Exploring and alleviating technological anxieties with laughter

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In his new book, "The Comedy of Computation: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Obsolescence," Benjamin Mangrum, a literature professor at MIT, delves into the complex relationship between technology, culture, and society. Mangrum's work focuses on the duality of technology's experience, encompassing both real advances and benefits, as well as real threats, such as employment issues.

Mangrum's book explores the concept of "the Great Tech-Industrial Joke," which highlights the disparity between technology's declared noble aspirations and its actual outcomes. He argues that comedy, an ever-changing toolbox, has been used throughout modern culture to make technology seem ordinary and less forbidding.

Comedy, according to Mangrum, can sometimes find pleasure in the messiness of technology and culture, and at other times, it neatly wraps up issues in a lesson that may oversimplify reality. For instance, movies like "2001: A Space Odyssey" portrayed computers as unfriendly, grim, and working against human interests, while Steve Jobs used humor to ease concerns about personal computers during the public demo of the Apple Macintosh in 1984.

Mangrum's book discusses the collision of personal authenticity with computing, a topic that has been a subject of debate as social media is often accused of promoting inauthenticity. He also examines how the plot structure of romantic comedies, with obstacles transforming into partners, provides a template for presenting the experience of computing. For example, "Silicon Valley" is an example of a television show that delves into technology's social effects.

However, Mangrum's book presents a complicated, messy picture of the technological world. While comedy can make technology seem less intimidating, it can also oversimplify complex issues. Similarly, romantic comedies often involve reversals, presenting technology as an obstruction that eventually becomes a partner. Yet, social media, while offering connectivity and social exploration, has also generated issues such as polarization, misinformation, and toxicity.

Mark Goble, a professor of English at the University of California at Berkeley, has praised "The Comedy of Computation" as essential for understanding the technological world's complexity, absurdity, and vibrancy. William Marchant's 1955 play "The Desk Set" and contemporary romantic comedies are examples of culture grappling with technology and its effects on us.

In conclusion, Mangrum's book is a thought-provoking exploration of the full complexity of technology, culture, and society. It serves as a reminder that while technology can bring about real advances and benefits, it also presents real threats that we must navigate carefully. As technology continues to evolve, it is crucial to maintain a critical and nuanced understanding of its impact on our lives.