The concept of creating an advanced future through the use of technology is influential, but i do not agree with General Motors' "Futurama" exhibit portraying the perfect utopia. "Futurama" contains many displays of the super highways and advanced technology that any normal being in 1939 could get excited for. However, General Motors could not have foreseen the dire effects such a progress it has made on Earth. Gavin Schmidt and Joshua Wolfe, the authors of, "Climate Change: Picturing The Science" brings attention to the effects of such industrial development.
In the "Futurama" pamphlet, the General Motors chairnamin introduces the exhibit as a,"realization of the fact that 'the world of tomorrow'...serve as a constructive 'investment in the future' for everyone, everywhere" (Futurama, 13). The chairman builds up the excitement as if this event is the proper way to go to invest in our future. Continuing o with the pamphlet, it would use phrases such as, "Futurama the most breath taking achievement" (14). and "This vision of the 1960 dramatizes possible highway progress-higways to new horizons of aocuntry's welfare and happiness"(19). The initial quote about "Futurama" is very enthusiastic and the second quote seems to reassure the public that this is the answer to the improvement of mankind's welfare and happineness. All of this is nothing but hype and marketing not simply to invest in the future but the future of General Motors because GM would be the producer of the products.
Although GM continuously became suscessful, the environment around us is deteroiratinfg because of such development. The chairman of GM states, "history shows that the progress of civilization has run parallel to advancement in transportation" (Sloan 13). He tries to connect society's imporantce of transportaion into society's development. However, in the words of Schmidt and Wolfe, "We take for granted the ways in which we have adapted to the current climate" (schmidt and wolfe, 45). Without conciousness of society's actions, the climate changes because of us and we continue to adopt accordingly to the climate. The concept of "Futurama" has become so blind to the possible outcomes of its effects because all they focused on were the convenience to the people and the progress towards their version of "utopia", a place where everyone uses their products.
In the "Futurama" pamphlet, the General Motors chairnamin introduces the exhibit as a,"realization of the fact that 'the world of tomorrow'...serve as a constructive 'investment in the future' for everyone, everywhere" (Futurama, 13). The chairman builds up the excitement as if this event is the proper way to go to invest in our future. Continuing o with the pamphlet, it would use phrases such as, "Futurama the most breath taking achievement" (14). and "This vision of the 1960 dramatizes possible highway progress-higways to new horizons of aocuntry's welfare and happiness"(19). The initial quote about "Futurama" is very enthusiastic and the second quote seems to reassure the public that this is the answer to the improvement of mankind's welfare and happineness. All of this is nothing but hype and marketing not simply to invest in the future but the future of General Motors because GM would be the producer of the products.
Although GM continuously became suscessful, the environment around us is deteroiratinfg because of such development. The chairman of GM states, "history shows that the progress of civilization has run parallel to advancement in transportation" (Sloan 13). He tries to connect society's imporantce of transportaion into society's development. However, in the words of Schmidt and Wolfe, "We take for granted the ways in which we have adapted to the current climate" (schmidt and wolfe, 45). Without conciousness of society's actions, the climate changes because of us and we continue to adopt accordingly to the climate. The concept of "Futurama" has become so blind to the possible outcomes of its effects because all they focused on were the convenience to the people and the progress towards their version of "utopia", a place where everyone uses their products.
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