Modernity, Technology, and Copying

Abstract

The evolution of modernity is closely linked to technological advancements, which encompass the duplication of sounds, the reproduction of images, and the copying of messages. This paper investigates various perspectives on the emergence of modern technologies, particularly focusing on their inherent aspect of “copying.” Here, “copying” is a broad term that includes reproducing disembodied voices and images, as well as duplicating artwork and communication materials. It explores how different writers react to the concept of “copying” within the technological landscape. While some, like Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and Rudyard Kipling, celebrate the public excitement and enjoyment associated with new communication technologies, others, including Henry James and Herman Melville, illustrate individuals ensnared in the realm of “copying,” where the pervasive gaze of overseers intrudes into the private realm of message transmission. This paper addresses the question of the relationship between copying and modernity, highlighting how a culture of “copying” enhances human capabilities while simultaneously generating issues such as misinterpretation, commodification, and detachment from natural order, ultimately raising concerns about identity, integrity, and security.