advertisement that I came across was a women from a third world country who was nursing both a chimp and a baby.  If you did not know any better, you may believe this is an accurate photograph of an African woman.  Though it seems that technology is taking us to new places, we seem to be stuck in the same old stereotypes.

            Conventional wisdom claims that America is the land of opportunity, but according to Selfe, “America is the land of opportunity only for some people.” (P. 304) In making this comment, Selfe is urging the point that success does not come at the same price for everyone.  Although some American will deny this claim, experiences with poverty, and the different school graduation rate for Black, White and Hispanic people enforce what Selfe is saying.  Our country has struggled for many decades trying to destroy these barriers, but technological advertisements seem to be stuck in the sixties.  Two separate software advertisements that Selfe provided strongly back this claim.  Each one only showing completely white people where one photo includes a man and his dog, and the other is a “normal” family outside their brand new house.  Obviously if Americans expect to really be “the land of opportunity,” it needs to be expressed so in all fashions. 

            It seems with technology, gender plays no difference.  Both men and women have an equal capability of operating it at ease.  Surprisingly though, it seems that technology is presented more to a man’s view verse a women’s.  In mathematical and computer fields men highly outnumber the amount of women.  Selfe was strictly under the influence that internet advertisements play a large conclusion to this fact.  Women are often symbolized as mothers and seductresses, so it was anticipated that computer advertisements portrayed these rolls.  One photograph I stumble upon was a naked woman hugging a computer.  Usually in no way does this advertisement stand out to other women.  In order for our society to reach utopia standards, gender stereotypes must stop.  This can only happen if the internet stops reinforcing old fashioned ideas.  

Selfe himself writes, “For the world to have a future, we must work together as one tribe.” (P. 295) Selfe is implying that that the world is a shared place, mixed with many different diverse outlooks.  Although each and every person holds there own cultural beliefs, this should not prevent equal opportunities.  Although America is an economic leader, it is outrageous that this single country takes up 80 percent of the worlds resources.  For a bright future, “things” must change.  It takes every countries corporation to achieve world peace, but just one country can create war.

According to Selfe, “Americans are the canny and sophisticated minds behind the text, behind the image, behind the technology. We are the designers, the providers, the village benefactors.” (P. 299) Because of this, Selfe is implying that computers still can only provide an Americanized version of the rest of the world.  Although what we see may look realistic, keep in mind it is an American interpretation. 

Lest we think the revolution is a revolution, re-read summary

In Cynthia Selfe’s article, “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution,” she explains the three major Narratives that Americans usually misconceive. The three American Narratives are: the “global village” (pp. 294), the “land of equal opportunity” (pp. 301) and the “un-gendered utopia” (pp. 305). The “global village” is the concept that technology will connect everyone in the world through communication to cooperate for the commonweal. The “land of equal opportunity” is the American belief that the internet and electronic technology is a sort of landscape in which everyone has equal shares in and has a right to. The final Narrative, the “un-gendered utopia,” is another conception that electronic technology will help create a utopic society in which there is no discrimination of any kind. These narratives are all however wrong. The reality is that technology is only available to some people and geared towards males, thus crushing the conception of the Narratives.

In regards to the “global village” narrative, Selfe describes the American fears of , “Becoming just another member of the tribe, just another citizen of the global village, suggests the possibility that Americans could be asked to relinquish their current priviledge status in the world…” (pp. 294). This claim suggests that Americans are actually hypocritical in the thought of the “global village” because we wouldn’t want to relinquish our “top dog” status over the other societies in the world and move down or bring them up to the American level or social status. This is Selfes defense on the claim that the American conception of the “global village” is wrong. Another of Selfe’s claims is, “All these things remind us that opportunity is a commodity generally limited to privileged groups within this country” (pp. 304). This claim is in support of the claim, “-that America is the land of opportunity only for some people” (pp. 304). Through these claims, Selfe promotes the idea that the American Narrative of the “land of equal opportunity” is a false Narrative because it is only true for some people. These claims are supported by the history of slavery, immigration, women’s suffrage and labor unions.

Revolution Summery and Claims

In Cynthia L. Selfe's paper, Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution, she writes about how Americans, and specifically English educators, want computers to make the world a better place to live in. Selfe says, “We hope computers can help make us, and the students with whom we work, more productive in the classroom and other instructional settings more effective as communicators and more responsibly involved as literate citizens in the world affairs.” Pg.(293) What Selfe is saying is that she hopes that computers will help make Americans learn better and make then want to be more involved with things other then themselves. She then goes on to state from Howard Rheingold, The Virtual Community, that, “computer networks can support more citizens in their efforts to communicate with government agencies, corporations, political groups, and information resources.” Pg.(293) Selfe is saying that when Americans learn more from computers, they will be able to be more in contact with government and other positions of control. Selfe then goes on to explain the first narrative, which is the global village and the electronic colony. Selfe says that technology will, “help us create a global village in which the people of the world are all connected.” Pg.(294) What Selfe is saying is that technology will make a program that will be able to bring everyone in the world together in a single place. Selfe believes that Americans are the leaders of technology. She states that, “Americans are the smart ones who use technological expertise to connect the worlds people, to supply them with the technology and train them to use it.” Pg.(295) What she is saying is that since Americans are the best with technology then they should be the people to lead this global village. Her second narrative is about the land of equal opportunity and the land of difference. In this part she talks about how advertisements make it look like America is open towards everybody. She says, “This landscape, Americans like to believe, is open to everybody-male and female, regardless of color, class, or connection.” Pg.(301) Selfe is saying that Americans think that America is the best place to live because it gives everybody an opportunity to live and try new things. She then says that, “America is the land of opportunity only for some people.” Pg.(304) What she means is that America has had its history of slavery and discrimination and immigration laws. We have had problems with women suffrage and poverty and education. Her third narrative is about the un-gendered utopia and the same old gendered stuff. In this part of her writing she talks about how women are portrayed and how men are put into positions of power. In figure 17 it shows a narcissistic, seductress woman staring into a computer for Samsung. Advertisements would never put a man in her position. In ads and commercials they portray women as seductress and secretary's while putting men in jobs as bosses and other powerful spots.

