TOPIC 1 wk 2 Q.C

c) p.11 Are new media a source of ‘progress’ in the sense that they enhance things we do in spheres of social activity – business, education, shopping, democracy etc? Could we say that such a proposition involves an ‘ideology of progress’?

In regards to the definition of 'progress', I believe that our new technology becoming faster/cheaper/more accessible etc is a form of progress. However, this brings an ideology along with it that just because something makes life easier for us, it is progress.

On similar lines, there has been a big turnaround in the UK about women's perception of weight in magazines. Not that long ago, the magazines were full of skinny celebrities glorified for their figures. However, through the progress of our society we now have a better understanding that being skinny is just as unhealthy as being overweight.

Although this progress allows us to understand dietary habits more fully, the ideology of the 'perfect figure' has now started to glorify much curvier celebrities. It seems all the progress has done has changed out perspective on what we believe to be 'correct' or 'perfect'.

I believe technology to be on similar lines. If progress in technology makes our PCs run faster and our mobile phones work more efficiently, we are more tempted to believe that a lazy society is a up-and-coming society.

I would like to believe in an ideology of progress, however I wonder how much the idea is forced upon us by the companies rather than the people.