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--- 325:questions:week_6_questions_comments-325_17 [2017/02/23 15:14] – [Chapter 4, What was Electricity? 138-142, 182-184] jmcclurken
+++ 325:questions:week_6_questions_comments-325_17 [2017/02/23 15:20] (current) – jmcclurken
@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 **“Much of the public still harbored utopian expectations for a better electrified tomorrow which would include all citizens.”** It is captivating to see electricity in all households being seen as “the perfect world,” because it is such a common amenity in the not-so utopian world we live in today. But I guess that is what makes technology so interesting. It makes people constantly look for a more advancement, easier way of doing things, even when we have good technology as it is, we want to do better. It also shows the more difficult side of life-changing inventions. The creation of electricity was one of the most impactful inventions to ever happen, but with it came a lot of decisions that had to be sorted out at public, private, and government levels.-Kelsey Dean
-I think the fact that the general public’s initial reaction to electricity was that it was an “enlivening ‘juice’ that could rejuvenate the nervous system and free mankind from toil (182)” is one of the main reasons why it was so easy for private corporations and businessmen to institutionalize and advertise electricity as a commodity in America. “Americans treated electrification as a business rather than as a social service. (140-141)” Therefore, the spread of electricity from the wealthiest classes was so slow. It’s crazy to think that countries like Scandinavia, Germany, and Holland had goals to spread electrification to EVERY HOME while America was busy focusing on public-relation lighting spectacles to advertise the “product” of electricity, leaving most farmers and other rural citizens without lighting. The American vs European mindset on electrification reminds me of how college tuition is looked at differently. College is often-times treated as a commodity in America whereas many European countries offer free college tuition to their citizens. -Angie S
+I think the fact that the general public’s initial reaction to electricity was that it was an “enlivening ‘juice’ that could rejuvenate the nervous system and free mankind from toil (182)” is one of the main reasons why it was so easy for private corporations and businessmen to institutionalize and advertise electricity as a commodity in America. “Americans treated electrification as a business rather than as a social service. (140-141)” Therefore, the spread of electricity from the wealthiest classes was so slow. It’s crazy to think that countries like Scandinavia, Germany, and Holland had goals to spread electrification to EVERY HOME while America was busy focusing on public-relation lighting spectacles to advertise the “product” of electricity, leaving most farmers and other rural citizens without lighting. **The American vs European mindset on electrification reminds me of how college tuition is looked at differently.** College is often-times treated as a commodity in America whereas many European countries offer free college tuition to their citizens. -Angie S
 **It seems that the first thirty to forty years of electricity in the United States was a struggle to find electricity’s identity in society. Should electricity be treated as a social service or as a business? ** The text uses the example of street traction to note how the spread of electricity in the United States correlated with the ability of businessmen to make money off of electricity (140). I found it interesting that th**e general public had a romantic notion about electricity, whereas the social elites were more pragmatic, viewing electricity as a “tool for social improvement”** (182-83). The text mentions how electricity that developed “far beyond functional necessity” was used as a method for advertising purposes (140). However, this rapid spread of electricity creates a dilemma, as the text articulates: “The more electricity seemed to be a natural part of life, the more it would appear to be a natural right” (184). -- Yousef Nasser
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 ==== Chapter 7, Rural Lines -- 287-291, 304-307, 314-317, 322-338 ====
-The rural areas were not prioritized when the electrification of America commenced. There were staunch conservative opponents who believed rural America was the "moral center" of the country and if technology were introduced, the balance between man and nature would be "threatened". As Nye mentioned early in chapter 7 (287), America had fallen behind globally in the agricultural sector's electrification. The defense for change laid at the feet of those claiming farming had undergone constant change since the twelfth century (291). As farmers became the face of an "out of touch" non-electrified culture, farmers began to slowly voice support in magazines and newspapers. Ford Motor Company, and others soon to follow, made short films to popularize rural electrification and popularity spread among the rural community.  --- //[[kmcgowan@umw.edu|McGowan Khayla J.]] 2017/02/22 20:09//
+The rural areas were not prioritized when the electrification of America commenced. **There were staunch conservative opponents who believed rural America was the "moral center" of the country and if technology were introduced, the balance between man and nature would be "threatened".** As Nye mentioned early in chapter 7 (287), America had fallen behind globally in the agricultural sector's electrification. The defense for change laid at the feet of those claiming farming had undergone constant change since the twelfth century (291). As farmers became the face of an "out of touch" non-electrified culture, farmers began to slowly voice support in magazines and newspapers. Ford Motor Company, and others soon to follow, made short films to popularize rural electrification and popularity spread among the rural community.  --- //[[kmcgowan@umw.edu|McGowan Khayla J.]] 2017/02/22 20:09//
