I have seen the movies Gravity and Alien. Both have strong female roles that pilot some sort of spacecraft vehicle. I enjoyed these movies, but before I did not really think about how difficult it must have been for females to become pilots until Tuesday's lecture. Today anyone can become a pilot no matter ethnicity or gender. Langewiesche thought that anyone should be allowed to fly, but that was not always the case. It was very hard for people of color and women to get their pilot's license. I was very impressed with the story of Bessie Coleman’s life, all of the hard work and obstacles she overcame to get her international pilot’s license in France. She is an inspiration by becoming the first African-American female pilot. She opened the way for other women of all ethnicities to become pilots. Before Tuesday I have never heard of Bessie Coleman, but I hand learned about Amelia Earhart. One thing that interested me in Tuesday’s lecture was the significant number of hands that went up for students who have learned about Amelia Earhart compared the hands raised for Bessie Coleman. It is interesting how different schools give brief versions of history and choose which parts to include and exclude. Traveling by airplane is a very common mode of transportation today. It was eye opening that there wasn’t commercial flights until the 1933 and people had to be eased into the idea of traveling by plane.
I think it's really interesting how you drew from the movies Gravity and Alien. I was one of the students who was very familiar with Amelia Earhart but I had never heard of Bessie Coleman. I'm really glad to have learned about both extremely strong, brave, and intellectual women in this class because Bessie Coleman is just as influential as Amelia Earhart. I liked that you pointed out that anyone can become a pilot regardless of gender or ethnicity today. It makes me more proud and happier than ever to be apart of our current generation in which opportunity for learning and greatness is not limited.
I completely agree with Natalie. It's a shame that more people are not familiar with Bessie Coleman's story. For whatever reason her story is not taught as much as that of Amelia Earhart, but I think we can all agree she help pave the path of equality. Fortunately in the 21st century, gender and ethnicity are irrelevant when it comes to seeking out opportunities like obtaining a pilots license.
Recently in our lectures, the history of aviation and influential figures in this realm have been discussed in depth. It's not hard to tell that since the invention of the hot air balloon, technology has skyrocketed in terms of advancement. The world went from being able to send people into the air for prolonged periods of time through the hot air balloon to sending groups of people in the air to fly airplanes and do tricks with them as well! The rapid increase in technology for transportation in the air can be paralleled to the technology we have today. For example with communication, we have gone from big chunky telephones to sleek and slim smartphones that can easily fit in our back pockets. New iPhones and other name brand cell phones come out every single year, which can be compared to how aerial transportation had rapidly advanced in the early 1900s. This makes the world excited to see where technology can go from here.
I agree with the statement that both technologies of communication and aviation have advanced at a fast pace in a similar fashion during separate time periods. But, as we've seen with the past and continued success of aviation, there came a time where the advancements slowed down so that we have the planes we have nowadays with very little changes. It makes me wonder if there will come a time when communication technology will slow in its advancements as well or will the ways we communicate never stay the same for long.
Although the technology in aviation has sky rocketed, I think we are starting to hit a wall. I do not think that there are many break through ideas regarding aviation recently. The next breakthrough will probably involve drones but with the increase in technology, I think there will be a decrease in those influential figures you reference. With everything becoming slowly automated,less and less people will be at the forefront and in the spotlight to take credit.
I agree with Kyle. Today's generation seems to be slow and not advancing quickly. It has seemed that we in fact are about to hit a wall. We need more influential people to inspire others and create a much better future for ourselves and for the generations to come.
I found the past two lectures on the advancement of aviation very interesting. I really enjoyed watching the old videos advertising buying airline tickets, because it showed just how much people's views on flying has changed since then. Flying used to be a miraculous privilege, and something that people excitedly looked forward to. These days, many people view flying as almost a necessary nuisance if trying to reach a destination. The planes are more packed, and the utter amazement of flight is often lost. It is also amazing to think about how much flying has changed since the early 20th century. The wright brothers invented the first successful airplane in 1903, and in a matter of a half a century, flying became the worlds most trusted form of long distance transportation. The rate of technological advancement in the field of aviation has been absolutely astonishing over the past hundred years.