Claim 1: Quite simply put, like many Americans, we hope computers can help us make the world a better place to live.

Evidence: In Selfe's writing she says that “We hope computers can help make us, and the students with whom we work, more productive in the classroom and other instructional settings more effective as communicators and more responsibly involved as literate citizens in the world affairs.” Pg.(293) This supports her claim because if computers can make us more effective as communicators then we could talk about problems instead of fighting about them.

Claim 2: As much as Americans might like to think it; technology is not the only solution for all of the world’s problems-and, indeed, might well be a contributing cause to many of them.

Evidence: Technology isn't the only option for problems that the world has. Americans should be able to come up with other ways to solve conflicts.

The Revolution that is a Revolution

Henry Petersen

October 30, 2010

English 100O

Cynthia Selfe in the article properly titled Lest We Think The Revolution is a Revolution, explains the facts and the fears of technology in the world. This was written in the 90’s keep in mind, but doesn’t rule out the fact that she may be knowledgeable to the fact of technology changing the way we live. Within the first narrative Selfe proclaims that Americans have become lazy, and in doing so created an environment in their own world. How Cynthia puts it is that Americans can simply watch something on their television and say that they have the experience of whatever the program may be. Advertisements have greatly affected our way of living as well, and have convinced us to live as a whole. As Cynthia puts it, we must all work together as a tribe, not only to be cooperative, but also to help one another. In the second narrative goes on about the classes and the American dream and land of opportunity. That no matter how someone looks, or how they talk, how they eat, their will always be an opportunity for someone in the united states. On the other hand if someone were to take a closer look they would see that “The Land of Opportunity” isn’t as cracked up as it used to be. The graduation rates In schools, the jobs only available to some people, and the fact that no woman has been president….. Yet. The third narrative paints a picture for the feminists and the people who think that everyone regardless of sex can simply get along. Selfe points out that many programs on computers are related to the males of the world, and that most all computer programs benefit men. While the women of our country use the technology to help, or make it useful to themselves, their families, or at their work. Nowadays there is a large variety of games, and software for woman, and it is made for whatever purpose the woman desires. The ungendered utopia requires a lot of non-judgmental work with the sexes. So that men may escape the stereotypes of the usual references portrayed towards men. The same goes for women and the stereotypes they must escape. When it comes down to it the un-gendered utopia is a myth and is slightly possible in the future, but no where in the near future. People being judgmental is happening to radically to be stopped now. The final narrative is “Confronting Revised Narratives”. This last portion of the essay is directed towards facing the reality and confronting our issues as human beings. Not only will it take time for our perceptions of eachother to diminish, it will take a while to figure out what we really need.

B.) “In the connection with workplace technologies, men are allowed essentially the same tie and oxford cloth look in the nintey’s, as they were in the fifties…” This not only goes to show that men in the business world haven’t chaned from their old way of dressing and ways of carrying themselves, that the only thing that’s changed is the way men are outside the workplace. Men are changing from straight up business men to whatever they feel like.

“It takes energy and careful thinking to create a landscape in which women can participate in roles other than those of seductress, beauty, or mother; and in which men don’t have to be bikers or abusers or rapid techno geeks or violent sex maniacs” All these ways of seeing the world are just how the person is brought up and how they perceive everything. The woman can change to something outside of being a seductress, but the woman must make a conscious effort. As far as men go, they must decide what they want to be, and how they choose to do it.

“Lest We Think The Revolution” They say & Quotes

They say: With the article “Lest We Think Revolution” by Selfe, I read and analyzed Pg.295-301/P.12-34 or Narrative #1: “The “Global Village” and the “Electronic Colony”. In this section of our reading Selfe talks about Americans and how we react and use technology, mostly referring to the Internet. Selfe believes the Internet eliminates racial and ethic differences. She points out how we are “one among many” in the technological world we live in. Americans also have fear in technology because they do not understand technology completely. Even though we are much afraid, we are also curious because we are, even historically, discoverers. Culturally the Internet connects us all together, creating a communication link. Selfe also believe teamwork is our key to having a good future. Most people don’t know that new technology can benefit their lives in someway or another. Selfe then switches from Internet to advertising, which can also be linked to the Internet. She points out advertising markets target a countries values and how they use images to sell products. Americans try to make it a point to teach and help everyone understand and use technology. Selfe ends with technology might be part of our problems.

Claim #1: “As much as Americans might like to think it; technology is not the only solution for all of the world’s problems-and, indeed, might well be a contributing cause to many of them.”

Evidence/Reasoning: We are suppost to be using the internet to fix our world problems but we only use the internet to benefit our selves at others expense.

