Critical Analysis- Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America (Part 2)

The second part of the book, Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America, by Giles Slade, discusses how obsolescence in the United States grew even more after World War I and World War II, especially with the invention of radio frequency and television. With the development of FM radio, new radios needed to be produced to accommodate such new technology. Soon after, radios began to become more compact, cheaper to replace, and a product of planned obsolescence. For example, Japan specifically designed small, cheap, plastic radios that came in many different colors, with the intent that consumers would just throw them away after they died and a buy a new one for a very low price (106). This also became true with pocket radios as they were too small to be repaired, leading to the coining of the phrase "death dating" which sounds exactly what it means (113). When the fabric, Nylon, was invented as a substitute for silk, it not only allowed the United States to end all trade with Japan, but it also allowed women to buy disposable pantie hose for very cheap, which again contributes to this idea of product obsolescence (118).  Later on in the book, Slade discusses how consumerism changes in the 50's and 60's, more specifically with the invention of porchless houses. Here, we see that consumers aren't just interested in purchasing houses as a product of their functioning, but for more reasons of appeal. After the depression, porches became associated with poor households because people would hang out on their front stoops and sidewalks (134). People realized the notion that what you own reflects upon who you are as a person, and no one wants an outdated house (how taboo!!). This same concept of keeping with new technology is also illustrated with the invention of computer technology. Where the ABC computer was once the best thing since sliced bread, new computers such as the UNIVAC came out, and the ABC computer became outdated (141).  It is during the late 50's and 60's that the term "product obsolescence" really comes into play because of the research done on consumerism and technology. Volkswagen realized this and created ads that actually attacked "product obsolescence" in order to persuade the consumer that their cars never became outdated. Volkswagen's advertisements stressing this fact became so successful that there was a six month waiting list for their popular "Bug."  Towards the end of the reading, it becomes evident that product obsolescence comes in many different ways. Either the consumer is forced to purchase a new product to replace a broken one, they need to buy a new product to keep up with newer, better performing technologies, or they just psychologically feel that their technology is "worn out" even though it may be working fine.  I feel that society's constant struggle to keep up with new technology creates a world in which we are always on edge and in competition with each other. We are hostile, materialistic beings and it's only getting worse. Where I can see that in ways, product obsolescence is positive because it forces manufacturers to always strive to create better products, it is also very damaging to our culture in that it's very artificial.