Techno-science shapes our reality
in seen and unseen ways. It digs deep into our moral scope and facilitates an
unwavering yearn to become the perfect specimen. Yet, techno-science is
constantly receding; always advancing to one day reach ‘perfection.’ If it is continually
receding, then how can its instruments attempt to shape us into ‘perfection’?
It’s difficult to take a step back
an examine the realities of how its instruments have covertly crept into our lives.
Personally, I find that physical enhancements have taken a niche into my life
and those around me. My younger self, although I hate to admit it, was always looking
for ways in which I could better my physical appearance. Whether that was
slabbing anti-aging slop on my face twice a day or going to the tanning salon to
obtain the ‘perfect’ skin tone. Even my peers would rush to the nail salon to
glue on acrylic nails or get hair or eyelash extensions.
This also reminds me of my sister
who is prescribed anxiety medication. She takes it “as needed” when life’s
pressures begin to sneak up on her. As
more and more people get diagnosed with various types of anxiety, I begin to
wonder where this might have started. Could it be that our unbearable anxiety
has emerged from the plethora of technology telling us to be a certain way? It
seems that techno-science starts the disorders, categorizes them, then takes a stab
at fixing them. It is a never-ending cycle of persuasion.
In the beginnings this type of social
construction was facilitated by oil paintings and today it is heightened my
magazines and social media. I like to think that I have better adapted to see
right through the media’s bullshit (excuse my French). Though, its constantly pushes
us closer to a specific ‘perfection’ while in actuality it is pushing us farther
away from reality and our true selves.
And yet I sit here typing this blog
with an apple watch on my wrist telling me when to breathe and stand-up.
Techno-science is all around us and whether we like it or not it shapes our way
of thinking and influences to do things we wouldn’t normally consider. It seems
as if our free will is sitting on thinner and thinner ice as humans become more
dependent on techno-science to live their lives.
I wrote about psychological disorders affected by techno-science in a completely different sense, but I am really intrigued by your observations. While I've always considered the rise in anxiety diagnoses a result of the increasing pressure and stress put on people, I wasn't specifically thinking of media's impact on physical attributes. I don't feel that this was very much of a contribution to my own anxiety, but I totally see where you are coming from, and know many people who have been affected by today's 'beauty standards.' This makes me wonder how different things really were before we had Barbie dolls and fashion magazines, though. There will always be a beauty standard, and while those of the past may have been more easily attainable, there was still a set idea of how women and men 'should' look. Since I've grown up in this media-run society, I don't know how much pressure people (and especially women) felt to look a certain way, but I think it's worth inquiring as to just how much more emphasis has been put on beauty standards since the rise of media.
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