What do you think of the change we are experiencing presently from various technological advancements? Do you see parallels between this story of Butangen and our main characters and society today?
Created: 09/28/22
Replies: 7
Join Date: 10/15/10
Posts: 3442
What do you think of the change we are experiencing presently from various technological advancements? Do you see parallels between this story of Butangen and our main characters and society today?
Join Date: 02/05/16
Posts: 362
Definitely there are many parallels. One technological advancement that comes to mind is the internet, which has had as many drawbacks—cyber warfare, spreading of disinformation, identity theft, to name a few—as it has made improvements to our lives. We are still in that stage of assessing how to use it wisely.
Join Date: 11/14/11
Posts: 160
Throughout time the world has experienced cycles of Chan darkness and enlightenment from ancient civilizations to the dark ages and again to medieval times to plague to gun powder, the Renaissance, the Industrial Age, natural destruction, to the jet age. Technological advances bring improvements to quality of life, but also create dependency. Example…. Communications advances allow us to communicate the world over from our living rooms. But, we’ve become tethered to our phones, laptops, videos, email and lost the joys of talking, enjoying down time, unplugging, the ability to live a simple life.
Join Date: 07/15/21
Posts: 27
I would focus especially on advancement in sources of energy. Many people today are skeptical of these advances and want to rely on the old ways, for one reason or another (some less than admirable):power from coal and oil, rather than solar or nuclear. The main characters in the novel, especially Astrid and Kai, were positive about the improvements technology could bring. Astrid longed for the comfort offered by artificial light and improved methods of heating, but not at the expense of the stave church and the Sister Bells. Kai wanted to bring these comforts to his church in Butangen, even if it meant tearing down the ancient stave church in order to build a modern new one. Gerhard’s attitude was most interesting to me, as he had a preservationist’s interest in keeping both, moving the old stave church to prevent its destruction and designing a new church that would combine the beauty of the old with the comfort of the new.
Join Date: 06/13/11
Posts: 70
All the above comments address the parallels of the new technologies between the 19th century and 21st century. One area not mentioned is the advances in obstetrics. Many new ways of protecting a baby's health and a mother's health have evolved. It was interesting that the author mentioned Sanger and better ways of birthing a baby. Also, interesting to read the comments and explanations of Astrid's midwife when she (A) was so very concerned about her babies. Would they be healthy; would they be born alive? What of her health? I was devastated when Astrid died giving birth, even though 2-3 doctors were called in for her delivery!
Join Date: 02/12/22
Posts: 35
Technology has made our lives more comfortable, but has simultaneously caused us to become strangers to one another. We have lost the skills of listening and empathy because there are so many distractions and "shock factor" media available for consumption. The parallels between modern society and this story include the fact that in allowing their old, historically-rich stave church to be torn down and relocated, the people in the story were losing their "history". They had forgotten about the old ways in exchange for modern comfort, and we do the same in society today.
Join Date: 06/14/18
Posts: 23
I agree with Molly Mae. Losing our sense of history could very well be the result of technological advances. One thing for sure that it has done today is make many people lonely despite the advances. One would think it would be just the opposite, but indeed, it is not.
Join Date: 01/06/20
Posts: 27
Yes, I see parallels as we all try to find a way to manage technology that more and more seems to "manage" us! Just as people in the late 19th century faced new technologies that elevated the quality of life, so at times, technology can also set some things back...most evident in contemporary times with issues of privacy, ethics, and social morality. There are thick veins of each at play in this novel.
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