Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id NAA27152 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sat, 17 Mar 2001 13:44:00 GMT X-Originating-IP: [209.240.220.215] From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Technology/culture/memetics Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 08:40:21 -0500 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <F98eeh5zdc5DYSkiTHi00003ea3@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 17 Mar 2001 13:40:21.0447 (UTC) FILETIME=[CFDDC570:01C0AEE7] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>To: "memetics list" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
>Subject: Technology/culture/memetics
>Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 10:00:08 -0500
>
>On 03/16/01 08:33, Vincent Campbell said this-
>
> >Is the wheel, say, not a meme in some sense?
>
>"Oh, that's all well and good, Mr. Wise Guy, but what color should it be?
>Huh?"*
>
>No, IMHO, the wheel (and any simple machine which explores a facet of
>nature) is not a meme in any respect. And I will repeat, because it's as
>near as I've gotten to this -
>
> >Technology however, in some way I cannot comprehend, is not memetic. I
> >clutch at environmental, but that is not adequate either. The link
> >between technology and culture may actually be memetics.
>
>Technology, to paraphrase Robin, is not the problem.... It is a given,
>and it changes, and it needs to be dealt with and it deals, but it is
>more part of a memetic environment than part of a memetic process. I
>think....
>
>Creating a wheel is thus, in my muddled thinking, outside of culture.
>Putting the wheel on a wagon, though, is memetic. So is painting it red.
>
>
Chrome "mags" were quite trendy in the day. There is an industry in the
propogation of aftermarket custom wheels. People like to personalize their
cars in many ways, wheel styles included. Some of these aftermarket wheels
get VERY expensive, especially the brands people put on Mercedes and BMW
cars.
I used to own a lowered pickup truck. Back in the 80's this was a big trend
counter to the tendency to raise trucks up on big oversize tires to capture
an "off-road" look. Lowered trucks had a very unusual look about them and
the right wheel style would set it off nicely.
Another trend was putting lots of bass sound into cars with amplifiers,
crossovers, and various sizes and assortments of subwoofers. If one were to
walk through Coconut Grove (or many other Florida cities) on a weekend
night, they might "feel the bass" as the collective sound of many booming
systems pounded the pavement in unison, usually tuned to Power96.
Wheels and sound systems add flair to a car.
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