Claim #2: “For the world to have a future, we must work together as one tribe.”

Evidence/Reasoning: If people don’t depend on each other and try to do thing by themselves they wont go anywhere. Power is in numbers, one person cant win a war, but an army can.

Selfe, SUMMARY

Jesse Conroy
English 100/O

A) In Cynthia L. Selfe’s writing, Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution, she says, “Quite simply put, like many Americans, we hope computers can help us make the world a better place in which to live.” Pg.(293) Selfe goes on to explain how people see technology as a way to become more productive in our everyday lives, whether it be at work, school, or at home. Technology is an ever changing thing and companies that create these technologies are promoting positive change, or are they? Selfe writes, “This optimism about technology often masks in a peculiar way, however, a contrasting set of extremely potent fears. Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, an exclusive focus on the positive changes associated with technology, often serves to distract educators from recognizing how existing social forces actually work to resist change in connection with technology.” Pg.(293) Selfe continues on to serve up advertisements that companies have put out in the past to promote their new technological products. Such ads show pictures of beautiful women staring into a personal computer at home or business men using their computers in an office at work. This ads are showing how technology can make the lives of these people change in a more productive way, but what it is also doing is sticking with a gender role from the past that does not promote change. Selfe says, “In these ads, we see reflected the roles that our culture can imagine women playing in relation to technology. And they are familiar roles-the seductress, the beauty, the mother-all relationships ratified by our historical experience, easily accessible to our collective imagination, and informed by traditional social values. These roles exist, and are reproduced, within a set of over determined social formations that makes radical change hard to imagine and even harder to enact-especially when technology is involved.” Pg.(315-316) Any one person can use a computer, regardless of gender or race and gender or race is not a pre site for success in our current techno-utopia. Selfe is explaining how technology changes the way we live our lives but advertisements for technology do not promote change when they use stereotypical gender roles from previous eras.

B) Selfe makes several claims on gender roles associated with technology in the reading and then supports them with evidence from the advertisements. Selfe claims, “But the roles of parent, housewife, and secretary/boss are not the only ones open to women in the new cyberlandscape represented by the same old Gendered Stuff narrative.” Pg.(309) she supports this by going on to say, “Figure 16 (page 314), for example, shows and ad for Nokia monitors, and in doing so, portrays a woman in the traditional role of “beauty.” in the advertisement, a sophisticated woman draped with jewels, decked out in a chic black dress, washed in sepia tones and softened by a grainy texture gazes into a computer monitor. Although the text accompanying this image ostensibly outlines the capabilities and design of the monitor, the language itself leaves no doubt of the pictures intent. As it notes, the “European passion for beauty” is quickly “winning the hearts and eyes of Americans too” by seductive means. The woman pictured in this advisement, it should be noted, gazes longingly into a monitor, but lacks a keyboard with which she could act on the computer.” Pgs(315-316) Selfe claims that women are stuck to the same “old gender roles” and goes on to list a few such as housewife, parent, and secretary/boss. She supports her claim by explaining yet another gender role women are related to by these technology advertisements. She puts in detail a Nokia ad where a “beautiful” women stares longingly into a sleek new “beautiful” computer monitor without a keyboard. Nokia’s ad is using this woman and exploiting her beauty to sell their product. Selfe makes another claim on gender roles in technology ads, only this time her claim applies to men. She states, “The revision of the Un-Gendered Utopia narrative into the Same Old Gendered Stuff narrative deals no less traditionally with men’s roles, it should be noted.” Pg.(316) She goes on to back this claim up by saying, “in connection with workplace technologies, men are allowed essentially the same tie-and-oxford-cloth look in the nineties (figure 18) as they were in the fifties (figure 19), although slight variations of this role-the impatient-and-rebellious young entrepreneur on the go sans tie (figure 20,pg 318) or the successful architect-net-cruiser (figure 21,pg 319) sporting a turtle neck-are also permitted. Out of the workplace (figures 22-24,pgs 319-321), men are shown to adopt the equally traditional and retrograde roles of bikers, nerds, and sex maniacs.” Pg.(316) Selfe is explaining how these advertisements are sticking with the traditional roles of men being boss’s or leaders in the work place and always looking professional. She also goes on to say men can take on the role of a biker, nerd, or sex maniac because that’s yet another traditional role society can see a man playing.

response to Selfe

For my reading assignment, my group was assigned to read from paragraph 12 to paragraph 34 and then summarize it. It talked about the “global village” and how the people of the world are connected. It mainly focused on how America is the leader throughout the world and stated that twenty percent of the world is held by America and with that twenty percent we consume eighty percent of the world’s resources. These are pretty unbelievable percent’s if you ask me. I think that the United States of America should use some of these resources to help out our neighboring countries because they are in dire need and I think we can afford to give a little.

In paragraph 33 on page 301, Selfe states: “As much as Americans like to think it; technology is to the solution for all of the world’s problems- and, indeed, it might well be a contributing cause to them”. In other words, Selfe is says that technology is a cause to some of the world’s problems rather than being a solution to them.

