Social Transformation

Social Transformation

It takes more than forgotten items left behind by modern day sociologists to permanently change a primitive society with limited resources. The items left behind all need renewable energy or resources to keep the products in use. Considering the following five objects:

- a flashlight

- an iPod

- a keg of beer

- a motorcycle

- a small arsenal of guns

A flashlight would be able to transform this hunting-gathering society, but only for a short amount of time. This object would definitely have a positive effect towards the society.

Most importantly, they would be able to perform more tasks in the dark, since the object gives off a more distant light. But once the battery dies, the benefits would be gone. Since it’s a reform society, it doesn’t have the resources to renew the battery. I believe that the flashlight would change its member’s social interactions, as well as relationships because this object would create a bond between the members of society. They would interact more because the flashlight is an important object, which can help a person see. Therefore, the others would tag along with each other from the support of the light. The changes that the society would have are more of a positive effect than negative. A flashlight would be a great benefit, but only for a short period. Since these people never have seen this object before, they would it use it a lot and try to understand the object; resulting in battery loss. This in turn, wastes the battery, causing the battery to die. All in all, the society will benefit from the flashlight, but lacking resources to create a battery would render the flashlight useless.

An iPod might transform this society in some ways. The people would enjoy the tunes they have heard, but after a while, the iPod would die and without a charger, outlet, or even electricity – the iPod would be useless because it would be dead. But, I feel that by listening to music, it could create a music transformation for their society. By experiencing the sound, they could try to replicate it by developing man-made instruments, such as; drums. In result, they would interact more with each other, leading to a music era and cause more musical celebrations in their society. This “music era” could benefit the society because it would bring a whole new period to the society, which would derive from social interactions and relationships.

A keg of beer would not affect the transformation of the society. Taking into consideration, there may be a possibility that they might not be able to get the keg open. But, if they did – the members of the society would experience getting drunk, but what good is that? Since they have never experienced alcohol before; one may drink too much and get alcohol poisoning or hurt themselves or one another. In my opinion, the relationship between the members of the society could change. If they drink together, they may have a good time; unless some members encounter more consumption than others, and get sick or even become a “nasty drunk.” I don’t see how this could be a positive outlook on the society because