Thinking Activity : The Culture of Speed and the counter culture of Slow Movement

Hello friends,

 I am Bhavna Sosa from  Department of English. This blog is about Thinking Activity on The Culture of Speed and the counterculture of Slow Movement. This task is assigned by Prof. Dr. Dilip Barad sir.

What is Dromology?

Dromos is an Ancient Greek noun for race or racetrack, which Virilio applied to the activity of racing (Virilio 1977:47). It is with this meaning in mind that he coined the term 'dromology', which he defined as the "science (or logic) of speed“. Dromology is important when considering the structuring of society in relation to warfare and modern media. He noted that the speed at which something happens may change its essential nature, and that which moves with speed quickly comes to dominate that which is slower. 'Whoever controls the territory possesses it. Possession of territory is not primarily about laws and contracts, but first and foremost a matter of movement and circulation.'

Paul Virilio - Dromology :-

The word Dromology is derived from the Greek noun 'Dromos' which is used for race or racetrack. With this meaning in his mind he coined the term Dromology which means "Science of Speed" According to Virilio Speed became the soul agent of progress. He further said that…

"There was no industrial revolution, only Democratic Revolution, There is no Democracy only Democracy, There is no Strategy, only Dromology."

With the help of technology and computers we can communicate with people from any corner within no time. But Virilio is Critical of thought and said that technologies distort 'Real' reality by replacing real time and space with "Virtual Realities."

A German sociologist, Ulrich Beck propounded the term Technoculture in his book Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. He further explains how risk theory works in various cultural artefacts like, in the cyber world we find computer anti-virus software are sold on the grounds of risk and threats of bug attacks. Things which are governed by risk become a risk society. Beck explains that risks are not real but they are about becoming real. When a certain risk is predicted, it is just an assumption of future incidents. But when risk becomes real it becomes a disaster or catastrophe.

Cultural speed and slow movement:-

In the era of doing everything fast and first, this slow movement tries to retain the connection with nature and humans among whom we live by. Journalist Carl Honore explains with very agreeable statements that the world needs re-connection with itself. 

Thank you!