Selfe

Cynthia L. Selfe describes three narratives, or myths, as Robert Scholes would call them. In the introduction part of her essay “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution” Selfe starts out by describing how technology is linked to change since technology is advancing more and more every time. Due to that, some English departments have made changes in their teaching methods by adding technology because the educators believe that learning will be easier and a better experience if technology is used, although some people fear what effects technology will have on us. All the myths of narratives have made us believe that technology is a good thing to the point where educators have included different types of technology in their teaching methods. Some of the myths about technology are that computers will make the world a better place for us and that it will also help students be more productive. Computers do help us communicate around the globe though with just a few clicks. Out of all the myths that have to do with technology us as Americans recognize our cultural symbols when we see them. When we see ads portrayed by technology it reveals to us our real feelings about technology or what our opinion towards it really is. People have different opinions about if computers are really helping us out and if they are actually making our lives easier and better. Some argue that reading online has made some of us not want to read long pieces of writing anymore. Others believe that computers have just made us lazier and dumber as they have been misused. In her article Selfe states that “like many Americans, we hope computers can help us make the world a better place in which to live.” Selfe is speaking out for Americans saying that we all hope that computers can help us out in different ways so that in the end they can make the whole world a better place. That could be done by just sending a simple e-mail to a friend or family member who might be across the globe. Being able to communicate through a computer connected to the internet is something that we couldn’t do years ago. It could also be to make an online donation for a good cause. My opinion is that computers along with the internet have made the world a better place for some, but not for those who have misused this revolutionary technology. It is one who is controlling the computer, so it’s your own choice on how you’re going to use it.

“The Ungendered Utopia” and “The Same Old Gendered Stuff”

In my group’s discussion on “Lest We Think The Revolution Is A Revolution” by Cynthia L. Selfe, we were given the 3^rd narrative titled, The Ungendered Utopia” and “The Same Old Gendered Stuff” In first paragraph we came to the conclusion that Americans today are still focused on gender, but we believe in time technology will get rid of the gender discrimination even though men are usually the ones using technology. I the second paragraph we read about how Andrea Dworkin’s explains about analysis and of images that can provide us with the chance to unthink about current discourses due to what technology has done. In the next paragraph we read we came to the conclusion that the paragraph was mainly about an un-gendered utopia and how it is idea to something that appeals to us, but what we came from can still be accomplished it will just take a lot of work. In the next paragraph we found that the main idea was, it’s impossible to reason an ungendered utopia because we are so comfortable about how society. The 5^th paragraph made us really think about what the main idea actually was, and we found that the revisited narrative states technology is ingenerated but the way we use it promises otherwise society that puts valves on technology. In the last paragraph we found the main idea was the fact that the same old genders stuff us mainly how we see womens roles such as housewife, maid, or caregiver. It’s mainly just about what we used to think was the right thing before technology took over.

The quote I mainly want to focus on is, “There is a remarkable absence in all the images of people of color, and poor people, and people who are out of work, and single-parent families, and gay couples, foreigners.” I found this quote important because, it’s telling about the truth of the olden days and what they used to do with ads. This relates to my topic because it’s related to gender which is mainly what my topic is about.

summary

In Cynthia L. Selfe’s book “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution” she talks about many good views of hers and puts her ideas out there. Americans believe that technology will create a topic world regardless of gender, but women and girls shows that they use computers less than males. Andrea Dworkins says we need to analyze images that give us false impressions of gender and computers unthank them and analyze in a productive way. We as a society have been brought up to think subconsciously, that makes us more prone to have the social norm of using technology. An underground utopia is a appealing and ideal way but it requires us to give up things that we are accustomed to. It is impossible to reach an underground utopia because we are so accustomed to how our society works and was built. Technology is ungendered but we start to put gender on it giving, it our values. In the same old gendered stuff narrative women in technology have roles of wife, myth, seductress, business setting, secretaries etc. and men are also victims and business makers.

summary

In Cynthia L. Selfe’s book “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution” she discusses many interesting topics and explains her stance and thoughts. Each paragraph has important ideas that need to be keyed on. Computers create electronic landscape in which all have equal stakes; we have equal opportunities and access. (301) The internet, according to the American view, is uncharted territory, the new frontier and available to anyone who values innovation, individualism, and competition. (302) Advertisements play on the narrative to capture the American fascination with traditional values. (302) Cultural memory is potent for Americans because advertisements know this and try to capture the values that we Americans have to revere. (302) Technological progress characterizes what American know-how can accomplish when circumstances are right. (303) Suggests that citizens of the 21st century can achieve the same kind of happy security and personal well-being that was enjoyed by citizens of the 50’s. (303) America is the land of opportunity but only for privileged people. (304) If we believe that technology can help us all to improve our lives, we aren’t actually able to accomplish this because we can’t even envision this in our ads or commercials. (304)

Selfe Summary

PART A:
In Cynthia L. Selfe's text "Lest We Think the revolution is a Revolution" many valid points come out. Selfe brings out things like how powerful the internet and technology is really becoming and how it is affecting our everyday lives. She points out how much sex appeal comes into play with the media and how we tend to react to it.
In the section that my group and I had she mainly focused on gender and how to get rid of gender discrimination. My initial reaction was very confused; I didn’t know what to think because I had never looked at it from her perspective. Selfe states that anybody can use a computer regardless of gender but it appeals more to men and portrays more things significant to males. I believe it similar to cars or other things like when people get a new car they mostly refer to it as a “her.” For example on television I’ll see some movies and when men will get a new car they will say something like “She’s a (certain type of model) isn’t she beautiful?” They automatically give it a gender label. Andrea Dworkins says we analyze images that give us false impressions of gender and computers, it’s almost a social norm for men to figure out and be more intrigued by computers than females and we seem to unconsciously follow that lead.
Another good point she comes out with is that although an un-gendered utopia may be ideal and is something that appeals to us it is very hard to achieve. Most of all Americans are not willing to give up what they already have. To look back at what we had and what we have reached we are almost being selfish and greedy just wanting it all.

