American Technological Sublime (Mit Press)

I use David Nye's text as one my assigned readings in the History of Technology course I am teaching at the local community college. It is good at giving more than a simple description of technology or of technological development and change over time, but rather provides an insight that involves the sociological, psychological, philosophical and even spiritual at times. The idea of the sublime is an interesting one, one that relates not only to things technological nor to things American, but when these concepts are put together, it produces a unique creation.David Nye is not only a follower of Leo Marx, but was in fact one of his students, so it makes sense that there is a strong influence in method and content. Nye credits Leo Marx with the term `technological sublime', and worked later to apply it in different ways to the development in the course of American history.`If any man-made object can be called sublime, surely the Golden Gate Bridge can. ... Icon of San Francisco and constantly featured on travel posters, postcards and brochures, it has become an instantly recognizable landmark. Yet, like every sublime object, this magnificent piece of civil engineering cannot be comprehended through words and images alone. When visited, it outstrips expectations.'Nye develops certain key elements and icons such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, the electric city-scape at night, and even developments such as nuclear weapons and space travel as examples of the sublime. These things creep into our consciousness and influence the way other things become part of the sublime, as Nye's final chapter on the consumer's sublime indicates. The sublime is not a simple concept, and not just a visual one - all the senses must be employed, and both rational and emotional parts of our understanding come into play.`The steam locomotive shook the ground and filled the air with an alien smell of steam, smoke, and sparks; the Saturn rocket did much the same thing on a larger scale. The strong contrast between the silence of a rocket's liftoff and the sudden roar that follows a few seconds later is also a vital element in making that spectacle sublime. The sheer size of the crowd attracted to a technological display further arouses the emotions.'The sublime can be part of the natural world, too - the Grand Canyon is held up as an example. Of course, the elements of the natural world play into many of the sublime elements of technological creation - the Golden Gate Bridge might be less dramatic were it placed in a different location.The concept of the sublime itself has a long history, being drawn from philosophers such as Immanuel Kant (Critique of Judgement) and Edmund Burke (Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful) as well as artists and other creative types. `The classical definitions of the sublime were written by and for intellectual elites,' Nye states. However, the sublime is in fact more widely accessible, and often recognised (if not directly named) by the majority of people.This is a fascinating book, and one that gives a perspective on the development of the history of technology beyond the typical.

I use David Nye's text as one my assigned readings in the History of Technology course I am teaching at the local community college. It is good at giving more than a simple description of technology or of technological development and change over time, but rather provides an insight that involves the sociological, psychological, philosophical and even spiritual at times. The idea of the sublime is an interesting one, one that relates not only to things technological nor to things American, but when these concepts are put together, it produces a unique creation.David Nye is not only a follower of Leo Marx, but was in fact one of his students, so it makes sense that there is a strong influence in method and content. Nye credits Leo Marx with the term `technological sublime', and worked later to apply it in different ways to the development in the course of American history.`If any man-made object can be called sublime, surely the Golden Gate Bridge can. ... Icon of San Francisco and constantly featured on travel posters, postcards and brochures, it has become an instantly recognizable landmark. Yet, like every sublime object, this magnificent piece of civil engineering cannot be comprehended through words and images alone. When visited, it outstrips expectations.'Nye develops certain key elements and icons such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, the electric city-scape at night, and even developments such as nuclear weapons and space travel as examples of the sublime. These things creep into our consciousness and influence the way other things become part of the sublime, as Nye's final chapter on the consumer's sublime indicates. The sublime is not a simple concept, and not just a visual one - all the senses must be employed, and both rational and emotional parts of our understanding come into play.`The steam locomotive shook the ground and filled the air with an alien smell of steam, smoke, and sparks; the Saturn rocket did much the same thing on a larger scale. The strong contrast between the silence of a rocket's liftoff and the sudden roar that follows a few seconds later is also a vital element in making that spectacle sublime. The sheer size of the crowd attracted to a technological display further arouses the emotions.'The sublime can be part of the natural world, too - the Grand Canyon is held up as an example. Of course, the elements of the natural world play into many of the sublime elements of technological creation - the Golden Gate Bridge might be less dramatic were it placed in a different location.The concept of the sublime itself has a long history, being drawn from philosophers such as Immanuel Kant (Critique of Judgement) and Edmund Burke (Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful) as well as artists and other creative types. `The classical definitions of the sublime were written by and for intellectual elites,' Nye states. However, the sublime is in fact more widely accessible, and often recognised (if not directly named) by the majority of people.This is a fascinating book, and one that gives a perspective on the development of the history of technology beyond the typical.

This is a useful book, full of scope and sway, but marred in my reading by being written (too uncritically) from within the techno-euphoria and liberal pieties of American Studies confirming what is so exceptional and blessed about being American. As such, it is a book more about American pastoral (a la Leo Marx) than about the traumas and will to imperial and global domination of the sublime but David Nye is too much of a devoted Marxian and Americanist to realize this is so. Anyway, read it and be amazed a la Whitman or Kerouac, dear reader, at the Broadway lights and the Hoover Dam!

Sublime - A mystery beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement or imitation.The topic sounded intriguing, I wasn't sure what to expect. This book will remap your reality. When confronting mystery, power and majesty beyond our capacity to analyze or describe we have only one choice; Embrace that Sublime or Flee from it. At least after spending some time with Mr. Nye you will be better equipped to understand why it is a certain space or experience overwhelmed you.This is not a quick read, one page has enough food for thought to satiate my intellect.Definitely belongs in the collection of anyone restless for expanding their horizons.