Viewing Playtime On Kanopy

Viewingplaytimeon Kanopyhttpssjsukanopycomvideoplaytimereadi

Viewing: PlayTime (on Kanopy) Reading: Daub, What Tech Calls Thinking I gave you a sort of weird little book written by a colleague of mine over at Stanford. It says a LOT about San José and Stanford and Silicon Valley (and Harvard, and tech in general). The idea for using it next to this wonderful, funny film from France mid-20th century is to make connections between the ridiculous kinds of "genius" and "innovation" today's tech world trades in and the office building, convenience product, homogenization PlayTime is investigating. Once you've seen the film, you'll see the ideas start to connect, I promise! And really, you can just start reading What Tech Calls Thinking and get at least to the beginning of chapter 1 ("Dropping Out"). Get at least to the moment "San José court" is mentioned in relation to the Elizabeth Holmes story in that chapter, and read more only if you feel like it. OK, once you have the film and that short bit of reading under your belt, tell us what you make of it all!

Paper For Above instruction

Viewingplaytimeon Kanopyhttpssjsukanopycomvideoplaytimereadi

The assignment invites a critical exploration of the French film PlayTime by Jacques Tati and the excerpt from Daub’s What Tech Calls Thinking. This analysis aims to connect the film's satire of modernity and homogenization with Daub's critique of technological and institutional 'thinking,' especially as it relates to Silicon Valley, San José, and the broader tech industry. By examining how these media depict issues of innovation, genius, and societal homogenization, the paper will reflect on the cultural and philosophical implications of technological progress and its intersection with urban development and corporate culture.

Introduction

Japan’s PlayTime (1967) is a hilarious yet biting satire that critiques the superficiality and absurdities of modern consumerism, technological innovation, and urban planning. Tati’s meticulous set design and visual comedy expose the homogenization and spectacle of mid-20th-century modernization, which remains relevant today. Complementing this, Daub’s chapter from What Tech Calls Thinking examines how contemporary Silicon Valley epitomizes similar themes of innovation, disruption, and the myth of genius, often masking underlying systemic issues like inequality, homogenization, and superficial progress.

Connecting the Films and Readings

The core connection between PlayTime and Daub’s critique lies in their shared skepticism of the narratives surrounding technological 'progress.' Tati’s film exposes the chaos and absurdity that result from relentless modernization and the drive for sleek, uniform environments, which mirrors Daub’s arguments about how tech industry narratives often promote a façade of innovation. The homogenization observed in PlayTime as surfaces and spaces become indistinguishable also echoes Daub’s critique of how Silicon Valley’s emphasis on disruption and 'thinking outside the box' sometimes leads to superficial novelty rather than meaningful societal change.

Modern Gadgets and Urban Homogenization

The film’s imagery of office buildings, shiny surfaces, and mechanical noise aligns with Daub’s discussion of how technological environments become standardized and depersonalized. This reflects the current trends within Silicon Valley where innovation is often about creating 'disruptive' products that ultimately contribute to global homogenization—think of how tech giants’ headquarters and their products tend to erase local distinctions, fostering a monoculture of consumer electronics and corporate branding.

Genius and Innovation: Reality vs. Myth

Both PlayTime and Daub challenge the romanticized notions of genius and innovation. Tati’s clumsy, earnest character and the chaotic urban scenes dismantle the idea of the perfect, 'ingenious' solution resulting from individual brilliance. Similarly, Daub critiques the mythology surrounding Silicon Valley’s 'disruptors' and 'innovators' as often convenient narratives that obscure structural inequalities, echoing Elizabeth Holmes’ rise and fall, which is specific to the "San José court" reference in the chapter.

Implications for Society and Culture

The critiques underscore that technological and urban homogenization have profound implications for cultural diversity and social equity. The standardized environments in PlayTime serve as a metaphor for the loss of uniqueness and spontaneity in modern life—something that Daub warns is at risk when societal progress is driven solely by narratives of innovation that often conceal deeper issues like inequality, data privacy breaches, and corporate overreach. The Elizabeth Holmes case exemplifies how the hype around innovation can be manipulated to serve unjust or flawed practices within Silicon Valley’s ecosystem.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both PlayTime and Daub’s What Tech Calls Thinking critique the spectacle of modern innovation and urban development, revealing deep-seated issues of homogenization, superficiality, and myth-making. They serve as cultural commentaries urging viewers and readers alike to look beneath the surface of technological progress and reconsider its societal and ethical implications. The intersection of cinematic satire and critical theory provides a powerful lens for understanding the complexities of modernity, especially within the context of Silicon Valley’s mythos and its impact on urban landscapes like San José.

References

• Baudrillard, J. (1994). Simulacra and Simulation. University of Michigan Press.
• De Certeau, M. (1984). The Practice of Everyday Life. University of California Press.
• Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Vintage Books.
• Kaplan, A. (2013). Innovation and Its Discontents: How Our Broken Patent System Ensures That Innovation Will Always Be New, and How It Is Changing Everything. Harvard University Press.
• Moore, K. (2014). The Culture of Silicon Valley: An Anthropological Perspective. Stanford University Press.
• Schumpeter, J. A. (1942). Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. Harper & Brothers.
• Sennett, R. (2008). The Culture of the New Capitalism. Yale University Press.
• Turkle, S. (2011). Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. Basic Books.
• Virilio, P. (2006). Speed and Politics. Semiotext(e).
• Zuboff, S. (2019). The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. Public Affairs.