Technology's Influence On Society In The Early Twentieth Century

Asking someone to contemplate on what the future might hold is strange especially when they are still shackled to the remnants of the present. How can someone determine let alone imagine all of the wondrous things that the human mind might conjure up? This was especially difficult during the early 20th century when the emergence of the technological revolution and the impact of science began to take hold. The norms that were in place for centuries were becoming slowly discarded as new ones came in to take their place. Suddenly science had become more mainstream, relevant and the government was investing heavily in it. The cyclical relationship of influence between the arts and science was much more pronounced as members of society became more enthralled of the possibilities that lay ahead. The arts showcased the consequences of relying too much on technology and highlighted the class distinction that …show more content…
It was “the ubiquitous presence of the machine” Thorstein Veblen wrote later that had become “the mark of the western culture”(Rhodes, pg.43). The invention of the automobile, which was initially thought of as a way to help with farming purposes, became a way of traveling miles of distances. Henry Ford embodied this century’s desire to forget tradition and embrace the capabilities of living in the present (Rhodes, pg.35). The impact the automobile had was a profound one. With this came the introduction of roads to make the ability of obtaining and driving a car more accessible. It had an unintended effect on the family unit, essentially destroying the concept of courtship and spending a majority of your time with your family and friends. This kind of introduced the beginning of teenagers who were able to drive themselves places and spend time amongst one another. This dramatically altered the culture that had been maintained previously for