Difference between revisions of "Heavy Modernity"
Caseorganic (Talk | contribs) |
Caseorganic (Talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | + | ===Definition=== | |
| + | The term Heavy Modernity is used to describe a form of modernity tied to physical objects and expensive development. Whereas heavy
modernity
is
rooted
to
place, mass
and
size, light modernity
is
rooted
to
'lightness'
and
the
transcendence
of
time
and
space,
or
the
physical
self.
| ||
| + | Bauman's
analysis
of
heavy
and
light
modernity
can
be
used
to
explain
the
allure
of
the
cell
phone. Cell
phone
users
are
able
to
transcend
the
physical
boundaries
of
heavy
modernity
because
they've
left
part
of
their
bodies
behind
and
transferred
to
'light
modernity'
while
in
'heavy
modernity'.
<ref>(Bauman
2000:114)</ref>
The
light
modern
state
of
the
cell
phone
helps
them
to
transcend
the
heaviness
that
their
body
had
taken
on
when
introduced
to
the
'heavily
modern'
state.
| ||
| + | |||
| + | Modern
information,
or
‘light
information’
is
only
accessible
by
hybrids,
or
those
who
are
capable
of
liminally
transforming
into
technosocial
hybrids
or
‘light
industrial’
objects. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Fordism was self-consious of modern society in it's 'eavy', 'bulky', or 'immobile' and 'rooted', 'solid' phase. At that stage in their joint history, capital, management and labour were all, for better or worse, doomed to stay in one another's comapny for a long time to come, perhaps for ever - tied down by the combination of huge factory buildings, heavy machinery and massive labour forces.<ref>Bauman, Zygmunt, "[[Liquid Modernity]]".</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Example=== | ||
Amazon.com has a negative operating cycle: | Amazon.com has a negative operating cycle: | ||
Amazon turn it's inventory every 20 days | Amazon turn it's inventory every 20 days | ||
| − | Best buy turns every 74 days. Amazons orbit is shorter. It's closer to the sun | + | Best buy turns every 74 days. Amazons orbit is shorter. It's closer to the sun. |
Day 0, Order product | Day 0, Order product | ||
| Line 22: | Line 30: | ||
*People understand how cash float works and design for that. | *People understand how cash float works and design for that. | ||
*The interest they can generate on that alone is a profit. So they can sell products cheaper than mac. | *The interest they can generate on that alone is a profit. So they can sell products cheaper than mac. | ||
| − | *Cheaper than what they buy them for. | + | *Cheaper than what they buy them for.<ref>Lecture from lecture "Revealing Design Treasures from The Amazon" by [[Jared Spool]]. Portland, Oregon. May 19, 2010.</ref> |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references /> | ||
| − | |||
[[Category:Book Pages]] | [[Category:Book Pages]] | ||
[[Category:Marked for Editing]] | [[Category:Marked for Editing]] | ||
Revision as of 15:42, 1 April 2011
Definition
The term Heavy Modernity is used to describe a form of modernity tied to physical objects and expensive development. Whereas heavy modernity is rooted to place, mass and size, light modernity is rooted to 'lightness' and the transcendence of time and space, or the physical self.
Bauman's analysis of heavy and light modernity can be used to explain the allure of the cell phone. Cell phone users are able to transcend the physical boundaries of heavy modernity because they've left part of their bodies behind and transferred to 'light modernity' while in 'heavy modernity'. [1] The light modern state of the cell phone helps them to transcend the heaviness that their body had taken on when introduced to the 'heavily modern' state. Modern information, or ‘light information’ is only accessible by hybrids, or those who are capable of liminally transforming into technosocial hybrids or ‘light industrial’ objects.
"Fordism was self-consious of modern society in it's 'eavy', 'bulky', or 'immobile' and 'rooted', 'solid' phase. At that stage in their joint history, capital, management and labour were all, for better or worse, doomed to stay in one another's comapny for a long time to come, perhaps for ever - tied down by the combination of huge factory buildings, heavy machinery and massive labour forces.[2]
Example
Amazon.com has a negative operating cycle:
Amazon turn it's inventory every 20 days
Best buy turns every 74 days. Amazons orbit is shorter. It's closer to the sun.
Day 0, Order product
- Product paid for day 44
- Customer buys 74
- Cash debt for 45 days.
- Short term credit is needed during this time
How does amazon do it?
- Order product day zero
- Product paid for on day 44
- Customer buys day 20
- Customer pays 22
Cash float for 22 days
- People understand how cash float works and design for that.
- The interest they can generate on that alone is a profit. So they can sell products cheaper than mac.
- Cheaper than what they buy them for.[3]
References
- ↑ (Bauman 2000:114)
- ↑ Bauman, Zygmunt, "Liquid Modernity".
- ↑ Lecture from lecture "Revealing Design Treasures from The Amazon" by Jared Spool. Portland, Oregon. May 19, 2010.
