Are scientists and engineers responsible to the culture for their discoveries? Are fashion designers responsible to culture for their discoveries?

Introduction

     Scientists and engineers are responsible to culture for their discoveries. Technology has a major impact on leadership. People have more access to more people and more resources than ever before to make wise decisions. A potential challenge stemming from the rise of technology is information overload. The process of disseminating and receiving has quickened so much that some things may get lost in the shuffle; however scientists, engineers, and fashion designers must be socially aware of the influence their creations have on the globalized world. 

Responsibility to Culture

Technology can often get in the way of the cultivation of indigenous cultures. In general, technology generally leans towards promoting Westernism which has meant the destruction of many cultures in the process (McDonaldization, 2004). In the movie Persepolis, the main character had a difficult time adapting to her culture in Iran as a child because she felt drawn to American rock music. She loved the music and the technology behind it and many people shunned her because of this. This can also be seen in the movie Outsourced where the call center was in the middle of nowhere and had a cow walking around the office. There was a stark contrast between the technology driven society found in Western cultures and the community driven society in India.

Scientists, engineers, and fashion designers need to be sensitive to their audience, but must never cease to push the envelope in terms of what they can do creatively. Here is an excellent example of a fashion designer who is able to be creative and be responsible to the culture she lives in while tactfully pushing the boundaries of what can and what cannot be done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oif8QBDSLho. After watching this video, one can note the tremendous quality of the garments. 

      Truly, the envelope is being pushed in Sudan. Women used to only be able to wear white head pieces. The fashion designer here was tactful in the way she dressed her models. Pushing the envelope too far in this culture would simply be unsafe. If she through models down the runway looking like some of the models in Paris, the girls and her would be in danger. However, that does not necessarily mean that designers in Paris should limit their creative juices in the name of being culturally aware.

Conclusion

The consequences of technology are greater efficiency. However, along with this greater efficiency comes an information overload which can be detrimental in that it may delay or deter people from making good decisions. The problem that technology has is that it often promotes Westernism and does not cultivate diversity because cultural globalization that is taking place when people from all over the world enter the technological community. People in all areas of life, especially fashion, must always step out of their comfort zone to appreciate other cultures because technology has meant that they are actively responsible to the people around them.

References

Jeffcoat, J. (Director). (2006). Outsourced [Documentary]. United States: Ocean Park Home Entertainment.

Satrapi, M. (Director). (2007). Persepolis [Documentary]. France: Sony Pictures.

Ritzer, G. (2004). The McDonaldization of Society (Rev. new century ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Pine Forge Press.