A Study Of Technology Writing In Edward Bellamy’s Novel Looking Backward

In his masterpiece Looking Backward,Edward Bellamy depicts a technological utopia which is dependent upon machines and technologies and openly modelled on them.With its technological elements,the novel reflects the typical attitude of technological optimism in the nineteenth century.In Bellamy’s opinion,technology is the best way to solve social problems in his age and the panacea to social reform.However,the author neglects the negative effects of technology as he glorifies his utopia characterized with its technological innovations.Employing the technological rationality critique of Marcuse,this thesis classifies technology writing in Looking Backward,and probes into the relationship between technology and man,technology and society,technology and politics,so as to identify the reality of Bellamy’s technological utopia.This thesis consists of five chapters.The first chapter introduces Bellamy’s life,achievements and his masterpiece Looking Backward,as well as the literature review at home and abroad,and the feasibility and significance of this thesis.Chapter Two,Chapter Three and Chapter Four are the main body of this thesis.In the second chapter,reification of new Bostonians is discussed.Firstly,the spatio-temporal background of this thesis is constructed by defining new Boston as a machine-garden city with its technological and pastoral elements.Secondly,with the analysis of reification of human labor power and human relationship,the reification of human subject is discussed.Thirdly,the reification of human needs is demonstrated through the discussion of the repression of true needs and the prevalence of false needs.The third chapter focuses on one-dimensionality of the technological utopia.Firstly,one-dimensional man is discussed by analyzing the protagonist Julian and the utopian citizens.Secondly,by studying the defeat of negative thinking and the triumph of positive thinking,one-dimensional thought is demonstrated.Thirdly,one-dimensional society is analyzed with the illustration of the closing of utopian political universe and the universe of discourse.In the fourth chapter,technological totalitarianism in the new world is discussed.Firstly,nationalism and religion of solidarity is analyzed so as to illustrate technological totalitarianism in the field of ideology and religion.Secondly,by analyzing the industrial army and new shopping experience,technological totalitarianism in the field of production and consumption is demonstrated.Thirdly,domestic music room and public institutions are discussed so as to classify technological totalitarianism in the field of mass culture and daily life.The fifth chapter is the conclusion part of this thesis.Bellamy regards technology as the way to his utopia and social reform.He applies the nineteenth-century monopolism to his utopia where the social control is realized through the dominance of technology.Therefore,Bellamy’s utopia is in fact Marcuse’s new totalitarian society.