Fahrenheit 451 Technology
Ray Bradbury illustrated a futuristic world in Fahrenheit 451 where technology is prevalent in everyday life. Although this book was written in 1953, it accurately predicts how society functions today. Society currently has adjusted to the constant use of technology, with the average media exposure, including multitasking, jumping from 7 hours and 29 minutes per day to 10 hours and 45 minutes per day within 10 years (Foehr). Bradbury’s views on society in Fahrenheit 451 reflects the articles An Electronic Fog Has Settled Over America and Generation M2- Media in the Lives of 8- to 18 Year Olds, which represents society today, to illustrate that media shields society from focusing on their surroundings and finding personal contentment. In
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Technology grants people instant gratification, so they spend more time watching television or listening to music than developing relationships that allow them to have a happy life. In Fahrenheit 451, Mildred and Montag’s marriage lacks emotional connection due to the overuse of technology in their society. Bradbury comments that why did Montag not “by himself an audio- Seashell broadcasting station and talk to his wife late at night, murmur, whisper, shout, scream, yell? But what could he whisper, what would he yell? What could he say” (Bradbury 42). Montag cannot communicate to the one he “loves” due to the continual utilization of technology that prevented him from learning how to have conversations. Without social skills, society in Fahrenheit 451 never fought with each other, giving the impression to Montag that his marriage was content, when it actually lacked emotional connection and happiness. In society today, the Kaiser Family Foundation conducted an experiment on how technology affects youth today. According to the foundation’s studies, 20% of heavy media users have a low level of personal contentment and 9% have a high level. On the other hand, 10% of light media users have a low personal contentment and 22% have a high level personal contentment (Foehr). Heavy media users tend to feel more discontent in life due to their lack of social skills that have them feeling isolated from society, leading them to feel depressed and anxious. Likewise, the Kaiser Family Foundation led another experiment that came to the results that among 8-to 18-year-olds, 32% of heavy media users are often sad or unhappy, while only 27% of light media users say they are often sad or unhappy (Foehr). Similar to Fahrenheit 451, society is becoming less content with how their lives are due to the excessive utilization of electronics
Technology grants people instant gratification, so they spend more time watching television or listening to music than developing relationships that allow them to have a happy life. In Fahrenheit 451, Mildred and Montag’s marriage lacks emotional connection due to the overuse of technology in their society. Bradbury comments that why did Montag not “by himself an audio- Seashell broadcasting station and talk to his wife late at night, murmur, whisper, shout, scream, yell? But what could he whisper, what would he yell? What could he say” (Bradbury 42). Montag cannot communicate to the one he “loves” due to the continual utilization of technology that prevented him from learning how to have conversations. Without social skills, society in Fahrenheit 451 never fought with each other, giving the impression to Montag that his marriage was content, when it actually lacked emotional connection and happiness. In society today, the Kaiser Family Foundation conducted an experiment on how technology affects youth today. According to the foundation’s studies, 20% of heavy media users have a low level of personal contentment and 9% have a high level. On the other hand, 10% of light media users have a low personal contentment and 22% have a high level personal contentment (Foehr). Heavy media users tend to feel more discontent in life due to their lack of social skills that have them feeling isolated from society, leading them to feel depressed and anxious. Likewise, the Kaiser Family Foundation led another experiment that came to the results that among 8-to 18-year-olds, 32% of heavy media users are often sad or unhappy, while only 27% of light media users say they are often sad or unhappy (Foehr). Similar to Fahrenheit 451, society is becoming less content with how their lives are due to the excessive utilization of electronics