Uncanny Valley: age of digitalization
Silicon Valley, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, became quickly associated with technology, the two topics are inseparable now. From the article, Mountain View, Silicon Valley is “a steadily growing city,” known for its “electronics, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and telecommunications industries” (“Mountain View”).
Uncanny Valley looks at the rise of tech culture within Silicon Valley and is based on Wiener’s work experience as she transitions from the publishing industry to a series of jobs at tech companies. Wiener documents an entirely different way of life taking over the San Francisco Bay Area. The narrative form examines the tech culture, relating ideas to how people behave and what they believe. Using the technique of voice, narrative, as well as the use of place and objects, Wiener sets up her position that guides the reader to see the industry through her lens, while critiquing hierarchy, sexism, and capitalism within her work environment; the text reveals how powerful the presence of the tech industry has on both the city and people. .
Wiener is our guide into the tech scene, both as a participant and observer, she critiques the extremely high expectations of the work environment; through the use of narrative and voice, the readers have an easy understanding of the tech culture. If the memoir was written by a male holding a tech job, this book would be completely different and wouldn’t serve its original purpose. Wiener sets up her position within the industry, she writes, “my desires were generic. I wanted to find my place in the world…I wanted to make money…I wanted to be taken seriously” (12). This quote reveals her purpose of entering industry, as well as writing this book, in which she soon realizes that the industry completely goes against this statement. Throughout the book, Wiener constantly repeats the phrase “I did not know” (15); while the tech world does satisfy her wish of making money, she begins to wonder about the psychological and social effects of tech on herself. Wiener sets up her position, with the use of narrative and voice, to provide the readers with insight on the high expectations of the work environment.
As she moves into the tech world, she notices high expectations placed on workers within the workplace, where work is reduced into charts and data sets. She writes that many people are originally drawn to open-source startups for the promises of “free, easily distributed, well-organized knowledge; a livable salary; really good benefits” (Wiener 161). While there’s unlimited vacation, Wiener seems to have her life revolve around work as she constantly thinks about it. The idea of being “down for the cause” (Wiener 132), which means being ready for the cause and effect, shows up multiple times throughout the book. The CEO of the startup company, at one point, even reminds his workers to understand the importance of being “down for the cause” (Wiener 47), placing the company before their own benefits. This phrase swears loyalty to the company as well as the CEO and subtly agrees to its power exertion. During her second job, we also see the contrast between the egalitarian workplace versus an authoritarian CEO who doesn’t care about his workers, “why would I thank you for doing your job well? That’s what I’m paying for” (Wiener 86).The contrast between high expectations and the general laid-back vibe of the office is apparent throughout the book. She is constantly at odds with herself as she shifts her beliefs while moving closer into the tech world. Both as a participant and observer, she guides the readers through her experience to critique the high productivity of the work environment; through the use of narrative and voice, the readers have an easy understanding of the tech culture.
The representation of places and objects that evokes the image of tech culture, and further contributes to our understanding of the work environment within Silicon Valley. Wiener’s depiction of the city shows how powerful the presence of technology is. Being the heart of the tech industry, San Francisco has changed drastically. By referencing something the readers are familiar with, this paints a clear picture for the readers. Wiener recognizes that she is embedded within this culture, but insists on her position being an observer, by acknowledging the things that are wrong, but doesn’t necessarily conform to the rest of them. Her experience with technology is parallel to how she views San Francisco as a whole: “the city, trapped in nostalgia for its own mythology, stuck in a hallucination of a halcyon past, had not quite caught up to the newfound momentum of tech’s dark triad: capital, power, and a bland, overcorrected, heterosexual masculinity” (20). This quote captures how fast technology has taken over our lives and the issues that are attached to the changing world. But, it also represents herself, stuck in the past of longing to stay in the same place and continue to work at the publishing company, stuck in nostalgia, not quite caught up to her new job in Silicon Valley. She writes, “in New York, I had never considered that there were people behind the internet, in San Francisco it was impossible to forget” ” (91).Technology is so embedded into the lives of people living in San Francisco that it is almost impossible to not acknowledge its presence. Wiener writes about the transitions that happened within the city, dealing with the transition of business, buildings, traditions, and the ideas of the city. It is refreshing for the readers to remember how the city was before the age of digitalization. Her beliefs are constantly at odds as well; as she moves closer into the tech industry, she struggles to find meaning in her work and is constantly reminded that she isn’t valued as much as the work of her male coworkers. She is a participant in this dominant culture, rather than someone who actively makes changes and goes against it. She is surrounded by young and professionalized workers who dress alike and behave similarly around each other; she goes along with it. Throughout the book, Wiener does not name a single company she mentions, providing detailed descriptions of the well-known applications. Wiener applies phrases to different applications like “online superstore” (14) and “the social network everyone hated” (5). The two companies would definitely be Amazon and Facebook. There’s a disconnection with her writing, leaving out the names of the companies when the readers can clearly name a few companies that fit her descriptions. We are constantly trying to forget the names of certain applications and even refuse to use them, however, the apps are so embedded in our lives that it is almost impossible to forget about them. Companies have taken away the function and purpose of using the application, but rather focus on the corporations. This also indicates how easily replaceable these applications are, which is also a reminder that things are moving at a fast-pace in the tech world and can be replaced immediately when something better is produced. It soon becomes clear that Wiener wants out of this lifestyle.
To watch Wiener slowly get absorbed by the tech industry is especially powerful and significant to share her message among the audience. She moves to San Francisco to work in a new environment and find her place in the world, but is forced into an awareness of its deficiencies. Wiener becomes a part of the ecosystem. During this age of digitalization, it is refreshing to read a book that looks into the tech industry, provides us with information and allows us to decide what to do with the information, rather than being manipulated into thinking a certain way. With her position being an observer and participant, she reveals insight about the tech world, aside from the normal customer’s perspective. With Uncanny Valley, readers are able to use the technology knowing both the pros and cons of the tech world, rather than being oblivious about it; readers are encouraged to take a second look at technology and their relationship with it.
Resources:
Quinn, Michelle. “How Silicon Valley is Finally Growing up (sort of)” https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/02/silicon-valley-evolving-focusing-employees/. Accessed 27 April 2020.
Wikipedia contributors. “Silicon Valley.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 Apr. 2020. Web. 26 Apr. 2020
Wikipedia contributors. “Uncanny Valley (memoir).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 9 Feb. 2020. Web. 27 Apr. 2020.
