One-Dimensional Man

The Marcusian Conceptions of Automation In his book One-Dimensional Man, Herbert Marcuse argues that automation is a centrifugal tendency that is characteristic of technology itself. For Marcuse, automation can be a benefit, but carries with it some dangerous liability. The negative aspect is that that automation has the potentiality of use by repressive forces in society viz. government, to maintain the existing conditions. In a positive sense however, automation has the ability to yield a freer society (Marcuse 35). It is within this Marcusian conception of automation that I will describe its centrifugal tendencies, and the role it plays in the classical Marxist analysis of capitalism. Further, I will examine under what conditions the centrifugal tendencies of automation threatens capitalism, and by way of example,…

was a member of The Frankfurt School of Critical Theory. His works are still acclaimed by the public and they are mostly giving arguments against capitalism, modern technology and the entertainment culture amongst others because they represent, according to him, a form of social control. One of his most acclaimed work, One-Dimensional Man which was published in 1962. We have to keep in mind that he was writing at a time where the welfare State was growing and ordinary people were becoming…

The video Entertainment, Consumerism & Social Control: A Simple & Fun Introduction captures the social control that the “One Dimensional Man” by Marcuse is getting at. Marcuse explains that society did not develop as Marx predicted, and individuals bought into the idea of consumption, which is alive in our culture today. The consumption of products distracts us from the reality of what class we belong to. He also brought up the idea that people weren’t aware that they were not in control when it…

In other words, what have I learned through my education? Have I been trained in one special area or have I gained an education not only in one area, but also in learning about myself and who I am? According to Webster’s dictionary, education is defined by the development and training of one’s mind, character, and skills, as by instruction, study, or example and the knowledge and skill resulting from such instruction and training. By this definition, one might argue that being educated means…

vectors are used in everyday life. Vectors include magnitude and direction, without one or the other it would not be a vector. Several components make up a vector; these items are displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force. By finding the components one can find the horizontal velocity, vertical velocity, initial velocity, and maximum height. Physic equations can be used to help solve these problems. One important aspect that is known to affect vectors is an angle. Angles can help create…

It is stated in “The Domestication of the Savage Male” that the division of labor exists to force this idea of mutual dependence among sexes. The male figure supplies protection and works for the family, whereas a woman takes care of the children, cooks, and cleans. Without the man, the woman would not fend for herself as successfully, and without the woman, the man would have no children, and he would have to distribute his time equally between work, cooking, cleaning, and whatever difficult…

Aimee Bender uses Steven’s lips as a symbol of the changes he exhibits when he comes home from war. Mary’s focus on his physical attributes rather than their emotional relationship together exposes the dramatic changes that warfare can impose on a person and their relationships. When Steven returns from war Mary notices one thing, his lips are missing. “Steven returned from the war without lips…I expected lips. Dead or alive, but with lips,” (Bender 21). Immediately Bender exposes Mary’s…

Soles states, “Falling squarely within the tradition of Hollywood misogyny, the films of Team Apatow tend to depict women as either two-dimensional objects of male sexual desire or as asexualized/hyper-sexualized objects of fear and revulsion, in the form of domineering mother figures, awkward asexualized female geeks, and/or scary, masculinized butches” (90) After Alison and Debbie…

discrimination against one or the other, but instead to be celebrated. These differences have been around for many years, developed, integrated, and adapted in to ways that suit the modern day. Men and women will always be different from one another as long as time goes on, this is inevitable. For this, people must accept the differences, live on with a new understanding, and celebrate the differences in the sexes that makes everyone unique. “Our differences don’t mean one sex or the other is…

Scotland by convincing Malcolm to return and fight for his throne, MacDuff is informed that his family has been slaughtered by MacDuff. While the question of the abandonment of his family versus dedication to country is related to the theme of manliness and contemporary definitions, those are overlooked as Malcolm’s attempts to rally MacDuff into a fighting state. Obviously breaking down over the news of the deaths of his wife, son, and household, Malcom is quick to tell MacDuff to “dispute it…