(Day 10) In doing a thesis on technological matters, the currentness of my sources is key. Sure, there is something to be said for those whose theories transcend their spatial/temporal context in order to speak to larger issues, but this is simply not always the case. I didn't mean to laugh, as you should never laugh at someone's academic endeavours (that's a warning to all of you), but it just seemed ridiculous (read: disappointing) to be reading about how Call Waiting and Call Display are going to change the face of communications technology in light of all that has happened since. I'm not even saying that the ideas were wrong or invalid, it was just...severely outdated (severely = 12 years = small child). Who would have thought that 12 years could make such a difference considering the importance still placed on the classical texts from hundreds of years ago. Apparently the rate of obsolescence has greatly increased from 100 years to about 40 seconds.
I think reading about telephone or early internet technologies (which is where I am reading currently) is sort of like seeing someone on the street in Vaurnet, or an equally epitomizing 80's brand. You can respect that (for whatever reason) it was cool/relevant at some point, you just can't imagine yourself ever using/wearing it ever again lest you face ridicule by your peers/other academics. That is correct, I just compared the content of the stack of books on my desk to neon clothing that shouldn't 'fit' as tight as it did. Masterful.
the 'do you have some neon to go along with that' song of the day - West End Girls - The Pet Shop Boys
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3 comments:
you're sooooo going to have to revise this analogy when neon officially comes back in. won't be long, my friend.
people who own neon make me SICK
not to break the trend of not weighing in on the comments made here, but Annie, I do recall helping you move boxes of neon clothing, no?
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