Essay Questions

What is the opinion Debord regarding the rapid explosion of technology?

According to Debord, technology has played a critical role in making work more comfortable, connecting the world, and improving technology. Debord explains how technology is essential in manufacturing, health, and communication, among other economic sectors. However, there is the sad side of technology that no one is talking about; People are focused on the benefits of technology, forgetting to analyze how it has reduced human beings to subjects of consumerism. The techno world is driven by capitalistic people who control people's minds for their selfish gains. For instance, people have been wired to rely on technology in almost every aspect of life. People do not see the need to interact because they can communicate via mobile phones. Nearly 90% of people believe that they do not need fellow human beings as much as they need technology.

How does the author bring out the issue of a consumerist society?

Modern society is characterized by consumerism tendencies based on media, advertisement, and other advancing technologies. According to Debord, industrial capitalists, and innovators in the techno world use technology to wire people dependent on their products. Unlike the earlier ages, the modern mass media plays a critical role in making people believe that the advertised products have the assumed qualities. On the other hand, over-reliance on technological developments such as mobile phones have made people urge to change them as technology changes. For instance, smartphone manufacturers are coming up with new technologies that influence people to change their devices.

What is the reader’s conclusion about the advancement of technology?

The reader concludes that technology is suitable for human progress, but man has to be cautious about using or applying it. Technology has several benefits to society, including making communication easier, connecting the globe, and accelerating economic growth. However, the reader must be aware that technology, such as communication, has minimal human social interactions. Additionally, technological innovations are driven by self-centered capitalist individuals to make people entirely reliant on their products.