PART B:
The quote I chose from Selfe’s book is “We hope computers can help us make the world a better place in which to live (Page 293).” I think what she’s trying to explain here is that were kind of stuck in this one phase were we think computers and technology are somehow going to make the world a much better place, much safer and much easier too. We do not know this for a fact but in a way we are almost relying on them like they have human traits and can magically conjure up a bunch of happily-ever after’s.
I believe though that we cannot depend upon computers to do this, this is completely up to us and the way that WE use computers. All we can do is change the way that we work on them. But many of us would rather not change the values that society has already put on them. As one of my classmates said “Technology is like a blank canvas and we just paint over it,” It really is up to us to make the changes we would like to see.

We think the Revolution is a Revolution

Part A: My section was from page 316 to the end of the text. In “Lest We Think the Revolution Is a Revolution”, Cynthia L. Selfe creates a very stereotyped way of living for men and women. She comments on what men specifically wear and how they act in and out of work. She says that in work they are the “successful architect-net-cruiser” and once they are out of work, they are like every other man in “traditional and retrograde roles of bikers, nerds, and sex maniacs” (Selfe 316). I think she is just stereotyping here, and saying that men just look at the media and imitate what they see. For women she says its easier to play the role of a mother, seductress or beauty. This is all about playing rolls for Selfe, and how it is just easier to play the roll of something than to play against it. If you really wanted to play against it though, I think it would be simple to do that.

Part B: Selfe at one point says “It will be exceedingly difficult for Americans to imagine an electronic landscape in which individuals enjoy new kinds of opportunities to relate to each other and new kinds of opportunities to make positive changes in their lives” (Selfe 316). I believe that Selfe is trying to say that it will be hard to adapt to change. That Americans still want to play the roll of the male going to work, coming home and relaxing, and the female looking all motherly. I think she is also trying to say that if we allow it to change, if we give it the opportunity to change, than we can make it something positive in our life.

Summary: Selfe

The author of “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution: Images of Technology and the Nature of Change”, Cynthia L. Selfe writes of image; how “they tell rich and powerful stories about the social contexts in which they are produced” and how they are “laden with cultural information, shot through with the values, ideological positions, and social understanding” (294). The importance of images and ads are what leads into her main focus of the three narratives that Americans believe technology will fulfill and the revisions that she has made to make them more realistic to our society. The “global village” is the first, Selfe states that will connect all of the people in the world as the network of computers will “[bind] together the people of the world regardless of race, ethnicity or location” (294). Selfe then contradicts this narrative with the fact that this narrative is “quite terrifying” will cause American citizens to surrender their privileged status’ and lose the economic benefits that our society has as being “one of the most highly technological nations in the world” (294). Because of these consequences, she revises this narrative by calling it “the electronic colony”. In this colony, technology is reached worldwide but “different cultures [and different people] exist to be discovered, explored, marveled at—in a sense, known and claimed by—those who can design and use technology” (295). Which means that our roles in the world stay the same; “Americans are the smart ones” while the rest of the world “are the recipients of technology and its benefits, those who use the technology that we control” (295). The second narrative is a “land of equal opportunity” that “focuses on equity, opportunity, and access” for everyone. (301). Selfe uses ads from multiple companies as examples of the lack of equity in the reality of the narrative. The images shown are all typical “American families” that represent luxury and freedom and explain “that technology uninfluenced by traditional American values can run amuck, especially in a postmodern world” (302). Selfe claims that “America is the land of opportunity for only some people” and “is a commodity generally limited to privileged groups within this country” (304). The third and last narrative is of “the un-gendered utopia” and the idea that technology will create a society in which gender roles are abolished and men and women will live equally. Selfe calls the revised edition “the same old gendered stuff” because of how unwilling our culture is to change. To have this “un-gendered utopia” we must “learn how to understand people outside of the limited gender roles that we have constructed for them in this country” (306). Selfe sums up the revised version of this narrative by stating that “the new electronic landscape retains a value on innovation, hard work and the individual contributions of people of both genders, but only as they are practiced appropriately—within the traditionally gendered contexts we have historically and culturally ratified for women and men in our culture” (307). These narratives express how much Americans expected technology to transform their culture but in reality, we let our values manipulate technology instead of the other way around.

In the second narrative of “the land of equal opportunity”, Selfe claims that “these ads are what my grandmother would call ‘mighty white’. There is remarkable absence in all images of people of color, and poor people, and people who are out of work, single-parent families, and gay couples, and foreigners” (304). I found this quote interesting because of the fact that advertisement companies use only the “typical American family” and yet, the ads are still successful among the general population. Selfe continues her argument by stating that “if technology is to improve the lives of Americans regardless of race and class and other differences, our collective ability to envision such a world is not evident in these images” (305). This quote reinforces the idea that our society has influenced technology to our values because of these images. Instead of using technology to create a sense of equality throughout the world, we use it raise the status of Americans and display the power that we have over the rest of the world.

