Paper no.204

 Name : Riddhi H. Rathod

Roll no : 17

 Paper : 204 (.Contemporary Western Theories and Film Studies)

Topic : Technocultural and Risk

Sem. : 3

Email i'd. :- riddhirathod1213@gmail.com 

Submitted to: Smt S.B. Gardi Department

· INTRODUCTION:

                                                               UlrichBeck propounded the influential ‘Risk society’ thesis in Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity (1992) and later works (1995, 1997). Risk, Beck informs us, is not real, risks are about ‘becoming real’. As soon as risks become real, they cease being risks, and become, instead, disasters. Risk then get displaced to other ‘Sites’: future disasters. So, risks are potential disasters and how risk is relevant with techno culture is important.

We live in an increasingly technologied world. Global capitalism- the immediate geopolitical context of our nation-state run on the engines of information and communications technology. Our everyday life from shopping to education depends heavily on technology, with greater or lesser degrees of both efficiency and necessity. Further, as 9/11 and its aftermath demonstrated so clearly, everyday life is vulnerable to technological threats, and these threats real or imagined, such as weapons of mass Destruction (WMD) are solved using more technological system and machine (smart bomb, electronic surveillance system), which in turn generate more threats/risk.

· Technology helps in various fields:

Today, we see that technology is replacing humans in many areas, like jobs and even offering emotional support. Humans get tired, make mistakes, and take breaks, but technology and robots don't need any of that. They can work all the time without making mistakes. Technology is a one-time investment, while humans need to be paid every month. Also, technology can do double the work of a person in less time and without any fuss. That's why everyone finds technology an easy and better choice.

                                                              We use technology in education, shopping, banking etc. In educational area now most of the study based on Online, with the help of Laptop, mobile etc. Virtual classrooms are introduced E-book are available. In agriculture many new facilities came through technology, we are using cell phone, laptop and other social media for communication like Facebook, Twitter, whatsapp etc in our everyday life. Our banking system also connected with technology, we use technology to transact money through E-banking and through ATM. In shopping field also we use various electronic cards to purchase new thing and our hospitals also connected with technology.

· Thus, technology played a very important role for human progress as well as for the nation. People of the 21st century will not survive without technology, every moment we need technology to stay with the world and be a member of the Global world.

Our prime minister also launched the campaign ‘Digital India’ on 1 July 2015, and gave much importance to technology, and tried to make India digital. Through this kind of various programs, the Govt. of India hopes to achieve growth on multiple fronts. Government aims to target nine ‘Pillars of digital India’ like Universal access to the internet, E-Governance, E-Kranti, IT for jobs etc. The Govt. of India launched many applications like E-Hospital, SBM-mobile app, My Gov.in etc.

· Each coin has two sides:

                                            Technology provides us with so many facilities and without any problem we can do all our work easily. But with technology various types of risk are also connected and many disadvantages also, but sometimes it depends on people how they use them.

· Techno-culture and Risk:

                           With the use of Technology various types of risk are connected, for example.

· PC/LAPTOP-

                        PC and Laptop both devices are very helpful nowadays. Both the devices provide solutions to numerous problems of communication, writing and information etc. But it also gives some time problems like, corruption of the hard drive, some time virus problem we face. So, this all is a risk while using technology. But it also offers solutions, like downloading anti-virus software and updating your laptop and PC. Thus, both risk and solution are connected.

· CCTV Camera-

                         CCTV cameras are a very helpful device, nowadays in each and every public place and at different places this type of camera is used well. It helps a lot for security, proof and use well in various ways. But when we are under this CCTV Camera at that time we are always much conscious of that and we have some type of risk like what about our privacy?

· Pendrive:

                  Pendrive is very little e-device, but with the help of this we can carry a lot of things from one place to another. But risk also risks, for example when we have presentations in our department, generally we use pendrive and at that time it may corrupt and our all data might be lost. So, this is a big risk in technology.

· Online shopping:

                                                             Nowadays, online shopping has become a craze. But when we ordered at that time we had one risk, which type of things we ordered the same we would get but many times it would change when we received it. So, this is a risk for us that we don’t get exactly what we want. So, this kind of risk we face from market.

