Part 2: Made to Break

In chapters four through six of Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America by Giles Slade, Slade begins by writing about the numerous ways in which obsolescence became a way of life in America starting with radio, and television. Using multiple examples, Slade explores how companies marketed their product for profit, through consumer manipulation. Slade starts chapter four with the introduction of a rivalry that lasted for decades, a rivalry in the advancing field of radio. This rivalry was between two very different men, David Sarnoff and Edwin Armstrong. Sarnoff business sense was all about making a name for himself at all cost. He built up radio, only to destroy it with the introduction of television. Armstrong had great faith in his product, FM radio, and he spent his life trying to make it great.

Continuing with chapter four on radio, Slade discusses the invention of transistor radios and how even the old way of listening to the radio became obsolete. Case in point, many companies invented smaller radios so that the radio could be taken with you anywhere. This made listening to a radio a mobile event, instead of sitting around the radio with your family. As America became a modern society, transistor radios aided in the person on the go. This makes me pause; I think with the transistor radio, America began to move away from the close knot family unit. While families could watch television together, as future can tell, that would not last long. Once again “planned obsolescence” moves people away from the family unit to more isolation, but for now in the reading, television moved people away from the radio.

Also, another aspect of family life that became obsolete was the front porches and basements of houses. When new houses started going up in the suburbs they were built without front porches and basements. This was to keep costs down on their construction, but the public were told through advertisements, that this was a break from the past. Once again the idea of the new was projected as better for the family than the old way. In chapter six, Brooks Stevens said it best, “We make good products, we induce people to buy them, and then next year we deliberately introduce something that will those old fashion, out of date, obsolete”. (pg. 153)  Again I ask, what will America leave behind for the new generations? While reading this book, I have taken a good look at how we as America are driven and manipulated into running after what is new, whether we need it or not. I guess I should be more opened minded; one of the foundations this country is built on is freedom of religion. For make no mistake, America’s belief system and new God is to buy the new toy out each and every week.