Pages 294-301 (Narrative one)
​Recently I read over chapter 16 in “Lest We Think Revolution is a Revolution,” by Cynthia L. Selfe.  Focusing primarily on the first narrative, “The “Global Village” and the “Electronic Colony,”” I developed the understanding Selfe has towards the world and technology.  According to Selfe people all over the world are connected through the internet which acts as a “natural force, drawing people into greater world harmony.”  Among the rest of the world, America holds 20 percent of the population while consuming nearly 80 percent of all resources.  As many people already know, America is a global leader to the rest of the world, but with the sudden popularity of the internet, could order be changing?   If America loses their position of being so highly technologically advanced they may lose there economic benefits that have been acquired and a new global context could function.  However this is not the case, Americans maintain a vision that connects people together from all corners of the world, yet we see ourselves as the leaders who are providing the opportunity to be connected, so we control it.  This is not only true electronically, as America has provided assistance in varying acts such as Lend lease and the Peace Corps for several decades.  Technology provides a gateway to connect with the rest of the world, but it seems to also be reinforcing old stereotypes. Although now thanks to the internet, it is easy for people to receive a glimpse of what it looks like half way around the world, it can also be misleading.  Selfe distinguished this through advertisements she came across online.  Advertisements representing an African woman nursing a baby and a chimp are very misleading and continue to reinforce old stereotypes.   Technology is not a solution for world problem, it may actually contributing to them.  

Selfe states that "technology is not the solution for all of the world's problem-and, indeed, it might well be a contributing cause to many of them." in other words, Selfe is implying that       that technology is the root to all evil, and we would be much better off with out it in our lives. 

we think the revolution is a revolution

Jesse Conroy
English 100/O

Part A pg#309-322: Selfe is explaining how gender is not a pre site for success in a technological utopia. Any body can use a computer regardless of gender or race, but advertisements for technology today portray a stereotype of gender and race from the past that does not allow change. Technology seems to promote change yet advertisements for the latest technology portray old school stereotypes such as a beautiful women staring into a sleek new computer monitor that just came out or a man dressed in a business suit walking down the street on his way to work. These ads promote that old way of life when women were stay at home moms and objects of beauty and only men worked. The ads to not promote change, yet technology is always changing.

Part B: In recent discussion on technology, it has become apparent that many people today believe that technology is the answer to global problems. Were in fact, such problems can not be easily fixed by simply using the latest computer software. Cynthia L. Selfe author of the book Lest We Think the Revolution is Revolution , writes “As much as Americans might like to think it; technology is not the solution for all of the worlds problems-and, indeed, it might well be a contributing cause to many of them.” Pg(301) In her book, Selfe shows advertisements that companies have put out in the past to show off their latest technology. The advertisements explain how computers are able to come up with quick solutions to such problems as poverty and war. Selfe goes on to say “in these images I’m afraid, we see reflected not those fundamental and much needed changes we talked about pursuing earlier; not improvements in the world situation, nor the elimination of hunger or pain or suffering or war; not, in other words, an improved life for our fellow inhabitants in the global village or an improved understanding of their cultures and concerns, but, rather the all too familiar stories of how to multiply our own markets, how to increase our own cultural profits at the expense of others, how to ake more effective advantage of need and difference whenever we identify them, and how to reduce the cultures of other people to inexcusable simplifications.” Pg(301) Selfe is showing how these advertisements are attempting to show the consumer that computers can do amazing things like solve global issues, were in reality this is impossible and the companies are just trying to make a profit off other cultures sufferings

We've Pulled the Wool of Advertisment Over Our Eyes

A.) in Cynthia L Selfe's piece "Lest we think the Revolution is a Revolution, Images of Technology and the Nature of Change" She talks about The way we view technology is changing our world and the way it is actually impacting our world.
In the first section "Change Technology and the Status Quo." She talks about how educators are embracing technology but some fear it's effects. On page 293 Selfe says "...[A]n exclusive focus on the positive changes associated with technology, often serves to distract educators from recognizing how existing social forces actually work to resist change in connection with technology;..."(par9). She's talking about how she thinks despite technology the west still thinks it's better off then the east and that we have something to offer. Later in the article she says we still have gender rolls with computers. When it comes down to it we fear change. She says we are greatly influenced to think a certain way about technology from advertisements. From these ads we form a collective cultural understanding. She is suggesting we have a sort of wool over our eyes. we need to step back and look at our view of technology critically. "...[T]he ads included in this chapter can reveal to us the complications of our feelings toward technology and illustrate how these feelings are played out in the shared landscapes of our lived experience." (par11) Says Selfe. in the next section she shows several adds and shows you how to pull them apart and see how we really feel about and use technology.


B.) Interesting quote. "Because our culture subscribes to several powerful narratives that link technological progress closely with social progress, it is easy for us-for Americans, in particular-to believe that technological change leads to productive social change." (par5)

est we think the revolution is a revolution

a.
computers created a technological land scapes in which all stakes are equal. the internet according to the american views are that it is uncharted territory. The new frontier is available to anyone who values an invasion, individualism and competetion. Advertisements played on the narrative to capture the american facination with traditional values. cultural memory is potenting for americans beause advertisements know this and try to capture the value s that we aamericans came to revear. Technology is unifluenced by traditional american values. Ads are to pursuasive and only small points if views. America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, but in reality it is only for priveleged groups and for people who can afford it. Ads. leave out many views and oppions. all the stuff that the ad does not talk about are called "mighty white".  if citizan of all kind have access to technology and opportunity t=then we wouldnt need such a narrative image in ads.

b.
"America is land of opportuity, but only for some people" this shows that America puts off a image to other countrys that America is a land of opportunity but in really the opportunity that we get from living in america a only for certaint kinds of people. through out history many people never had a lot of opportunitys. We had slavery, deaf education, womens with now rights immigration child labor  etc.  We are still going through this to this day although a lot has improved, but we still have immigration going on and we still have not yet had a women president yet as an example.

