Haley Conroy October 18th - presentation analysis

 I chose to do my blog post from class on October 18th. Will presented on chapter 26 from the Ecology of Eden and brought up some very interesting points and insights. In relation to jazz I found it interesting that Eisenberg related such subjects to a music genre. How unique! Jazz began as an oral tradition in Mississippi but quickly exploded with the emergence of the phonograph which I found extremely interesting. Certainly this explores how art forms such as jazz encourage technological innovation and transformation. Then an additional interesting differentiation Eisenberg pointed out is how recycling has always been a human innovation, but technology has innovated it further. Then Will explored the industrial ecology excerpt from the chapter which has a main theme of how the garden so to speak is a concept that is altered by humans. Additionally, the effects of machines have added additional pollutants to the garden. It seems as if the industrial society is indifferent to the negative effects they contribute to the ecosystem. I thought it was so cool how Will pointed out how modern scientists are creating skill threads using spider webs as a genetic model for reference. Finally, the last point I wanted to expand on is the way in which Eisenberg compares technology as a means to learn from nature. For example, when we use technology, we learn from nature. Eisenberg also suggests the idea of a living machine. I had never heard of this before, but it is essentially an ecosystem of plants and animals that create a sort of equilibrium for humans to coexist with nature. His thoughts conclude how inhumane many aspects of technology are and what makes it a scary thought is that it could become indistinguishable from the garden. Eisenberg concludes this chapter with a need for balance. He spreads this theme much throughout the book but that perfect harmony with nature is not reachable, but should still be sought after which I certainly agree with. Heading in the right direction is much better than not moving forward at all. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jaidan Brass -- Cheryl Strayed's Wild (12/04)

    Wild is a memoir of Cheryl Strayed during her time on the Pacific Crest Trail, also known as the PCT. the PCT is a trail that goes along the pacific coast from the bottom of California to the top of Washington. One of the things I admired most about Strayed was her courage during her months on the trail. Cheryl Strayed needed to hike the trail alone to help find herself after feeling like she lost herself after her mother’s death. In one chapter Strayed states, “Being near Tom and Doug at night kept me from having to say to myself I am not afraid whenever I heard a branch snap in the dark or the wind shook so fiercely it seemed something bad was bound to happen. But I wasn’t out here to keep myself from having to say I am not afraid” ( p. 122). One of the reasons she did the trails was to prove that she was brave enough and determined enough to this by herself. Though she did meet friends and have help along the way, she spend a majority of her time on the trail by h...
Read more

Emily Anstett 11/20 Religion and Climate Change Article Reflection

  https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27062022/religion-climate-change/ This article describes how some Rabbis are beginning to advocate for climate action and bring the problem of climate change to their congregation’s attention.  They are trying to “bridge the gap” between faith and climate.  I am interested in how western religions can adapt to incorporate more ecologically conscious views and practices.  I also think it is important to reconsider how religions dictate interactions with the environment.  For instance, the way that people interpret God giving dominion over the earth can have important implications.  For instance, does that mean that people are free to exploit and do whatever they see fit with God’s dominion? Or should humans work to cultivate this? I think this may be a point of contention that has significant ramifications on human-nature interactions.  For instance, if humans view themselves as a part of the dominion God created, ...
Read more

Jaidan Brass - Ecology of Eden Ch. 13 & 14 (12/04)

      In these two chapter, Eisenberg talks about the ranges seen between the mountain and the tower--or between wilderness and civilization. These are in examples like pastoralism, suburbia, and arcadia. They are the middle ground of the two extremes with mountains having no civilization at all and towers having no wilderness. While middle grounds tend to start out alright, they usually start failing after awhile. It's  possibly because the lifestyle was not sustainable. Pastoralism is starts degrading the soils once it gets to populated or gets overgrazed. The mountain part of suburbs can easily be lost into ideals where the community loses the reasons on why suburban areas were made. The middle ground is a delicate balance, but one many want to live in to enjoy the benefits of both the wilderness and civilization. 
Read more