Join Jeffrey Bilbro, a professor and author of "Words for Conviviality," as he unpacks the nuanced relationship between media technologies and human connection. He argues that the digital age is not as novel as we think, discussing how both print and digital media shape our communities. Bilbro highlights the importance of metaphors in understanding technology and emphasizes the need for intentional disconnect to foster deeper connections. Explore how podcasting can cultivate intimacy and conviviality in our increasingly digital lives!
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insights INSIGHT
19th-Century Parallels
The industrialization of printing technologies in the 19th century mirrors today's digital revolution.
Studying this historical parallel offers valuable lessons for navigating the digital age.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Tech Narratives Flip
In 2010, Twitter was hailed as a savior of democracy during the Arab Spring.
Post-2016, Facebook was blamed for undermining democracy, showing how quickly tech narratives can shift.
insights INSIGHT
Media as Metaphor
Media shapes our worldview, acting as a metaphor for how we understand and interact with reality.
To challenge these assumptions, we need diverse metaphors, like those found in literature and parables.
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In this book, Neil Postman argues that the contemporary world is more akin to Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' than George Orwell's '1984'. Postman contends that television's emphasis on entertainment has led to a decline in rational discourse and the trivialization of politics, education, and religion. He contrasts the print-based culture of the 19th century with the televisual culture of the 20th century, highlighting how the medium of television inherently promotes incoherence and triviality, turning serious information into a form of entertainment.
Moby Dick
Herman Melville
Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg. Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs. nature, and the existential questions of good and evil. The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature[2][3][5].
The Reformation as Renewal
The Reformation as Renewal
Matthew Barrett
Confidence Man
The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America
Maggie Haberman
Confidence Man is a comprehensive and detailed biography that explores Donald Trump's life, from his early days in Queens to his presidency and beyond. The book, written by Maggie Haberman, is based on extensive interviews with hundreds of sources, including Trump himself. It delves into the transactional relationships that shaped Trump's career, including those with significant figures like Roy Cohn, George Steinbrenner, and Rudy Giuliani. Haberman's work provides a nuanced portrait of Trump, highlighting his complexities, contradictions, and the broader societal context that enabled his rise to power. The book is praised for its meticulous reporting and its contribution to understanding one of the most consequential eras in American political history.
Words for Conviviality
Words for Conviviality
Media Technologies, and Practices of Hope
Jeffrey Bilbro
Tools for Conviviality
Ivan Illich
Ivan Illich's "Tools for Conviviality" is a critical examination of industrial society's impact on human life. Illich argues that modern technologies, while offering efficiency, often lead to dependence and a loss of control. He challenges the notion of progress as solely technological advancement, emphasizing the importance of human scale and self-determination. The book explores the ways in which industrialization has shaped various aspects of life, from work and education to healthcare and transportation, highlighting the negative consequences of these systems. Illich's work serves as a call for a more human-centered approach to technology and social organization, advocating for conviviality as a guiding principle for a more just and sustainable society.
In the Vineyard of the Text
Ivan Illich
In this book, Ivan Illich examines the Didascalicon of Hugh of St. Victor, a medieval work that marks a significant transition in reading practices from vocal to silent reading. Illich discusses the impact of technological innovations on reading habits, comparing the twelfth-century revolution in reading to the changes brought about by the printing press and the computer age. The book delves into the cultural and historical context of reading, highlighting the evolution of 'bookish' reading and its implications for Western society.
The Wolf in Their Pockets
The Wolf in Their Pockets
Chris Martin
The Web of Our Own Making
The Web of Our Own Making
null
Anton Barba Kay
The digital age isn't that new, argues Jeff Bilbro in his latest book, Words for Conviviality: Media Technologies and Practices of Hope. In this episode of What Would Jesus Tech, we ask him about the book, its thesis, the value of metaphors, the potential pushback from Barba-Kay, how the printed word is not necessarily the more moral medium and more.
0:00 - Intro
5:15 - Print to Digital Thesis
13:30 - Media Metaphors
22:50 - Walking
31:21 - Is Digital Different?
36:09 - Not Nostalgia. Postman Was Wrong (sometimes).
What Would Jesus Tech 
