Simpsons Vs Wells :: essays research papers fc

The advent of new engineering has been a source of trepidation throughout history. Just as with any change, fear is a lot the pervasive response to new technology and develop manpowerts, especially amongst those who do non fully comprehend the changes. It seems, however, that people ignorant of the true meaning and extent of technology are the most likely to place unwarranted faith in its abilities. Technology becomes an authority&8212one that is difficult to question or rebel against. afterwards advances become accepted, complacency sets in, reducing the general publics vigilance against dangers to society in any form. This lack of vigilance, due to an unwarranted faith in authority, is depicted and questioned in H. G. Wellss The War of the Worlds. Published in 1898, the message of Wellss work remains relevant, even in the present day. Criticisms of an unwarranted faith in authority manifest themselves in modern culture in multiple media. The Simpsons, a half-hour animated telev ision program, represents such a manifestation. The installing entitled Barts Comet, first aired on February 5, 1995, criticizes a blind allegiance to authority in any form by humorously detailing Springfields response to an approaching comet, which threatens to destroy everyone in the town. The episode parallels Wellss chronicle of the Martian invasion in its depiction of authority. Unwarranted faith finds an unfortunate place in government, religion, and science in both accounts of impending disaster. In themselves, these three fundamental elements of society do not receive criticism. The misguided trust people sometimes place in these institutions, relying on them as noncontroversial and unquestionable authorities, receives the brunt of the censure in both works. The townsfolk themselves receive their fair share of reproach as well. In both works, the people criticized include not only the general middle- to upper-class communities, but also those responsible for the criticizi ng.In The War of Worlds, the government plays a silent role that finds its reflection in the attitudes of the townspeople upon the first arrival of the Martian cylinder. Here, the ignorance of the public manifests itself in the cavalier attitudes of the people toward the potential threat. In the opening lines of the novel, the publics demeanor becomes evident With infinite complacency men went to and fro over this globe about their little affairs, serene in their assurance of their empire over matter (Wells 3). During the height of the British governments domination of the world, through the spread of its colonies and stinting power, Wellss description of the peoples security in their empire over matter, over reality itself, seems most fitting.