Ep. 111 - Convenience
In this episode we discuss the value of convenience. We talk about the way it operates in our capitalist form of social and economic life. Have the technological innovations that purportedly make our lives more convenient actually freed us up to pursue our creative interests? Or, do we use our many conveniences only to be more productive at our jobs? And what about the unequal distribution of convenience? The wealthy have conveniences that support the luxuries of their lives; the poor have necessities that are merely disguised as convenience. However convenient McDonald's may be, if it's your only option, it's convenient in name only.
We also discuss whether convenience is an obstacle to a richer connection with our activities and environment. Convenience builds character, they say. Do the ever-improving technologies that mediate our relationship to the world alienate us from our engagements? Is it more meaningful to work with our hands? Or, is this a particular strain of Luddism that's reactionary, unduly refusing modern technologies in favor of a fetishized past?
If you like what you hear, find us on Patreon at patreon.com/therilkeanzoo for more episodes.
Text: Bethany Henning, "Dance: For Leslie" (unpublished poem, November 10, 2022), typescript.