I’d Hammer Out Freedom: Technology as Politics and Culture

Our series of seven formal writing assignments is a developmental exercise designed to improve your analytical reading, writing, and thinking skills. To complete the assignment, you must write an essay answering a question about an assigned reading that we do not discuss in depth in our class discussion.

For your first essay, please write a two- to three-page (600-900 word) response to the following question:

In “I’d Hammer Out Freedom: Technology as Politics and Culture” (pp. 69-77), Richard Sclove argues that we should do more to acknowledge technology’s ‘polypotency.’ What does this term mean, why does Sclove think that it is important to acknowledge this characteristic of technology? Do you agree with Sclove that technology has this characteristic? Why or why not? If you agree that technology is polypotent, do you agree with Sclove that it is important that we address this fact as we reflect on our relationships with technologies? Why or why not?

Please ensure that your essay addresses each component of the assigned question and that your answer is well-organized, uses excellent, college-level prose, and makes judicious use of textual evidence.