Narrative 2

A)     In Cynthia Selfe’s text titled “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution” she has three narratives. Our group read and discussed her second Narrative: “Land of Equal Opportunity” and “Land of Difference” on pages 301-305. In this narrative Selfe references the 2^nd cultural story in connection with computers and change. She explains that computers create an electronic landscape in which all have equal stakes, or what we own, equal opportunity, and equal access. Selfe suggests that according to Americans, the internet is unexplored space and is available for use to anyone who values advancement, individuality, and competition. Along with the internet, Selfe also talks about advertising and how they play upon the “land of the equal opportunity” narrative to capture the American’s fascination with traditional values. Cultural memory is potent in order to capture the golden days to sell something to Americans. Selfe proposes that as technologies progress the characteristics are becoming what Americans know how to accomplish when circumstances are right and that technology provides a sense of security. In America our cultural experiences create a land of opportunity only to those who chose to believe in it. If ads and images leave out race and gender then citizens of all kinds have access to technology and images we wouldn’t need such narrative images and ads.

B)       The quote I have chosen is relating to advertisements, “They are laden with cultural information, shot through with the values, ideological positions, and social understandings that comprise our shared experience.” (Pg. 294) This topic has been brought up in multiple of our readings. It sticks out to me because of the psychological aspect that advertisement companies go through to capture our attention and make us want to go out and buy whatever if being sold or encouraged.

Lest we can actually read the entire thing (Cynthia Selfe essay summary)

In Cynthia Selfe's Essay entitled "Lest We think the Revolution is a Revolution" she talks about how technology is often related to change, which is exactly what it is doing. Those who teach in the English Department have accepted the new change that technology brings, and with that they often buy new equipment and upgrades for the most up-to-date programs. Although with this, it tends to have people fear the effects that the change technology brings. Selfe can't help the fact that even though there can be draw backs to change, she continues to say that "it is easy for us - for Americans, in particular - to believe that technological change leads to productive social change." (p. 293)The essay continues on to say that it is in fact easy to believe that the change technology brings can create a productive social change. Selfe also believes that computers will help make the world a better place and more productive in the worldly affairs. Due to the change from technology, they are able to create advertisements from just still pictures and tell stories from them. What she stated about the ads was that also in the essay that the ads "reveal to us the complications of our feelings toward technology and illustrate how these feelings are played out in the shared landscapes of our lived experience" (p.294)

There was a quote in that essay that said "Americans use technology to become world travelers, to learn about - and acquire knowledge of - other cultures, while remaining comfortably situated within their own living rooms and, thus, comfortably separated from the other inhabitants of the global village.(p.296-297)" What she is saying is that even though we have the power and capabilities to reach the farthest ends of the world and visit them virtually, that's all we are actually doing, visiting them virtually. People today would rather pretend that they were there than actually go to those places. I understand this a little bit, mostly that in this economy I would rather pretend I went somewhere nice and foreign rather than pay for a trip there and back. Understanding that nothing compares to the real thing.

Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution

In Cynthia L Selfe's essay, Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution: Images of Technology and the Nature of Change, pages 292-294 describes how technology and the way it is used equals change. English departments have come to accept technology and have adjusted to buying supplies and upgrades for programs. We have adapted to technology but still have fears about it. Selfe says that technological change leads to productive social change. For example in her essay she says, “we hope that computers can make us, and the students with whom we work with, more productive in the classroom and other instructional settings.” She thinks that the technological change will make us more efficient and quicker with our work. Today computer technology has been embraced by English studies teachers. They hope that the computers can make them more effective as communicators and more responsibly involved literate citizens in world affairs. Selfe says that technology makes us more connected with our government and groups all over. Selfe also says how technology kills rich and powerful stories that are full of cultural information that are significant to us. Overall she says that technology gives us mixed feelings.

My specific quote is, “We hope computers can help us make the world a better place in which to live(Page 293).” What Selfe is saying is that we want technology to solve all of the worlds problems so that everything is safe. She hopes that technology will create peace between everyone so that the world will be a perfect place to live. I dont see how computers will be able to make the world a better place. I dont think that if we gave terrorists a new computer they would stop attacking people. I think that the only way technology will create peace is if we connect the world leaders in a online chat page or video chat to solve the problems.

Michael Sperry

Narrative # 1

Henry Petersen

October 27, 2010

English 100O

Part A:

In Cynthia Selfe’s essay about our world and the influence of technology over our “Tribes”, she explains how peace and cooperation must be met. In the portion of the essay titled “The Global Village and The Electronic Colony”, she first explains the need to cooperate and live as one tribe. Just to get a sense of where she is coming from. Selfe further states that Americans would be asked to relinquish their current status in the world today. This is involving all Americans to give up every prejudice they have towards anyone. No one has a particular level in the world, and everyone is equal. This idea has such been attempted many times, but in most cases has lead to no one being in agreement over anything. The tribes that we are to live in would all have the same opinion due to our fear of the technological advances in our world. As Selfe puts it, Americans have the experience to live as a single tribe, and everyone can connect with each other. Without their being any prejudices towards one another. Since America has the power of travel at the flick of a wrist, we can simply go out and tour the world. Or join the Peace Corps and explore while helping other people.