That is true. I remember my first flight, and I was blown away. But as time has past and after being on more flights it feels more like just another way to travel from one place to another.
I agree. It is interesting to think about the difference in attitudes towards flying between when aviation was new and now. It has become such a mundane task for a lot of people that they take aviation for granted.
I agree, at first flight was for only a certain type of person, but now anyone can fly. Since flying is a main mode of transportation, the excitement of aviation has worn off.
I really enjoyed learning about the New York World's fair in lecture, because it was very evident why so many people were attracted to it. Putting together an event that big that was able to appeal to that many people from the public was incredible. I thought it was a shame, however, that in years after the fair the buildings and pavilion were taken down or used for something different and we had to lose all those experiences and only have the memories. Then Professor Kaplan mentioned something about how today a World's fair can be seen in something like Disneyland. This made it obvious in my head why so many people went to the fair. Disneyland is a place that most everyone goes to at some point in their life, and as the years go on they update the park and add new things to keep the public interested and wanting to go again. It may contain different exhibits than the actual World's fairs did, but essentially Disneyland is a permanent World's fair and brings millions of people to it every year.
I found the idea of a World Fair so intriguing, and a large cornerstone of early twentieth century advancement. The World Fair was a magnificent occasion with all of the latest tecnhnology and wares on display, and I find that very whimsical. I cannot imagine how in awe the attendees felt when they stepped foot inside the main building and discovered what different parts of the world had made to offer.
While reading the material for Thursday, and again during Thursday’s lecture, I noticed how much the New York World’s Fair reminds me of Disneyland. Professor Kaplan briefly mentioned how the setup and design of Disneyland is similar to, and even inspired by the New York World’s View Fair, however, I also noticed how both amusement parks have similar attractions and rides. For example, Bel Gedde’s Futurama reminds me of Soarin’ Over California at Disney California Adventure Park because both rides allow people to view the state or nation from above. The similarity between the two demonstrates how fascinated American are in aviation, seeing from above, and bird’s eye views even though the rides were built over 60 years apart. In addition, Space Age in Tomorrowland at Disneyland also relates to Futurama because they both feature futuristic ideas and technologies as well as an idealistic view of the future. Clearly, Americans are still fascinated in the idea of the future, utopia, and future technology. I also found it interesting how in the video that we saw in class on Thursday talked about how the Futurama exhibit made life look easy because it showed how people wanted to make life easier and we can still see that today, where people are constantly working on inventions and innovations that can make all different aspects of life easier or better.
I agree with your observation on how the attractions of Disneyland are reminiscent of world fairs. The park celebrates different aspects of America and its ideals by presenting hopes for the future with the Innovations attraction at Tommorowland, as well as exhibiting the American landscape through Soarin'. As such, you can experience and understand why people were so captivated by world fairs and what excited them every time you visit Disneyland.
Although some of these photos were from an aerial view which is supposed to help people get a better general view of the land, some of th photos did not display the border. In some photos it was clear where the border was, and which side was the US and which side was Mexico; but in other photos the line between the two countries was unclear. The contrast between these two types of aerial view photos are interesting when put side by side. They highlight how much images of landscape are all about point of view. Depending on the location and angle of the picture, two countries might look like just one country with no border. With the current political topic of building a wall that stand higher than the fence, I personally think it is unnecessary. Although the border may not keep people from crossing both ways, I do not believe a wall would be that much better. Nor do I think the funds needed would justify the action of building the wall. Additionally, there was one picture of a fence that led into water, and if you built a wall, it would be very easy to get around it just by swimming.
I agree to your opinion that walls are not the best solution to solve the problem. There are better ways to use tax and better way to prevent illegal immigration.
