In my 2nd year of highschool literature class we had a brief assignment to write about what we thought technology would look like 30 years from now and how it would affect our lives. Everyone basically wrote that there would be flying cars, fully automated robots, computers integrated into our brains, etc. I was the only person who said that it wouldn't change much just like the technology of the past didn't change life of today very much. I pointed out that I'm sitting in a chair with a literature textbook and a pencil and paper to take notes. The only difference between today and 100 years ago is that the building is air conditioned, which is nice, but not robot spaceman stuff.
I know I’m wayyy late to this, but great work, dude! I was really glad to see you interviewing Doug, and I’m thrilled to see you collaborating with him too. Hopefully this got you a few extra subs, you deserve it, given the quality of your work, and the messages! 🙏🏼✌🏼
It's interesting that you bring up Jules Verne and the accuracy of his predictions considering the fate of his "lost" novel Paris in the Twentieth Century, which was written in 1863 but only rediscovered and published in 1994. Unlike the majority of his works it shows an explicit dystopia, depicting a Paris in the then far-off year of 1960 where there are great technological marvels like electric illumination, skyscrapers, elevators, high-speed elevated trains, stores that are open 24 hours, weapons of war so destructive that no nation dares to attack another for fear of retaliation (a la atomic weapons), and even a proto-Internet (in the form of a global network of "picture telegraphs" (a.k.a. fax machines)) contrasted with a society that devalues what we would call the "liberal arts" are prefers only to deal with the practical, to the point where the protagonist is unable to find any work doing his passion (writing) and is forced to work in a bank and his librarian uncle is shunned by the rest of his family as an embarrassment. Verne's publisher rejected the novel when Verne originally submitted it saying that the novel was too depressing, which is depressing to think about considering how many parallels there are to today's world.
I do think that technology and advancing our technological capabilities should be a huge part of human progress. We just need a social system that actually truly fosters innovation instead of being applied towards the accumulation of wealth to a few tech oligarchs. We've seen what can be done when we collectively pool our resources towards truly groundbreaking and paradigm shifting technology. We split the atom and landed on the moon. What if we pooled those kinds of resources towards increasing the standard of living of everyone? I don't think that we have reached a serious point of diminishing returns with technology in general. The diminishing returns lies with capitalism and the RELATIONSHIP between capitalism and technology. It's the socioeconomic system that is the problem. That is what is holding back technological progress.
Great video- have you read the English philosopher John N Gray he has written some brilliant books which he critiques our beliefs in progress. He has incredible insight into history of ideas and many fascinating insights into literature, philosophy and economics
Shameless self-promotion (sorry!), but if you're interested in intellectual history and the idea of progress, you might like my recent book on critics of the idea of progress: www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/15754.html. If the description interests you, I hope you'll consider asking your local library to purchase a copy.
What kind of electronic music do you make, and can we listen? Do you have a bandcamp or something? I imagine you as making drone and ambient type stuff, a la OPN, Emeralds, or Ambient Works Vol. 2, or maybe even Lynchian or John Carpenter-esque soundtrack stuff.. Also, are you not into modular techno/electronic music? I couldn’t help but notice you displayed the big modular synths when you were talking about the excesses of buying synths to get a better sound, despite that not necessarily helping.. (granted that doesn’t imply that you don’t enjoy that kind of music, I just found it interesting being a big time electronic music nerd/fan)
I'm working on another channel. I'm not sure where I will release the straight audio. I'm planning on doing a one person live looping setup with bass guitar, drum machine, and synth (triggered from the bass with a squaver). Some electronic sounds, but it will be at least as much funk, rock, jazz, folk, and soul in there. It will still be a while before I can put together the equipment I need to pull it off. The channel will be called...what the empire is usually searching for in the star wars movies. Like any music, there is a lot of electronic music I love and a lot that sounds terrible. Big modular synths can be excessive, but they are pretty awesome. The dilemma we find ourselves in. I have some people do a lot of amazing things with them it would be hard to otherwise. LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER is probably my favorite.
I just want to to thank you for the quality work you do here... Progress was definitely a topic I am thinking deeply about.
