Metaphorical Analysis

A notable metaphor touched on in Chesher’s article is that “Writing is predominantly digital.” To say that writing is digital blurs the distinction between digital and analogue described earlier in the reading, but remains justifiable. Writing can be described as a digital practice because each letter carries distinct and separate sounds which we combined to form words, which also remain distinct from one another. Writing is also a logical practice, similar to digital mediums, in that words are combined logically to form sentences that inflect meaning and provide a means of communication. A more direct connection can be made when writing code for a program. The knowledgeable user must logically formulate and execute distinct linguistic and numerical commands, which are then computed and reflected digitally on a computer screen or carried out internally within the machine.
Another thought provoking metaphor is that “modern technology presents the world as standing reserve, stored up to be available on demand.” Today technology is available at our finger tips, and gives the human hand a great deal of power. For example, when surfing the web, millions upon millions of web pages are available simply by typing a short address at the top of the page. Humans have the ability to retain a broad scope of knowledge, or to be misinformed, with one simple command. In these and many other cases, the instant accessibility of technology yields both harmful and beneficial consequences in today’s society.
Furthermore, I was intrigued by the metaphor “high technology supposedly transcends non-modern ‘low’ technologies,” as mentioned by Christopher in a previous blog. To say that high tech is above low tech seems irrational because most technological advancements retain qualities from earlier inventions. For example, the CD player can be traced back the phonograph invented by Thomas Edison in the late 1800s, a computer has evolved from a typewriter, computer animation was derived from traditional studio arts (or the “fine arts”), so on and so forth. However, to say that one item of modern technology “transcends” its predecessor is illogical, because technology of the past still retains aesthetic and historical value and serves as a forefather of modern advancement. After all, technology is constantly evolving.