Tuesday's lecture on the use of air travel as entertainment reminded me immediately of how flight was celebrated in Disney/Pixar's UP, as well as helped me to understand the significance of record-breaking pilots to Americans in the 1920s and 1930s. I was reminded of the captivation that Carl Fredricksen and his wife Ellie had from the fictional aviator Charles Muntz, who was based off of Charles Lindhburgh. It's also interesting to note how Carl saw Muntz in a movie theater, again connecting to the topic of flight as primary subjects in movies during the 1930s. Up could be interpreted as an example of how the air travel as entertainment appealed to all people, especially children, during the early twentieth century, as well as how this aspect of air travel gave them hope and inspiration for the future. We see how the amazing feats of real life pilots like Lindburgh became cultural aspirations for children, and why these pilots became their heroes and role models. By going to distant and isolated locations and achieving incredible feats, these pilots made the impossible possible, explaining why they were such cultural icons to the American public, and why Carl and Ellie had so much admiration for Charles Muntz.
I found the last two lectures intriguing and fun because of the advancements of aviation. Of course, ever since the hot air balloon, no one could resist to looking for other ways of aviation. Thus came along the airplanes and pilots. The first airplanes I thought were really amazing and the carnival shows that they did. Yet what bugged me was the fact that women were unable to be a pilot or at least was really difficult to become one at the time. This was taken down by Amelia Earhart to be the very first female pilot and is still awed by many. However, the pilot that really caught my attention was Bessie Coleman. She had a rough time becoming a pilot since she was African-American but she never gave up. She has a very inspirational story and it brings me joy to see others achieve when others think they couldn't. These women, among many others, made into what our country looks like today and that is what these lectures helped me to see.
I agree with you Bessie Coleman caught my eye as well. I have never heard of her until lecture. Her story also inspired me to accomplish what ever goals I set for myself
I thought it was great when we learned about Bessie Coleman as well. It's hard to believe that we know and have heard so much about another female pilot, Amelia Earheart, but have not even heard of, or at least not much, about another female pilot who may have had to go through so many more hardships and effort in order to become a pilot and reach her dreams. I thought maybe it's because she's of African American descent, and so people did not really pay as much attention to her.
For the past week, we have been learning about the advancements in aviation during the two world wars and it’s effect on aerial photography. It goes from very few individuals being involved with the complexities of flight to the entire American public being fascinated by it. When tensions in Europe rise and lead to World War I, more and more people get involved with flight by learning how to fly and developing the aircraft's. The majority of the public however was still unused to flight as a means of transportation, especially since it was so dangerous in its beginning stages. Many people died just trying to take off, but as we know from the lecture, the brave people who got involved anyway were able to get wonderful images of the world from above. This was mainly used for strategic purposes during the war in Europe, but once that ended, people took to the air and captured more images without the motivation of war. In the years in between the two wars, people got more involved with airplanes and developed ways of transportation for the public and using flight for entertainment. America especially liked the possibilities of flight and how much fun could be had in the air, and thus pilots conquered the air and tested the limits. With all this flying, it gave the population a new perspective on their home and it’s landscape as they looked down from high in the sky. This change in people’s views reminded me of the French movie “The Grand Illusion” (1937), which I watched in my film history class. It was described as a war movie without war and also discussed man-made borders and the division caused by nationalism. There is one part in the film where the characters discuss the “illusion” of borders between people which isn’t represented in nature and is an imaginary construct of human society. People could see that proven even more once they took to the air and saw images of a continued landscape that didn’t have any divisions no matter what people believed.
Lecture really made me think about how planes were used in the past and how they are used in the present. Right now most planes are used for commercial purposes. I didn't really think about how dangerous planes were, and I didn't know that at one point the most dangerous part was take off because that was when engines malfunctioned. The part that gets to me the most is how people would do all these tricks on top of planes and how people actually died doing it. I had totally forgotten that at one point, planes were that dangerous and that a lot of people died.
I personally have not learned much about the history of aviation; so learning about it in lecture has been incredibly interesting. Seeing its direct effect on the advancement of technology such as aerial photography is an interesting connection that I would have never thought of. The history of aviation is extremely important in all aspects. We are able to travel greater distances in a far less amount of time and we are able to see immense areas of land from the sky that we would otherwise be unable to see. This photography went from being used in wars for strategic purposes to being used for mapping and showing land’s beauty. The importance that our history has had on everyday things has a much higher impact than I would have ever thought.