In the first advertisement a man is pictured in traditional clothes worn in his tribe. And the phrase above him says “For the world to have a future we must work together as one tribe.” The man has an expression on confusion, and in the article Selfe claims that he is “Wondering”. (Par. 22) Showing off his primitivism to the world, but is telling all Americans that we must be one tribe. Selfe then completely makes a huge leap to another point of her argument, and tells us how we can just sit in our comfortable living rooms away from the primitives. “… acquire knowledge of – other cultures , while remaining comfortably situated within their own living rooms…” (Par. 23) So in a way she went from telling her audience that in order to live properly we must connect with the world around us. To saying that should all just sit in our livings rooms and watch the tube like we have been doing for the last few decades. Not only is Selfe claiming that we must live as a tribe, Virgin Mobile is just as big a part of it as Selfe is. Making “One Tribe and One World”. (Par. 23) Selfe continues on to say that Virgin Mobile has their headquarters in Britain, but has American Taste. Is this not forming one tribe with the people of Britain?

The advertisement on page 299 shows a woman breast feeding a baby and a monkey? This is strange, but that’s what gets the attention of someone surfing the net, and finding something their not looking for. The dollar sign will attract the people interested in money and the monkey suckling on the teat of the native woman will attract attention and cause people to click on this link.

The advertisements interpreted by Selfe are ones that are made to show other countries and people what America is capable of. That we can help. Our technology today is used in ways that weren’t even imaginable 20 years ago. Now we can make pictures of run down churches and take pictures of thirsty South Africans. Good Job America.

Part B:

Americans are portrayed as lazy, ignorant, and selfish. This can’t be argued too much but it can be said in a different way that may make sense to other people in the world. “… Americans use technology to become world travelers, to learn about - and acquire knowledge of – other cultures, while remaining comfortably situated within their own living room…” Not only have Americans turned into explorers, but are now receiving knowledge from their own living rooms. However the only knowledge that they are acquiring is that of which they see on their televisions. What the crew that made the video wants their viewers to see. To truly gain knowledge, the people who want to learn of our cultural differences must first break the habit of sitting in the chair. To making a trip to The Amazon, and seeing first hand what truly happens their. That way they can find out why the monkey sucks on that woman’s teat. Or just how, and why the people outside of the United States live. The only way to true knowledge is experience.

Lest We Think The Revolution is a Revolution”

a) My Group in class read “‘Land of Equal Opportunity’ And ‘Land Of Difference’” on pages 301-305. The first two paragraphs of this section focused on computers and the internet creating an electronic landscape in which everyone is believed to have equal stakes, equal access and equal opportunity. This landscape is a new frontier in which is available to anyone who values individualism, innovation and competition. Cynthia Selfe, through subtle example, keeps expressing these views as American views. This I believe to be saying that the views or ideas are only true for Americans and not for other societies around the world. The third and fourth paragraphs reiterate the same message that advertisements play upon the American fascination with traditional values. Americans cultural memory is persuasive and therefore advertisers try to capture that ideology in their messages. The last four paragraphs of this section focus on how technological progress characterizes what Americans know how to accomplish and how advertisements play on this idea and try and create a sense that technology provides security. Then Selfe explains that the idea that America and its institutions provide a Land of Equal Opportunity, for some people; and also that advertisements do not actually promote unification of races, sexes, class or other differences.

b) In recent discussion, there has been conversation between American ideology on computers and the internet, and the reality of what they actually stand for. In an article, “Lest We Think The Revolution is a Revolution,” author Cynthia Selfe, portrays the three American Narratives as the “Global Village,” “Land of Equal Opportunity” and the “Ungendered Utopia” as false. The Internet and advertisements have taken those Narratives and turned them into the “Electric Colony,” the “Land of Difference” and the “same old genders.” In one of Selfe’s main claims she states, “Computers, in other words, are completely socially determined artifacts that interact with existing social formations and tendencies-including sexism, classissm, and racism- to contribute to the shaping of a gendered society” (pp. 306). What Selfe is trying to portray through this claim is that computers have not created but uphold simple worldly tendancies as sexism, racism, and the separation of social class, to create the world in which we live. I hold that this statement does hold some merit in the discussion American ideology versus reality, but I do not believe that computers are to blame for all of the revised Narratives. To blame computers of such a high crime is completely illogical. Computers are just a tool used to access stores of information and programs. If anything to blame it is the internet and advertisements that create the Narratives that shape the society in which we live. Advertisements create a false image that almost no citizen can obtain. They create a front for what big companies and corporations want people to do, to want to look like and to buy. The internet takes these crafty advertisements and customizes them so they apply to you. Maybe you shop online for a new pair of jeans or a shirt one day. The next time you go onto the internet it has become a screen of flasing and dizzying advertisements about clothing and what the new trends are and how you should look and do your hair and even tie your shoelaces. Companies create these images for average people to desire after. If anything is to blame, it is not the tool, but the craftsmen. The internet and advertisements create Narratives that shape our society into whatever they want and benefit from.