How Expensive Technology Can Cheapen Us

Posted by Scott McClellan on July 28th, 2008 at 9:56 am

I was just reading over a piece for our upcoming  September/October issue, an interview with designer and author Daniel Kantor, when I felt compelled to share this morsel of genius with you. Kantor shared these words with our very own Daniel Darnell:

I think when the technology becomes not only the focal point but the prerequisite, we’ve cheapened not only the art, but our humanity. I’m not against technology. My design firm is filled with high-end technical equipment. But we first practice the fundamental craft of design. We think about things like composition, scale, balance, rhythm, contrast, hospitality, flow. It takes years to learn to master these elements. Technology often presents us with the illusion that you need not think about these things. Yet nothing could be further from the truth if you want your efforts to express something of the human experience. I’m a big fan of technology in service of humanity. It’s the reverse that cheapens us.

Honestly, that might be a bit too deep to fully process on a Monday morning, but it has me thinking. Hopefully it has the same effect on you. And speaking of “hopefully” … hopefully you’re looking forward to the September/October issue—The Design Issue—because it’s gonna be a good one.

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4 Responses to “How Expensive Technology Can Cheapen Us”

That is outstanding thinking and excellent advice. In the paradigm of good/fast/cheap (pick any two), we often skip the step of thinking through WHY and end up focusing on WHAT and HOW MUCH.

posted at 10:32 am on July 28th, 2008 by Anthony Coppedge

[…] love this quote by Daniel Kantor over at Collide Magazine in the article How Expensive Technology Can Cheapen Us. I think when the technology becomes not only the focal point but the prerequisite, we’ve […]

posted at 11:51 am on July 28th, 2008 by » Technology and Humanity

I agree with that statement and have been personally evaluating the role tech is to have in The Church for the last several weeks. One idea that bounced around in my mind was to try to keep the technology as transparent as possible.

Meaning it doesn’t add to distraction but accomplishes a pointing to Christ. In my opinion: Practically speaking it is having the music sound “real” instead of concert loud. It is words on a screen that people can read without having an extreme closeup of a cool guitar player tearing it up, distracting. I could name off a few more, but I hope you get my point. A pointing towards Christ, not a pointing towards man.

Who does the tech highlight, the creator or the Creator?

posted at 11:17 pm on July 28th, 2008 by Rex Barrett

As a “Why” guy I’m heartened to hear your comments. Most techies are “how” guys, which is absolutely essential- the engineering officer in star trek who modifies the hoozi-whatit and turns a widget sideways to accomplish the task.. but those great creative engineering minds are diminished without a sufficient “why” to motivate them.

“Those that know What to do and How to do it, are inevitably working for the one who knows Why it is being done.”

Kyle http://www.skillfulproductions.com

posted at 1:00 pm on July 30th, 2008 by Kyle

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