I agree. Aerial photography is something so important in society that goes under looked, and the evolution of aviation has allowed for it to completely take off.
I love learning about the connection between aviation and photography - they are two of my favorite things that I enjoy and knowing how aviation started in wars and can now be used for personal transportation is amazing.
I found the past two lectures about aerial flights very interesting. I enjoyed watching the videos the professor showed in lecture because it immersed myself more than the pictures in class. The video showing the comforts of air travel really opened my eyes to see the simple system people had to go through in order to fly in a plane. Today we take flying in planes for granted, but back then flying in a plane was a huge adventure that would amaze and dazzle the passengers. In a short period of time between the Wright brothers inventing the first airplane to having them used in war to commercial use spanned only a few decades. I have never thought about the complex system of airplanes I always assumed they were created for primarily commercial use not being pushed by armies as an advantage in warfare. I hope to become a second lieutenant in the Air Force and travel on the beautiful planes it has to offer. Maybe in time I will feel the very excitement that the first pilots felt on their first voyage across the sky.
I also enjoyed the videos that Professor Kaplan showed to us in lectures as they really showed how fascinated people were with aviation at the time. While many of us take flight for granted nowadays, it is understandable since airplanes are so easily accessible to developed countries. Good luck becoming a second lieutenant in the Air Force!
One of the most intriguing lectures, in my opinion, was the one we had in Tuesday, talking about flight. The reading we did for that lecture was a fascinating one, one talking about the small plane's pilot's point of view of the land from above, and how he enjoyed seeing flat, smooth, plain areas, while one would think that, like ourselves, he would enjoy seeing interesting terrain. We also talked about women and flying in the lecture as well, and I thought it was shocking when professor Kaplan was talking about the efforts that Bessie Coleman had to take and the perils she had to go through in order to become a pilot. It really opened my eyes to how much more progressive our society is today, even if the events that occured were not too far in the past. Women have so many more opportunities to be the equals, if not superiors, of men today. I also especially enjoyed when we talked about the daredevil stunts that were performed on small planes like the wingwalkers. It was unbelievable to me that people actually did things like that, that were so wild and unsafe. The number of safety hazards that must have been present is crazy.
To add on to your first point about the pilot's point of view, I think it is really amazing how little we think about it today. The flat areas actually really meant something to those that flew in those days, while today, we just look out of the window and sometimes can't help but feel bored by the sight of the flatness.
The concept of a world fair greatly interests me. It must have been amazing to go to these fairs and view all the different things they had. Anything from new technology to just trying different foods from around the world would have been a whole lot of fun. We can see their influence on certain things like comic cons and technology expos, where people come from all around the world to experience a certain thing together. However, I do not believe these are nearly the size that the world fairs once were. It would have been incredible to witness the sheer size of one of these and just how much work went into putting it on. I think it would be wonderful if they would put on something the size of these world fairs because I still think it would attract millions of people, so they could experience the joy that it brought people in the 1900s
was interested in the fact that the invention of airplane has made a dramatic difference in strategies in war. The document that we watched in the class suggested that by being able to see the buildings from a aero point of view, camouflaging buildings with trees will not do any better than it used to. I was surprised how the development has dramatically been made after it first appeared. I was also impressed how some people volunteered to ride the airplane although it was highly dangerous. I was also interested that in America although it is a land of free, they did not allow people of color or women to get the license. On the other hand, France allowed any kind of people to apply for getting a license. I thought it was a paradox that Bessie Coleman achieved her American dream in France.
The thing I found most interesting topic in the last several lectures was the airplane. Today, most of us take flight for granted - we can just pay some reasonable amount of money, and travel to nearly wherever we want without any real thought about how amazing it is that we are flying. The topic of airplanes has really put this into perspective - the readings and documentary show how amazing flight was to everyone at the time. The pilots of the era took flight very seriously, and felt privileged to be able to fly airplanes. It was a life goal for people to take a ride in an airplane, while today it is very strange to meet somebody that has not flown before.
In addition, the advent of the airplane changed many, many things. It changed war, it eventually changed travel, it changed the mailing service. I think this further ties into how much we take flight for granted - without flight, many things today would not be possible.
