Domestication of Technology: Eighth Grade - Pooja Sharma
Technology is highly integrated into our everyday practices, and humans have adapted to rapid innovation as social media seamlessly works into practice and rituals of our routines. The idea of the Domestication of Technology helps to understand how society is affected by technology becoming ordinary. Nancy Baym defines the Domestication of technology as becoming so woven into the fabric of everyday life, and the issues of its positive and negative effects become ordinary. She also discusses that after a certain period of social interaction and personal use, technologies become domesticated as they are integrated into personal social lives as infrastructure.
In Bo Burnham's Eight Grade (2018), The opening scene provides a glimpse of how the Domestication of Technology is ever so present in Kayla's life. Her day starts with turning off her alarms on her phone, following an Olivia Jade makeup tutorial while doing her makeup before school, carrying her laptop and phone to bed, and taking Snapchat selfies to post to her story. As viewers of the film, we see Kayla's personality shift when she is no longer using technology throughout her day, such as when walking the school hallways or sitting in class. However, she might not understand the effect of technology having on her life through its domestication.
Eight Grade (2018) Opening Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JEwSi_TjXI
Anxiety can arise because of media and its interactivity; if it is domesticated, individuals have trouble identifying where and why their anxiety may occur. Kayla can relate to this idea as many problems in her life have derived from social media and technology.
What issues have you recognized in your personal life that has derived from the Domestication of Technology?
Thanks,
Pooja
References:
Nancy Baym, “New Forms of Personal Connection”, “Making New Media Make Sense”
Personally, something that I've noticed in my own life derived from the Domestication of Technology is that I won't leave my house without my AirPods if I know I'm going to be alone for an extended period of time. That being said, this is an example of Domestication of Technology as I feel as though I constantly need to be listening to something or have some kind of noise. Without the simplicity of AirPods, I probably wouldn't feel this way, however, I would never want to be without AirPods now since I've gotten a pair.
ReplyDeleteHi Pooja,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the domestication of technology is a huge factor that we don't even realize is changing our lives. Being a human being within our society means having a phone. For some mobile phones are impossible to not have, not only for the person who doesn't have it but for the other people who need to get in touch with them. Specifically in movies such as Eight Grade, when we see the character stop using their technology we begin to see ourselves in this scenario. I feel like as technology gets more and more domesticated it becomes harder to see them as anything other than normal. In my personal life I think when I step outside of the thinking that technology shouldn't be as natural as it is, causes anxiety. It's the fact that because it runs our everyday lives, without it we would be lost.
Kim
Hi Pooja,
ReplyDeleteI liked your link to the domestication of technology to the film eight grade! Domestication of technology is very relevant and most of us don't even notice it anymore because it has become so seamlessly integrated in our everyday routines. In my experience for example, I rely on technology way too much when i'm driving that I can't even leave the driveway anymore with my music and the directions from google maps connected through bluetooth/apple car play.
I really enjoyed reading your discussion post! I agree that the film, Eighth Grade, can be connected to the domestication of technology. Technologies such as iPhones, iPads, laptops, etc. have become so deeply embedded in our everyday lives that their impacts — positive and negative — are seen as mundane and ordinary. Speaking from personal experience, I am absolutely addicted to my phone as I feel the need to carry it with me at all times. Whether I am going to class, walking around the house, or even showering, my phone is accessible at all times. While this is a very bad habit, I have grown so used to constantly checking my notifications and scrolling social media apps that my phone addiction seems normal.
ReplyDeleteHey Pooja,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! The convergence from traditional media to digitized media is certainly a large topic of public discourse in today's generation. I liked how you wrote about how the idea of the Domestication of Technology helps individuals understand how society is affected by technology becoming "ordinary". You did an exceptional job at applying the domestication of technology to the film Eighth Grade. Overall great job!
-Alexa
Great post Pooja! I agree that the domestication of technology is extremely prevalent in Kayla's everyday life. In the film Eighth Grade, Kayla is presented as comfortable and sociable on social media... posting Snapchats, answering Instagram DM's, and posting YouTube videos. However, once Kayla is off technology, such as when she is walking down the halls in school, she appears as introverted and a little uncomfortable with her surroundings.
ReplyDeleteAnswering your question, issues that I have recognized in my personal life that has derived from the Domestication of Technology would be the desire to always have my phone on me. Wherever I go, whether I am going into a different room, taking a shower, working on an assignment, or walking to a class I feel that need to always have my phone by me. I tend to keep my phone on me, as I have adapted to the domestication of technology in the terms of ensuring I am able to reach out to my peers at any moment or able to answer if my peers need to reach out to me.