Technology as Magic

The Triumph of the Irrational

By: Peter M.R. Stirk

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Paperback | 1 July 2001 | Edition Number 1

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256 Pages

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22.86 x 15.24 x 1.91

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What gives the mass media, particularly advertising and television, their extraordinary power over our lives, so that even the most jaded and sophisticated among us are troubled and fascinated by their allure? The secret, according to Richard Stivers, in this brilliant new book, lies in the curious relationship between technology and magic. Stivers argues the two are now related to one another in such a way that each has taken on important characteristics of the other. His contention is that our expectations for technology have become magical to the point that they have generated a multitude of imitation technologies that function as magical practices. These imitation technologies flourish in the fields of psychology, management administration, and the mass media, and their paramount purpose in human adjustment and control. Advertising and television programs, in particular, contain the key magical rituals of our civilization.In a fascinating analysis of television programming, Stivers shows how various genres--news, sports, game shows, soap operas, sitcoms, etc.--have their distinct mythological symbols. Through dramatized information, they symbolically connect consumer goods and services to desired outcomes--the utopian goals of success, happiness, and health--thus enveloping technology, both real and imitation, in a magical cocoon.

Industry Reviews

"Professor Stivers, a soft-spoken radical, challenges us to rethink our assumptions about the glorious economic and technological gains at the end of the century and at the end of the millennium, and suggests that rather than being good news, there may be very bad news indeed! Technology as Magic is a book that makes us think, even if we don't want to, in an attack on our fondest assumptions." Andrew M. Greeley, University of Chicago

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Science Science in General Impact of Science & Technology on Society History Specific Events & Topics in History Social & Cultural History Sociology & Anthropology Sociology Social Theory Reference, Information & Interdisciplinary Subjects Interdisciplinary Studies

Communication Studies Society & Culture Cultural Studies Popular Culture Politics & Government Political Science & Theory

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction: The Paradox of Technology and Magic	p. 1
Both Technology and Magic	p. 14
Ellul's Theory of the Three Milieus	p. 16
Magic in the Three Milieus	p. 28
Dramatized Information: The Basis of Psychological Magic	p. 43
The Disintegration of Discourse	p. 44
Atomistic Words and Phrases	p. 52
Commonplace Expressions, Slogans, and Cliches	p. 59
Visual Images in the Media	p. 63
Symbolism in the Milieu of Technology	p. 68
Statistical Information: The Basis of Administrative Magic	p. 79
Statistics Everywhere	p. 82
Statistics: Moral and Normal	p. 92
Equality: Statistical and Social	p. 100
Magical Numbers, Magical Words, Magical Images	p. 107
The Mass Media as Magic	p. 109
The Fabrication of Images	p. 110
The Culture of Advertising	p. 118
Technological Utopianism: Myth and Ritual of an Advertising Culture	p. 125
Magic in the Media	p. 136
Therapy, Self-Help, and Positive Thinking as Magic	p. 140
Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, and Clinical Social Work	p. 141
Self-Help and Positive Thinking	p. 143
The Effectiveness of Therapy	p. 155
Therapy as Magic	p. 158
Why the Individual and Society Need Therapy	p. 166
Management as Magic	p. 169
A Brief History of Management	p. 170
Contemporary Management Theories and Practices	p. 180
The Relation between Managerial Technique and Success	p. 191
Management as Magic	p. 195
Why Society and the Individual Need Management	p. 199
The Triumph of the Irrational	p. 201
The Failure of Education	p. 207
Irrationality and Freedom	p. 209
Notes	p. 213
Index	p. 237
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

Technology as Magic

The Triumph of the Irrational

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

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How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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