· Terrorism:

                    Terrorism is always very harmful to human being and nowadays they also use technology because many of them are very well educated and masters in technology so this kind of terrorism very risky for society and the world.

· Facebook:

                   Recently, we have seen that people’s personal information and data leak through facebook applications and a lot many debates or cases are going on about the safety of people’s privacy. Thus, we may say that this kind of social media is risky for people’s privacy and risk for society.

· Culture of Warning:-

                                     Now we all are living in the culture of warning. In various fields like banks, railway coaches, malls and any place you find warning against all sorts of dangers and risks. It happens because the excessive amount of technological and mediated information is being made available to us about the potential of risk from every object like food, use of credit card, infection, molestation, kidnapping etc.

We find this kind of risk in various advertisement like that many advertisement talked about this kind of things if you don’t use, you become ill, or it is not good for your health and that’s why use this, for example- AquaGuard, in this add, they say that this is best for pure water. Hence, we think that if we don’t drink this kind of pure mineral water then we become increasingly anxious about potential threats to our health and safety precisely when we are fed information from technology.

In the use of the internet, we always have a problem with privacy. Because we always worry about our private or personal documents and other things which we put in our laptops or cell phones. So, we are always at risk.Cultural values and norms are influenced by technology. Rapid changes can lead to a loss of cultural identity or a shift in societal values. For example, the widespread use of social media has changed how we perceive privacy and interpersonal relationships.

When children use technology at that time we also have risks. Especially, parents feel moral panic as technology engenders risks while simultaneously providing solutions to such a risk. Thus, we know how technology and risk both are connected. So it is like a ‘vicious circle’. Techno science reveals the risk involved in contamination and other newer problems which were previously unknown, it also delivers information about these risks. Then it reproduces the risk by making us aware of these risks. So, techno-science generated the risk.

Risk theory for cultural studies reveals the extent that society/culture thrives on risk, providing information about risk potential, possible solutions and so on. Risk theory reflects on the psycho-social impact of techno-culture where cultural responses to new devices are based upon awareness that they create new risk. So, we think about what the solution to this problem is. But there is no solution. But as per Beck’s point of view that the autopoietic (self maturity) risks culture. When a system generates risk and its possible solution within itself.

Swati Chaturvedi, an investigative journalist, courageously wrote "I Am Troll" in 2016, revealing how technology poses risks in both society and politics. The book delves into the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) use of social media to target political rivals. It highlights BJP's strategic use of Twitter as a weapon, employing both volunteers and paid staff to spread fake news and support their political agenda. This book sheds light on how the BJP became the first political party to effectively leverage social media for its own advantage.

Robot movie 

In the Movie Robot, we also find that Rajnikant made a Robot but at the end how this robot became risky for him. Same way in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley in which Victor survives a dead body with the help of human beings from the electricity and in the end he turns into a Monster.

 Technoculture and risk are intricately woven into the narrative. The film is set in a future where robots are an integral part of daily life, performing various tasks to enhance human convenience. The technocultural aspect is evident in the societal integration of robots, which reflects a cultural shift towards embracing advanced technology as a routine part of existence.

The risk element surfaces as the robots, governed by the Three Laws of Robotics, start exhibiting behavior that challenges the safety and well-being of humans. The very technology designed to serve and protect humanity becomes a potential threat. This dynamic illustrates the inherent risks associated with relying on complex technological systems, especially those driven by artificial intelligence.

As the plot unfolds, the protagonist, Detective Del Spooner, played by Will Smith, investigates a robot's involvement in a crime. This exploration delves into the ethical implications of AI and the potential consequences of entrusting critical aspects of human life to machines. The fear of losing control over advanced technology and the unintended consequences of its integration into society form a central theme, emphasizing the need for caution in the rapid advancement of technoculture.

The movie prompts viewers to reflect on the balance between embracing technological progress and safeguarding against the risks it poses. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of ethical considerations, oversight, and the potential consequences of ceding too much autonomy to intelligent machines within a rapidly evolving technocultural landscape.

2.0 movie :-

Climate Change :- The use of technology and its impact on the environment is a significant technocultural risk. The reliance on fossil fuels and other environmentally harmful technologies has led to climate change.

Total words-1787