1.
The
Electric Car was a thing?!
Until we watched “Death of the
Electric Car” in class I actually had no idea that the EV-1 once roamed the
streets of our automobile dystopia. This reminded me of Seiler’s notions of
government propaganda to promote roads, the interstate, and the act of driving.
Through this propaganda “People’s Capitalism would be ‘the greatest advertising
and public relations campaign this country has ever known- a campaign with the
single objective of reeducating the American people to our way of life’”(Seiler
79). The death of the electric car illustrates what kind of propaganda power
companies like General Motors has and how they have “reeducated” the American
people to buy Hummers and devour gasoline. “Global warming is not a real thing,
well prove it to you. Come buy our off-roading gas guzzling vehicle with no
repercussions!”- That’s how I envision GM to think anyway. With that sort of diversion
propaganda GM could smoothly pull the EV-1 off the road with little attention
to it, sly.
2.
The Electric Car is the Best Alternative Option
Before this class I thought that
hydrogen fuel cells would be the best option for alternative energy solutions. However,
I never realized how much technology has already been researched and adapted to
the idea of the electric automobile. Electricity is the most convenient method
of power, due to its accessibility almost everywhere now, and since there are
already power stations up, ready to charge, it would make the most sense to
invest in electricity. Now, it is environmentally necessary, some “effects of
CO2 levels have already made refugees of some people living in low lying atolls
in the Pacific Ocean” (Lutz 174). Also
according to Lutz “cars and trucks produce five primary groups of pollution;
carbon monoxide; nitrogen oxides; toxins including benzene; VOCs; and fine
particulate matter” (163). The concept of the electric car is no longer such a
foreign idea to society and is something more and more people are willing to be
more open too to help save the planet. Plus, a hydrogen fuel cell in the back of a car mixed with the
drivers we see today, doesn’t look like a very great option.
3.
Everyone is a Self-Curator
In “disdain of efficiency” people
will do whatever they can to project their personal image through an automobile
(Seiler 9). This self-creation through the automobile formed different
subcultures among populations that that reflected race and ethnicity. From “white
working class ‘hot rods’ or ‘stock car’ enthusiasts, Chicano/Latino and African
American ‘low-riders,’ as well as more recent Asian American ‘import street
racer,’” one can see how many different cultures have been affected and shaped
by the automobile (Seiler 9). Although not generally very practical, these automobiles
are a reflection of its driver and the socioeconomic status the driver wants to
portray. This option of self-curating allows the driver to be an individual
within each subculture, furthering our love and desire of being one’s own
person.
4.
Autonomy=Freedom
Trapped in society and ruled by “the
man,” the automobile allows us to feel from everything. “For what is freedom? The
power to live as you will,” and the
automobile gives us that power (Seiler 132). Besides police, one’s self-governance
can take control and now you are on your own terms. You can speed down back
roads barely gripping on to the road as you throw the weight of the car into a
sharp turn, or you cruise around downtown and enjoy the weather in your convertible,
the choice is yours. We are all cowboys out there and as a cowboy “I ride my
horse where I want to go” and I have the freedom to do so (Lutz 133).
5.
The Car can be the Great Equalizer
Cars represent one’s
socioeconomic status and being able to own a car gives a sense of equality to
others that own one as well. Seiler says speed has always been “a particularly
important element” in the world of drivers and I find that totally
understandable (43). For instance if one is speeding down the highway and someone
else joins in, for that time on the road, they are equals- going the same speed,
sharing the enjoyment of traveling faster than others. If a black man and a white
man are going the same speed, they are equals. The construction of the
interstate was also a huge factor as an equalizer in society. “All interstate
in the Deep South felt much like an interstate in the North,” allowing African Americans
equal opportunity to move (126 Seiler).
6.
Rush Hour will only Get Worse until it gets Better
“Nationally
the rush hour- defined as the peak hours of travel when roads are most
congested – has expanded to more than six hours a day” (Lutz 130). With rush
hour totaling more than 12 hours of everyday we now have a desperate call to figure
out new, more efficient means of mass transit and personal transit. Massive amounts
of pollution are caused by gridlock and the amount of cars trapped in it. Public
transit needs to take a 90 degree turn in order to address this problem and
more efficient means of commuter transit must be available. As well as having a
technological shift we must see a shift in culture. The idea that only “lame”
people ride the bus needs to be switched to a more appreciative view that
people don’t have to drive themselves everywhere.
7.
We Gave One Freedom up for Another
With
the notion of freedom on the road I have also noticed how much of an oxymoron
it can be. Most police encounters people have of police are involved with their
automobile, whether it’s a speeding ticket or a traffic stop it seems that the
only time most people get involved with the cops is on the road. Lutz says “we
have to accept the remarkable levels of government control for the sake of the
automobile” (113). To me it seems that I never feel too free on the road since I
am generally on the lookout for police vehicles, even if I am going just 5 mhp
over the speed limit. How free are we really since we can’t experience the full
power and potential of our vehicles without getting in trouble from the law?
8.
Marketing is a Double-edged sword
While we think marketing always
appeals to the sides of us we like best, there is an awful lot of deception in
the marketing field, especially with the automobile. Automobile companies, like
Nissan for example, will use anthropological research to create emotional
connections with its target audience. With this research, advertisers can
construct media “evaluating their [consumers] concerns and validating their
desires” (Lutz 46). “Marketers know what we don’t like to admit to ourselves:
we are a lot like a lot of other people,” so they snatch on to this idea and
suck the life out of it, making the consumer feel “unique.” They are a conniving
force that can appeal to our strengths and insecurities and persuade us to buy
anything.
9.
The Automobile Destroys Towns
Once, towns were built with
structure close together, creating a sense of community and belonging that were
easy to navigate by walking, like Burlington. Now towns are built to “accommodate
automobiles at the expense of the pedestrian” (Kunstler 135). Structures are
now spread out and our reliance on the automobile thickens. Since towns are
actually built around the use of cars, every individual needs an automobile just for daily life. This reliance on the
automobile puts a dent on the earth and in your wallet. With smaller, closer
communities citizens can walk more places reduce their dependence on the use of
the automobiles, while becoming a healthier persons. It’s a win-win situation.
10.
Have We Even Arrived Anywhere?
The automobile has seemed to make
much of what we travel through mundane. Once leaving us in awe and marvel, now
we see much less emotion through the act of driving. “There is little sense of
having arrived anywhere, because everywhere looks like no place in particular”
(Kunstler 131). The adventure and journey of driving has lost its wonder and amazement
among the masses and since most places are built around the automobile most towns
don’t look too much different from each other. We need to rediscover the art of
driving and the idea of just going where the road takes us.
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