Both the
atlases and airplanes discussed in this weeks reading illuminate America’s
rapid development over the 19th and 18th century. I found it particularly interesting how the
two technologies evolved over time. Atlases were printed on copperplates, this
was known as the intaglio process. These copperplates had fine engravings with
“delicate lines that were easily maintained and updated; subtle and variable
area tones; and small, neat lettering” (Schulten, 21). This process was seen as
“aesthetically superior” to other methods (Schulten, 21). The process required great
skill, so the number of the copperplates produced was limited. Thus, only
people who could afford them could use them. However, lithography and wax
engraving changed this so that more people could buy atlases. Cartography
changed “from a craft to an industry” due to mass production (Schulten, 24). The atlases
showed the growth of American railroads, and depicted America as very superior
to other nations. The United States had many more pages in the atlases, and in
the racial typology, Caucasian people were always placed higher and more
superior to the other races. Atlases evolved to American interests and
superiority.
Similarly, airplanes went through this sort of evolution. Airplanes
went from this glorified, exciting, (even "romantic", as Dr. Kaplan says) and new
technology to a device of warfare. At first they were used as reconnaissance,
but then they were actually used for combat.
I just think it’s crazy that in American history,
technologies have been improved mainly for the end goal of having the most
advanced technology and be the most superior. Yet in the process, we loose
sight of the aesthetics and extraordinary parts of the technology.
After reading your post, I realized a connection between both atlases and airplanes, specifically in their changing perception. At the begging atlases as well as airplanes were viewed as masterpieces and "romantic", but as time and technology moved forward this changed. Both moved towards more industrial categories as both became mass produced and airplanes were used for battle more than a way to view the landscape of the earth.
ReplyDeleteI found the idea of atlases moving from a craft to an industry to be an interesting one because it really speaks to the characteristics of America compared to Europe. In many senses, Europe was the expert, the traditionalist, the perfectionist. America, on the other hand, was like a teenager trying out all sorts of different industries, methods, and technologies, atlases and maps printed using the wax printing method being just one example of this. This distinction characterizes the two parts of the world and shows how priorities differed between Americans and Europeans.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that you mentioned that "only people who could afford [copperplates] could use them." Many of the developments and advancements in technology that we have studied have been, at the time of invention, extremely expensive. This makes sense, of course, because the processes of production were new, but serves to limit the distribution of technologies. I seldom think about the fact that much of invention and technological advancement is hinged on the idea of creating technology that can be inexpensively reproduced and thus bought by the maximum number of people. That is, invention becomes not only about human advancement, but also about success in a market economy.
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