-Both advocates and opponents of rural electrification acted in the interest of rural America, however their views on what was necessary came into conflict. On one side, advocates such as President Franklin Roosevelt believed was “no longer a luxury, it is a definite necessity.” On the other side, opponents such as Thomas Burton feared the damage that could be done by shoddy work and electrical fires. While there were real dangers from electrical fires and burst dams, there were many benefits as well, and President Roosevelt managed to pass legislation working towards the goal of rural electrification. -Nick Skibinski
+**Both advocates and opponents of rural electrification acted in the interest of rural America, however their views on what was necessary came into conflict**. On one side, advocates such as President Franklin Roosevelt believed was “no longer a luxury, it is a definite necessity.” On the other side, opponents such as Thomas Burton feared the damage that could be done by shoddy work and electrical fires. While there were real dangers from electrical fires and burst dams, there were many benefits as well, and President Roosevelt managed to pass legislation working towards the goal of rural electrification. -Nick Skibinski
 This chapter discusses the why and how of bringing electricity to rural areas, particularly farms. One reason was that people were trying to expand the use of electricity is because it was starting to be seen as a human right (304). Electricity did so many things for people that without it, Americans were not able to meet the standards of living at that time. Another reason to bring electricity to rural areas is to make the farms more appealing. After the start of the Great Depression. many people returned to farm work. The government wanted people to move back onto farms and had to find a way to encourage them to do so. --Kasey Mayer
-I found it interesting that when electricity was being widely used in America, the rural areas were left out, especially considering many people considered it to be a necessity because of how much easier it could make one's life. It reminded me of today, when many rural areas either don't have internet or have internet that is incredibly slow. Internet companies don't consider it profitable to put in good or any internet because the internet would have to cover such a large area for a relatively small number of people. However, in today's world, the internet is truly necessary. -Helen Salita
+I found it interesting that when electricity was being widely used in America, the rural areas were left out, especially considering many people considered it to be a necessity because of how much easier it could make one's life. **It reminded me of today, when many rural areas either don't have internet or have internet that is incredibly slow. Internet companies don't consider it profitable to put in good or any internet because the internet would have to cover such a large area for a relatively small number of people. However, in today's world, the internet is truly necessary.** -Helen Salita
 I found it interesting how as the depression got worse a “growing number of social critics advocated getting ‘back to the land.’” There were numerous critics listed and they all were centralized around the same goal and topic of getting back into the old way of life of farming and working. Each critic varied on their reasons or ways to get back to agricultural work. Which reminded me of one of our previous readings and how artists pick what they want to highlight the most these critics chose how they wanted the audience to feel. -Megan Liberty
-I really enjoyed this week's reading because I found the argument surrounding the need against the want for electricity to be very fascinating. The idea that when it was first introduced to the public, electricity took on this strange role in society, making it the center of an ethical battleground. Similar to the arguments surrounding the expansion of railroads-- those in rural areas, who were still close to nature in a sense, became those who were morally sound, avoiding being corrupted by technology and her perceived burdens. This small "elite" who were essentially left out from progressing alongside the rest of the nation served the role of "purists" or the keepers of the old ways without ever being given the opportunity to even decide if they wanted to take on such a role. In the post Great Depression era, this thought shifted a bit as electricity was used to make agriculture look more appealing. - Danielle Howard
+I really enjoyed this week's reading because I found the argument surrounding the need against the want for electricity to be very fascinating. **The idea that when it was first introduced to the public, electricity took on this strange role in society, making it the center of an ethical battleground**. Similar to the arguments surrounding the expansion of railroads-- those in rural areas, who were still close to nature in a sense, became those who were morally sound, avoiding being corrupted by technology and her perceived burdens. This small "elite" who were essentially left out from progressing alongside the rest of the nation served the role of "purists" or the keepers of the old ways without ever being given the opportunity to even decide if they wanted to take on such a role. In the post Great Depression era, this thought shifted a bit as electricity was used to make agriculture look more appealing. - Danielle Howard