Jerome Arbee Week #10: Powering Power
2/2/22
Powering Power
So what is power? When we think about power, what do you my fellow blog posters think of? I personally think of 2 things immediately which are electricity and the intangible control. Power is defined as the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality, the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events, and the supply (a device) with mechanical or electrical energy. Energy to me is two different substances as previously stated but they both lead to different end results but derive of power and hold power in itself. Electricity holds power through the need of electricity people have on a daily basis. Even you reading this right now are using electricity or "power" to read this blog post and to write your own posts. Electricity is a form of power equal to the intangible power itself because electricity like many other substances can be used as leverage to gain power over others. The intangible form of power is also important to the control of power because of its leverage over others. A version of how electricity can be used like this is through the power companies and the power bills that are paid every month. I would like to describe this power the power companies have over us as extortion however that would be untrue however they do hold a power over us with the threat of turning off the power if the bill isn't paid. It is this Electrifying power that rules the world and that keeps our societies stable and in place. Electricity truly is a form of power because of the control it can have over people and their actions.
Hi Jerome, I loved how you were able to write a blog about the physical forms of power instead of its intangible concepts. In many ways, electricity has proven to be a very powerful appliance; our light bulbs, heater, oven, and devices are all powered by electricity. Without electricity, we would not be living as comfortably. Electricity, therefore, is an example of a physical power.
ReplyDeleteHi Jerome, I really like how you chose to focus on a physical aspect of power and all the examples you used. Electricity helps billions of people in their day to day lives and many of us cannot survive without it. Simple things such as keeping food preserved in a refrigerator to communicating with others through a phone require electricity. Without electricity, our lives would be drastically different.
ReplyDeleteI like that you took a literal stance on this quarter’s topic and explored it in detail. Reading your post reminded me of just how much most people in the United States depend on electricity just to function. I would not be typing this if it weren’t for electricity! As such, I agree that literal power holds as much power over our lives as most authority figures. I found your point about electric companies’ power very interesting because threats like the one you described often seem to be the basis of control. Once the threats are removed, so is the fear--and the power.
ReplyDeleteHey Jerome, thank you for reminding me that power is not just and intangible idea, but a physical measure of work able to be performed. Electricity is power simply by the fact that it can light houses, turn machines, and provide heat. This is yet another illustration of how power comes in so many different shapes and forms. Trying to define power, is like trying to count the stars in the sky, nearly impossible, yet it holds the imagination so tightly. Power is something we will never truly understand, but it won't stop us from trying.
ReplyDeleteHi Jerome, it's so cool how you compared two different types of power! In terms of electricity, you're totally correct on how "power" really does power our homes, cars, devices and more. Where would we be without cool, powered gadgets which pretty much take up our entire lives! And, I love how you brought up a point on how much power PG&E, for example, has over us; if our bills aren't paid, we could be out of power and left hungry, bored, and unproductive.
ReplyDeleteHi Jerome,
ReplyDeleteI like that you wrote your blog about physical forms of power rather than interpreting a meaning. Electricity is the basis of all our technological advancements. Electricity powers our homes and devices. Without these things, we would not even be able to live. It is crazy to think of a world without carrying my phone around with me. I take it everywhere I go and use it for almost everything at home. How would we transport efficiently to the places we need to go without a proper vehicle? There is power in so many basic things around us and this is definitely an important one.
Hi Jerome, I enjoyed your take on a more traditional form of power (electricity) and it's one that I certainly agree with. Without the power of electricity, at least half of the activities I enjoy on a daily basis would be either severely hampered or impossible. That fact in itself proves that electricity is an incredible force, one that has become an integral part of most of our lives.
ReplyDeleteHi Jerome,
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about power, I think about control. Being able to control things as if you are a puppet master. I also think about respect. For example, Adolf Hitler had much respect. People believed in what he said so much that he could change the identity of a whole race. He was also able to get people to believe in what he was saying so much that they would kill for him. So when I think about power, I think about these two things.