When I was younger, I use to be terrified of flight and thought to myself, how can anyone be so brave to ride a plane, but now that I'm older, whenever I have the opportunity to travel on a plane, I take advantage and enjoy it to the furthest extent. From take-off to landing, I look out the window, I look at the wings, and I think to myself, 'how on earth can anyone have invented this?' Airplanes bring such a great use to everyone, and I believe the airplane should be heavily appreciated, along with the inventors, the engineers, the pilots, etc.
The past lectures we have had regarding flight and it's importance have been very eye opening, and have expressed to me how far we have come as a nation. The infomercial conveyed air travel as a luxury, and something rare for the upper to middle class. It was also obvious that the company was trying to emphasize the comfort and safety of air travel due to the fact that many people during this time were reluctant to step foot in an airplane because of safety concerns. Yet, nowadays air travel is one of the safest and most wide spread forms of travel available. Due to its efficiency and comfort, most people would much rather hop on a plane and enjoy the view than drive for hours on end in a car. It was also astounding to me how far the technology of planes has come. In the video, the plane looked to fit around 15 to 20 individuals, and in todays society the average plane carries hundreds and hundreds of people. This boom in air travel has not only done amazing things for individuals looking to travel, but also for the economies and interconnectedness of nations around the world. As traveling became easier, so did trade and communication with other countries around the world, allowing for businesses to exponentially grow. The evolution of air travel and flight was truly remarkable and has benefited many different aspects of society.
The lectures on the rise of airpower and skyways was one that really stood out to me. I am a big fan of traveling and air transportation so learning about how all of this first came about was really interesting. I am also intrigued by the World Wars so seeing how airpower and the war came into play and had an impact caught my eye. Trench warfare was a huge tactic in World War I and the fact that it could be seen not only from a worm’s eye view but now from a bird’s eye view was probably the most fascinating thing. These trenches were mapped by aerial photographers. These photographs, which were dropped by parachute and into mobile photographic labs, helped map the 24,000+ miles of trenches - decreasing the amount of stalemate that trench warfare actually created.
I found the militarization of aerial photography very intriguing. I think that aerial photography was a huge advancement in warfare tactics and strategy, especially since it was brought about so early in World War I. It gave a much better view of the battlegrounds, which significantly improved each sides understanding of where the trenches were and where more attacks could be based. Aerial photos of battleground could be looked at and interpreted by military officials to easily plan attacks, which enhanced the strategy of the countries that utilized it. Aerial photography was also used to give soldiers a better understanding of the terrain and their surroundings, which could make them feel safer and more savvy on the battlegrounds. The militarization of aerial photography provided a huge help in planning attacks and understanding the landscapes for whoever was interpreting the photos, and thus provided huge advantages for them over those who had never taken to the skies.
The advancement of aviation has truly been an inspiring advancement that humanity has seen. From the beginning of sending people to the sky for a limited amount of time, and seeing this as one of the greatest reaches people have made in the early years, to modern times when people are making space explorations. If the earliest inventors and supporters of aviation were to see the advancements we have to today, it would be an astonishment and such a great achievement to set the ball rolling for humanity. Today, we now see jets breaking the sound barrier, and traveling at such high altitudes, like the SpaceShipOne (2004), which broke the altitude record of over 360,000 ft. It is insane to see the advancements and beauty that these planes and rockets can do and capture. With rockets reaching such high altitudes, the landscape is also vividly and astonishingly seen and saved. In only less than 2 centuries, humanity has seen great advancements, and is only pushing forward even more. We look back now and are breath taken of what has advanced; one can only imagine what people will see in another 200 years from now, and so on, not only for aviation, but for everything as well.
In these past few lectures we've talked a lot about aerial photography and the advancement of aviation. Currently, many people, myself included, seem to take airplanes and flight for granted, seeing it as another form of transportation that can move anyone or anything anywhere within a short time frame. Its hard to imagine how pilots back then trained for so long just to achieve liftoff and felt so grateful to be flying in the sky when its so easy to just book a flight in modern society by paying some money. Airplanes and technology in general have made so many advancements since the 1900's, creating bigger and more efficient airplanes that are capable of carrying hundreds of passengers unlike the older planes that seemed like they could only carry a small handful. While the older planes are now obsolete, they helped pave the way to all of the technological innovations and advancements of modern society.