In my 2nd year of highschool literature class we had a brief assignment to write about what we thought technology would look like 30 years from now and how it would affect our lives. Everyone basically wrote that there would be flying cars, fully automated robots, computers integrated into our brains, etc. I was the only person who said that it wouldn't change much just like the technology of the past didn't change life of today very much. I pointed out that I'm sitting in a chair with a literature textbook and a pencil and paper to take notes. The only difference between today and 100 years ago is that the building is air conditioned, which is nice, but not robot spaceman stuff.
I know I’m wayyy late to this, but great work, dude! I was really glad to see you interviewing Doug, and I’m thrilled to see you collaborating with him too. Hopefully this got you a few extra subs, you deserve it, given the quality of your work, and the messages! 🙏🏼✌🏼
It's interesting that you bring up Jules Verne and the accuracy of his predictions considering the fate of his "lost" novel Paris in the Twentieth Century, which was written in 1863 but only rediscovered and published in 1994.
Unlike the majority of his works it shows an explicit dystopia, depicting a Paris in the then far-off year of 1960 where there are great technological marvels like electric illumination, skyscrapers, elevators, high-speed elevated trains, stores that are open 24 hours, weapons of war so destructive that no nation dares to attack another for fear of retaliation (a la atomic weapons), and even a proto-Internet (in the form of a global network of "picture telegraphs" (a.k.a. fax machines)) contrasted with a society that devalues what we would call the "liberal arts" are prefers only to deal with the practical, to the point where the protagonist is unable to find any work doing his passion (writing) and is forced to work in a bank and his librarian uncle is shunned by the rest of his family as an embarrassment.
Verne's publisher rejected the novel when Verne originally submitted it saying that the novel was too depressing, which is depressing to think about considering how many parallels there are to today's world.
Part of me is quite sad the early pneumatic systems never took off. There's something oddly futuristic about them still. Also, consider me subscribed!
Awesome video! Zero books knows who to collaborate with :)
Economics 101: Resources are limited.
Dang, I watched both yours and Zero Books' videos, and... I think yours is better. Zero sum, you win. No debate
I do think that technology and advancing our technological capabilities should be a huge part of human progress. We just need a social system that actually truly fosters innovation instead of being applied towards the accumulation of wealth to a few tech oligarchs. We've seen what can be done when we collectively pool our resources towards truly groundbreaking and paradigm shifting technology. We split the atom and landed on the moon. What if we pooled those kinds of resources towards increasing the standard of living of everyone? I don't think that we have reached a serious point of diminishing returns with technology in general. The diminishing returns lies with capitalism and the RELATIONSHIP between capitalism and technology. It's the socioeconomic system that is the problem. That is what is holding back technological progress.
Great video- have you read the English philosopher John N Gray he has written some brilliant books which he critiques our beliefs in progress. He has incredible insight into history of ideas and many fascinating insights into literature, philosophy and economics
Shameless self-promotion (sorry!), but if you're interested in intellectual history and the idea of progress, you might like my recent book on critics of the idea of progress: www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/15754.html. If the description interests you, I hope you'll consider asking your local library to purchase a copy.
Still waiting for my electric flying car...
What kind of electronic music do you make, and can we listen? Do you have a bandcamp or something? I imagine you as making drone and ambient type stuff, a la OPN, Emeralds, or Ambient Works Vol. 2, or maybe even Lynchian or John Carpenter-esque soundtrack stuff..
Also, are you not into modular techno/electronic music? I couldn’t help but notice you displayed the big modular synths when you were talking about the excesses of buying synths to get a better sound, despite that not necessarily helping.. (granted that doesn’t imply that you don’t enjoy that kind of music, I just found it interesting being a big time electronic music nerd/fan)
I'm working on another channel. I'm not sure where I will release the straight audio. I'm planning on doing a one person live looping setup with bass guitar, drum machine, and synth (triggered from the bass with a squaver). Some electronic sounds, but it will be at least as much funk, rock, jazz, folk, and soul in there. It will still be a while before I can put together the equipment I need to pull it off. The channel will be called...what the empire is usually searching for in the star wars movies.
Like any music, there is a lot of electronic music I love and a lot that sounds terrible. Big modular synths can be excessive, but they are pretty awesome. The dilemma we find ourselves in. I have some people do a lot of amazing things with them it would be hard to otherwise. LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER is probably my favorite.