“For such towns lighting was more than a mere functional necessity or a convenience; it emerged as a glamorous symbol of progress and cultural advancement.” (54) I believe that this quote itself summed up the importance of light to people and that it wasn’t yearned for because of necessity but as a way to “one-up” someone else. Every exposition that Nye referenced to described extraordinary light shows, where the goal was to make the lights and displays more jaw dropping than the last. Visitors didn’t go to see practical things, but instead to see illusions that took them away from reality. – Jessie Cavolt

Nye does comment about the idea of electric lighting being a status symbol of the time, but it can't be over looked that Electric systems and lighting are extremely costly to have installed but the trade off was cheaper fire insurance from switching from gas lighting to electrical systems, a very common type of wiring system being knob and tube system of electrical wiring, “the Grand Pacific Hotel in Chicago replaced 570 gas jets with 17 arc lights, saving $300 a month. The savings often were augmented by cheaper insurance.” (Nye, 32.). Though this doesn't take into account the initial cost of the installation of the system or the cost to run electricity in from a generator electrical systems are very much a capitalist venture. Though the fire risk was decreased there still were flaws with the system being complete fire prove. Because of these high costs of installation, maintenance and running of electricity into a structure it does fall nicely in line with Nye's ideas of having electric lighting in one's buildings being a status symbol for the wealthy when most people still made use of natural lighting, gas lighting or candles. - Laura Downs

When electricity and light bulbs became a possibility, they were not originally used for conventional and practical means. They were used to amaze people, and everyone tried to be better and more jaw dropping then the last. The first example that Nye uses is the world fairs, “Every fair attempted to outdo all previous efforts by escalating both the scale and the completeness of displays,” (Nye 39). These fairs evolved to go beyond using electricity for just lights, but for amusement rides, fountains, and demonstrations. Stores, restaurants, hotels, and theatres also used their access to electricity to outdo each other. They competed with each other to have the best display to attract customers. Nye explains that in the early days of electricity that having lighted displays and advertisements meant that your business had money and was high end. - Heidi Schmidt

Nye idenfied the symbolism of electricity as the middle class’s need for “authentic experience.” (60) Nye argues that lighting served to illuminate streets from “banality.” (60) In contrast, lighting also hid unattractive “ghetto” areas of the city. He asserts “if by day poor sections called out for social form, by night city was purified world of light.” (60) Additionally, Nye indemnifies electricity as a crucial part of experiencing natural and national symbols. Specifically, Nye uses the lighting up of Niagara as an example. This blending of nature and electricity enabled them to exist in a near harmony. Electricity seemed to be a form of seeing nature more clearly and as an illuminating part of cities. — James, Emily B. 2017/02/22 21:02

I particularly enjoyed reading about how the impact of electric lights affected the way Americans visited natural landmarks. In the text Niagara Falls is enhanced with “fourty-four searchlights on the Canadian side and developed a system of color filters to get special effects” (58). At first, there were many skeptics, including a Mr. Dooley who commented “I don't believe a word of it. It don't stand to reason. What goes over thim falls! Wather. An' how in the wurruld can wather make lights!” (58). However construction of the lights continued and the nightly light show was unlike anything viewers had ever seen. The New York Tribune reported the falls were “magnificently illuminated, the falls were of a beauty that their daylight aspect never equalled” (58). This is one of the first cases of using light to alter a natural landmark, and how the industrial world has begun intermingling with the natural. The lines between artificial and natural have become blurred by “suppressing some features of a site and emphasizing others” (60). Based on this passage, it is clear that Americans enjoyed visual marvels in general; not just the natural ones but also the industrial. This infringement of the man-made world upon the organic isn't seen as an issue until much later. — Taylor Heather L. 2017/02/22 21:41

As some already stated, Nye argues that electricity and illuminated allowed for an enhanced experience with nature. Nye uses Niagra Falls for an example of this with it's “colored lights and special effects.” (58) This light show allows the falls to be seen at night, and more importantly, allows companies to make more money. This illumination of nature seemed purely commercial to me. While this may enhance the experience for some, I couldn't help but think how electricity has furthered the divide between humans and nature now. We have always found pleasure in the visually spectacular, but with the illumination humans created we have taken away things like the stars in the night sky which now can only be fully seen in rural areas. -Madison White

Prior to reading this, I had not realized that the electric streetcar was in the works as early as the 1880s. Electricity was extremely important to the invention of the streetcar, but it also changed the way that people began advertising. Trolleys and streetcars would go through numerous different neighborhoods, each reflecting a different class dependent on how far away from the CBD they were. With the advent of the streetcar people could post advertisements on the side of the streetcar and people of all classes and thus transformed the city into a consumer market. Not only did it switch to a consumer market, but commercial and residential zones formed helping businesses decide where to locate and invest. (111) I found this to be interesting because it is a form of advertising that we continue to use today on trains, city busses and trolleys and a model that businesses still follow. -Emma Baumgardner

I thought this was a fascinating reading and I learned so much from it. I had no idea that electric streetcars were in development in the early 19th century. But it makes sense that with electricity already used for other things such as lighting and communication and now being used for transportation. I found this being very interesting because form of advertising that we continue to use today on trains, city busses and trolleys and a model that businesses still follow. -Daryl Murray

The National electric policy/system was nearly impossible between the years of 1880 and 1920. The political system at this time gave power to local, state, and federal politicians. Due to this, it was extremely hard to figure out who has jurisdiction on the power system and how was able to implement the industry. There were regional, statewide, and potential national power companies. This made the years of 1880-1920 a conflicting and complex time for electricity. — Brooks Anna R. 2017/02/22 19:13

I find it fascinating how the motivation and power behind electrification of countries varied from country to country. In America electricity (and therefore electrification) was privately owned and so began in the wealthiest areas and “spectacular lighting” (for advertisements and what not) was developed rather quickly (Nye, 140). Electricity only reached the rural areas when the Government intervened. In contrast, in countries where electricity was owned by the Government, it was considered a political goal to have electricity in every household and therefore electrification of a majority of the households occurred sooner than in America. However, because of this focus, it took longer for the spectacular lighting to develop. The motivations behind electrification influenced the speed and how electricity was used. Not only does this demonstrate the values upheld in different countries, but I think it also demonstrates that technology has a much richer history than the steps taken to invent it. The impact and how different cultures react to new technology is important to understanding the cultures themselves. It also makes me rethink the technology I take for granted today (and something tells me this won’t be the last time this happens this semester). - Shannon K

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. — McGowan Khayla J. 2017/02/22 20:09