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From 1900 to 1960, the rural United States underwent a significant transformation, driven by the introduction and development of four key urbanizing technologies: the telephone, automobile, radio, and electric light and power. However, the extent to which these new technologies revolutionized rural life as predicted by modernizers remains a topic of debate.
In his work "Consumers in the Country," Ronald R. Kline explores the nuanced and complex relationships among the various stakeholders involved in the diffusion of these technologies in rural America. Kline avoids the trap of technological determinism, instead examining how farm families largely succeeded in adapting these innovations to their own rural culture, often with varying levels of resistance and acceptance.
The key stakeholders in this process included the Country Life professionals, government agencies, and sales personnel who actively promoted and disseminated these technologies. These groups worked to convince farm families of the benefits and necessity of adopting these innovations, often highlighting their potential to improve productivity, convenience, and quality of life.
However, farm families were not passive recipients of these technological advancements. They actively engaged with the new technologies, selectively incorporating them into their existing rural culture and practices. This process was not without its challenges, as some farm families resisted the changes, viewing them as a threat to their traditional way of life.
Kline's exploration of the changing relationships among these stakeholders provides valuable insights into the complex and dynamic nature of technological change in rural America. By avoiding the simplistic narrative of technological determinism, he illuminates the nuanced ways in which farm families negotiated and adapted to the introduction of these urbanizing technologies, shaping the transformation of rural life in the process.
The study of this period offers important lessons for understanding the dynamics of technological change and its impact on rural communities. It highlights the importance of recognizing the agency and resilience of rural populations in the face of disruptive innovations, and the need to consider the broader social, cultural, and economic contexts that shape the adoption and integration of new technologies.
Ultimately, Kline's work in "Consumers in the Country" provides a rich and insightful perspective on the complex interplay between technological progress and the preservation of rural culture and identity. It invites us to reflect on the ways in which technological change can both transform and be transformed by the communities it seeks to impact.
product information:
Attribute | Value | ||||
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publisher | Johns Hopkins University Press (August 2, 2002) | ||||
language | English | ||||
paperback | 384 pages | ||||
isbn_10 | 0801871158 | ||||
isbn_13 | 978-0801871153 | ||||
item_weight | 1.35 pounds | ||||
dimensions | 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches | ||||
best_sellers_rank | #3,327,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1,188 in Sociology of Rural Areas #1,819 in History of Engineering & Technology #3,952 in United States History (Books) | ||||
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