The lecture regarding the advancement of airpower was interesting because it covered the transitional period from the advancement of maps and landscapes to aerial photography. As the US played an important role in the history of maps and landscape representation, they also greatly contributed to a new aerial perspective. Since early aviation contributed to the emerging interest in view from above, people had started to believe that war from the air was superior to all other models of waging war. I thought this was interesting because nowadays people think of flying as a hassle rather than being fascinated by the fact they can travel great distances without the time. It is also interesting that the emergence of aerial photography is what instigated interest within military personnel as photographers took photos of the trenches. At the time, taking photos of the trenches was difficult because the photographers had to go through a lot to take the photos, but nowadays aerial technology has advanced even further. The dramatic difference between back then and now is substantial and makes me wonder how much more advanced aerial technology could possibly get. It has been advancing so fast and is so normal now that it doesn't seem to stir the same kind of reaction as it used to.
I have seen the movies Gravity and Alien. Both have strong female roles that pilot some sort of spacecraft vehicle. I enjoyed these movies, but before I did not really think about how difficult it must have been for females to become pilots until Tuesday's lecture. Today anyone can become a pilot no matter ethnicity or gender. Langewiesche thought that anyone should be allowed to fly, but that was not always the case. It was very hard for people of color and women to get their pilot's license. I was very impressed with the story of Bessie Coleman’s life, all of the hard work and obstacles she overcame to get her international pilot’s license in France. She is an inspiration by becoming the first African-American female pilot. She opened the way for other women of all ethnicities to become pilots. Before Tuesday I have never heard of Bessie Coleman, but I hand learned about Amelia Earhart. One thing that interested me in Tuesday’s lecture was the significant number of hands that went up for students who have learned about Amelia Earhart compared the hands raised for Bessie Coleman. It is interesting how different schools give brief versions of history and choose which parts to include and exclude. Traveling by airplane is a very common mode of transportation today. It was eye opening that there wasn’t commercial flights until the 1933 and people had to be eased into the idea of traveling by plane.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really interesting how you drew from the movies Gravity and Alien. I was one of the students who was very familiar with Amelia Earhart but I had never heard of Bessie Coleman. I'm really glad to have learned about both extremely strong, brave, and intellectual women in this class because Bessie Coleman is just as influential as Amelia Earhart. I liked that you pointed out that anyone can become a pilot regardless of gender or ethnicity today. It makes me more proud and happier than ever to be apart of our current generation in which opportunity for learning and greatness is not limited.
DeleteI completely agree with Natalie. It's a shame that more people are not familiar with Bessie Coleman's story. For whatever reason her story is not taught as much as that of Amelia Earhart, but I think we can all agree she help pave the path of equality. Fortunately in the 21st century, gender and ethnicity are irrelevant when it comes to seeking out opportunities like obtaining a pilots license.
DeleteRecently in our lectures, the history of aviation and influential figures in this realm have been discussed in depth. It's not hard to tell that since the invention of the hot air balloon, technology has skyrocketed in terms of advancement. The world went from being able to send people into the air for prolonged periods of time through the hot air balloon to sending groups of people in the air to fly airplanes and do tricks with them as well! The rapid increase in technology for transportation in the air can be paralleled to the technology we have today. For example with communication, we have gone from big chunky telephones to sleek and slim smartphones that can easily fit in our back pockets. New iPhones and other name brand cell phones come out every single year, which can be compared to how aerial transportation had rapidly advanced in the early 1900s. This makes the world excited to see where technology can go from here.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement that both technologies of communication and aviation have advanced at a fast pace in a similar fashion during separate time periods. But, as we've seen with the past and continued success of aviation, there came a time where the advancements slowed down so that we have the planes we have nowadays with very little changes. It makes me wonder if there will come a time when communication technology will slow in its advancements as well or will the ways we communicate never stay the same for long.
