Time Capsule
There was a story on a radio show today (Weekend America) about time capsules.
The one that intrigued me was "The Crypt of Civilization at Oglethorpe University [which] was sealed by Dr. Thornwell Jacobs in 1940, to be opened in 8113....People used to ask Dr. Jacobs, 'What will life be like in 8113 AD?' says Hudson. 'He said he could no more envision life in 8113 AD than Cro-Magnon man could envision the skyline of New York.'"
So, what will it be like? I'm wondering if sexism and racism will still exist. It's been a rather enduring institution.
And I'm wondering how blind the contents of time capsules created today are about sexism and racism and other -isms. What gets included, and what is ignored. Everyday items — do they include female-identified objects like irons, lipstick, cleaning products, baby and child care items? Race- or culture-specific items like music, clothing and literature? Is everything neatly genderized or is there accommodation for people who don't fit the stereotypes? Is the "average person" portrayed a young, conventially attractive one, like the nudes on the Pioneerspace probe plaque?
According to the article, "The European Space Agency is planning to launch a satellite into space that intends to contain messages from all humanity. Four pages are reserved for each one of us." Wikipedia told me the project is called KEO, and pointed me to the KEO website.
And here is a page where you can enter your four pages. This particular page is in the English language; if is also available in French, Spanish, and Chinese Traditional. Other pages seem poised to be created but there were no links for them.
The site says, "Every person living on Earth, small, weak, powerful or rich is provided with 4 pages of liberty and equality to pen down his message destined for his faraway great grandchildren. All the messages received, without undergoing any censorship, will be embarked aboard KEO." Life isn't quite that equal, of course; you have to know about the site, you have to have internet access, and the page has to be in a language you can understand.
But I guess it's a start.
The one that intrigued me was "The Crypt of Civilization at Oglethorpe University [which] was sealed by Dr. Thornwell Jacobs in 1940, to be opened in 8113....People used to ask Dr. Jacobs, 'What will life be like in 8113 AD?' says Hudson. 'He said he could no more envision life in 8113 AD than Cro-Magnon man could envision the skyline of New York.'"
So, what will it be like? I'm wondering if sexism and racism will still exist. It's been a rather enduring institution.
And I'm wondering how blind the contents of time capsules created today are about sexism and racism and other -isms. What gets included, and what is ignored. Everyday items — do they include female-identified objects like irons, lipstick, cleaning products, baby and child care items? Race- or culture-specific items like music, clothing and literature? Is everything neatly genderized or is there accommodation for people who don't fit the stereotypes? Is the "average person" portrayed a young, conventially attractive one, like the nudes on the Pioneerspace probe plaque?
According to the article, "The European Space Agency is planning to launch a satellite into space that intends to contain messages from all humanity. Four pages are reserved for each one of us." Wikipedia told me the project is called KEO, and pointed me to the KEO website.
And here is a page where you can enter your four pages. This particular page is in the English language; if is also available in French, Spanish, and Chinese Traditional. Other pages seem poised to be created but there were no links for them.
The site says, "Every person living on Earth, small, weak, powerful or rich is provided with 4 pages of liberty and equality to pen down his message destined for his faraway great grandchildren. All the messages received, without undergoing any censorship, will be embarked aboard KEO." Life isn't quite that equal, of course; you have to know about the site, you have to have internet access, and the page has to be in a language you can understand.
But I guess it's a start.
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