Thank you, just what I needed to read right now, as I've had a blues refrain stuck in my head. That the train in the blues is a metaphor for spirituality, a better life, or a life passing by, all of this of course so well encapsulated in machinery (the deus ex machina or literal engine).
The idea of the powerless projecting onto technology a kind of power, well, that could be wrapped up in Mark Fisher's slow cancellation of the future: who is the locomotive pilot in such a future?
I've heard some people talk about the coming AI boom as being like the new locomotive, but hard to say now how drastic the change will be felt. I'm a bit worried about that prospect personally, because the pilot would then be less and less "us" and the logic on which it runs could easily be socially damaging.
And this is not even something in the far-off future, we're talking potentially even this decade.
Anton, your article using the locomotive as a metaphor reminds me of the haunting 1960 Twilight Zone episode titled "A Stop At Willoughby," in which a New York City ad man desires to run away from the hectic, painful, and alienating "push-push-push" life. The protagonist had these dreams of a slower life--as he slept on his commute home to the suburbs--only to die by jumping off the train--as he slept. More than 60 years later, this condition has only worsened under neoliberalism.
Thank you, just what I needed to read right now, as I've had a blues refrain stuck in my head. That the train in the blues is a metaphor for spirituality, a better life, or a life passing by, all of this of course so well encapsulated in machinery (the deus ex machina or literal engine).
The idea of the powerless projecting onto technology a kind of power, well, that could be wrapped up in Mark Fisher's slow cancellation of the future: who is the locomotive pilot in such a future?
Oh yes, absolutely
I've heard some people talk about the coming AI boom as being like the new locomotive, but hard to say now how drastic the change will be felt. I'm a bit worried about that prospect personally, because the pilot would then be less and less "us" and the logic on which it runs could easily be socially damaging.
And this is not even something in the far-off future, we're talking potentially even this decade.
Amazing photos and such a great read.
Anton, your article using the locomotive as a metaphor reminds me of the haunting 1960 Twilight Zone episode titled "A Stop At Willoughby," in which a New York City ad man desires to run away from the hectic, painful, and alienating "push-push-push" life. The protagonist had these dreams of a slower life--as he slept on his commute home to the suburbs--only to die by jumping off the train--as he slept. More than 60 years later, this condition has only worsened under neoliberalism.
Love that episode!