In “The Machine Stops” technology is everything, it is the government, it is the religion, and it is society itself. The technological advancements made to achieve this society were left unchecked, and began to collapse society itself. The society was The Machine, people got accustomed to repeating their tasks mechanically, and did not want to create or advance, only maintain.
In “There Will Come Soft Rains” technology is the only thing that remains, after the devastating nuclear explosion—a self-sustaining smart house, serving a non-existent family, creating an eery atmosphere, endures. As the only form of society left, the house can only go through the motions of normalcy, unable to change its purpose, alter its schedule, or defend itself from what humanity should have prevented.
While “From Beyond” isn’t a dystopia, it is shaped by technology, a machine allowing humans to peer into different dimensions, trapping them in different planes of existence to parish in. Another machine is left to rule those who have created it.
I agree since everyone in the underground worshipped “The Machine” but slowly realized that their worshipping caused their downfall.
The continued movement of normalcy is something I’ve found I relate to intensely after COVID hit. I know that the stakes are very different between the pandemic and a nuclear event, however I can’t help but see similarities. I remember just moving through the paces during that time, as if I was the machines just continuing on absentmindedly.
I liked how detailed your responses were for this question about technology. It was interesting the way you related the question to “From Beyond” as well.
It’s very interesting that you actually related to one of the texts.
“The society was The Machine, people got accustomed to repeating their tasks mechanically, and did not want to create or advance, only maintain.”
This was very well said and I really like the choice of words as to call it maintaining. That word sums up their society pretty well..
I agree with “The Machine Stops” cause they were dependent on pure machines that caused a unchecked society.
Evyatar,
Please label your Blog Posts BP 2, BP 3, etc. I’ve gone in and changed the titles so that things can be organized.