DeleteAlthough the technology in aviation has sky rocketed, I think we are starting to hit a wall. I do not think that there are many break through ideas regarding aviation recently. The next breakthrough will probably involve drones but with the increase in technology, I think there will be a decrease in those influential figures you reference. With everything becoming slowly automated,less and less people will be at the forefront and in the spotlight to take credit.
DeleteI agree with Kyle. Today's generation seems to be slow and not advancing quickly. It has seemed that we in fact are about to hit a wall. We need more influential people to inspire others and create a much better future for ourselves and for the generations to come.
DeleteI found the past two lectures on the advancement of aviation very interesting. I really enjoyed watching the old videos advertising buying airline tickets, because it showed just how much people's views on flying has changed since then. Flying used to be a miraculous privilege, and something that people excitedly looked forward to. These days, many people view flying as almost a necessary nuisance if trying to reach a destination. The planes are more packed, and the utter amazement of flight is often lost. It is also amazing to think about how much flying has changed since the early 20th century. The wright brothers invented the first successful airplane in 1903, and in a matter of a half a century, flying became the worlds most trusted form of long distance transportation. The rate of technological advancement in the field of aviation has been absolutely astonishing over the past hundred years.
ReplyDeleteThat is true. I remember my first flight, and I was blown away. But as time has past and after being on more flights it feels more like just another way to travel from one place to another.
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DeleteI agree. It is interesting to think about the difference in attitudes towards flying between when aviation was new and now. It has become such a mundane task for a lot of people that they take aviation for granted.
DeleteI agree, at first flight was for only a certain type of person, but now anyone can fly. Since flying is a main mode of transportation, the excitement of aviation has worn off.
DeleteI agree, it is crazy to think about how people cherished flying in an airplane, and now its just used to get from one place to another
DeleteI really enjoyed learning about the New York World's fair in lecture, because it was very evident why so many people were attracted to it. Putting together an event that big that was able to appeal to that many people from the public was incredible. I thought it was a shame, however, that in years after the fair the buildings and pavilion were taken down or used for something different and we had to lose all those experiences and only have the memories. Then Professor Kaplan mentioned something about how today a World's fair can be seen in something like Disneyland. This made it obvious in my head why so many people went to the fair. Disneyland is a place that most everyone goes to at some point in their life, and as the years go on they update the park and add new things to keep the public interested and wanting to go again. It may contain different exhibits than the actual World's fairs did, but essentially Disneyland is a permanent World's fair and brings millions of people to it every year.
ReplyDeleteI found the idea of a World Fair so intriguing, and a large cornerstone of early twentieth century advancement. The World Fair was a magnificent occasion with all of the latest tecnhnology and wares on display, and I find that very whimsical. I cannot imagine how in awe the attendees felt when they stepped foot inside the main building and discovered what different parts of the world had made to offer.
DeleteWhile reading the material for Thursday, and again during Thursday’s lecture, I noticed how much the New York World’s Fair reminds me of Disneyland. Professor Kaplan briefly mentioned how the setup and design of Disneyland is similar to, and even inspired by the New York World’s View Fair, however, I also noticed how both amusement parks have similar attractions and rides. For example, Bel Gedde’s Futurama reminds me of Soarin’ Over California at Disney California Adventure Park because both rides allow people to view the state or nation from above. The similarity between the two demonstrates how fascinated American are in aviation, seeing from above, and bird’s eye views even though the rides were built over 60 years apart. In addition, Space Age in Tomorrowland at Disneyland also relates to Futurama because they both feature futuristic ideas and technologies as well as an idealistic view of the future. Clearly, Americans are still fascinated in the idea of the future, utopia, and future technology. I also found it interesting how in the video that we saw in class on Thursday talked about how the Futurama exhibit made life look easy because it showed how people wanted to make life easier and we can still see that today, where people are constantly working on inventions and innovations that can make all different aspects of life easier or better.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your observation on how the attractions of Disneyland are reminiscent of world fairs. The park celebrates different aspects of America and its ideals by presenting hopes for the future with the Innovations attraction at Tommorowland, as well as exhibiting the American landscape through Soarin'. As such, you can experience and understand why people were so captivated by world fairs and what excited them every time you visit Disneyland.
DeleteAlthough some of these photos were from an aerial view which is supposed to help people get a better general view of the land, some of th photos did not display the border. In some photos it was clear where the border was, and which side was the US and which side was Mexico; but in other photos the line between the two countries was unclear. The contrast between these two types of aerial view photos are interesting when put side by side. They highlight how much images of landscape are all about point of view. Depending on the location and angle of the picture, two countries might look like just one country with no border. With the current political topic of building a wall that stand higher than the fence, I personally think it is unnecessary. Although the border may not keep people from crossing both ways, I do not believe a wall would be that much better. Nor do I think the funds needed would justify the action of building the wall. Additionally, there was one picture of a fence that led into water, and if you built a wall, it would be very easy to get around it just by swimming.
ReplyDeleteI agree to your opinion that walls are not the best solution to solve the problem. There are better ways to use tax and better way to prevent illegal immigration.
DeleteTuesday's lecture on the use of air travel as entertainment reminded me immediately of how flight was celebrated in Disney/Pixar's UP, as well as helped me to understand the significance of record-breaking pilots to Americans in the 1920s and 1930s. I was reminded of the captivation that Carl Fredricksen and his wife Ellie had from the fictional aviator Charles Muntz, who was based off of Charles Lindhburgh. It's also interesting to note how Carl saw Muntz in a movie theater, again connecting to the topic of flight as primary subjects in movies during the 1930s. Up could be interpreted as an example of how the air travel as entertainment appealed to all people, especially children, during the early twentieth century, as well as how this aspect of air travel gave them hope and inspiration for the future. We see how the amazing feats of real life pilots like Lindburgh became cultural aspirations for children, and why these pilots became their heroes and role models. By going to distant and isolated locations and achieving incredible feats, these pilots made the impossible possible, explaining why they were such cultural icons to the American public, and why Carl and Ellie had so much admiration for Charles Muntz.
ReplyDeleteI found the last two lectures intriguing and fun because of the advancements of aviation. Of course, ever since the hot air balloon, no one could resist to looking for other ways of aviation. Thus came along the airplanes and pilots. The first airplanes I thought were really amazing and the carnival shows that they did. Yet what bugged me was the fact that women were unable to be a pilot or at least was really difficult to become one at the time. This was taken down by Amelia Earhart to be the very first female pilot and is still awed by many. However, the pilot that really caught my attention was Bessie Coleman. She had a rough time becoming a pilot since she was African-American but she never gave up. She has a very inspirational story and it brings me joy to see others achieve when others think they couldn't. These women, among many others, made into what our country looks like today and that is what these lectures helped me to see.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Bessie Coleman caught my eye as well. I have never heard of her until lecture. Her story also inspired me to accomplish what ever goals I set for myself
DeleteI thought it was great when we learned about Bessie Coleman as well. It's hard to believe that we know and have heard so much about another female pilot, Amelia Earheart, but have not even heard of, or at least not much, about another female pilot who may have had to go through so many more hardships and effort in order to become a pilot and reach her dreams. I thought maybe it's because she's of African American descent, and so people did not really pay as much attention to her.
DeleteFor the past week, we have been learning about the advancements in aviation during the two world wars and it’s effect on aerial photography. It goes from very few individuals being involved with the complexities of flight to the entire American public being fascinated by it. When tensions in Europe rise and lead to World War I, more and more people get involved with flight by learning how to fly and developing the aircraft's. The majority of the public however was still unused to flight as a means of transportation, especially since it was so dangerous in its beginning stages. Many people died just trying to take off, but as we know from the lecture, the brave people who got involved anyway were able to get wonderful images of the world from above. This was mainly used for strategic purposes during the war in Europe, but once that ended, people took to the air and captured more images without the motivation of war. In the years in between the two wars, people got more involved with airplanes and developed ways of transportation for the public and using flight for entertainment. America especially liked the possibilities of flight and how much fun could be had in the air, and thus pilots conquered the air and tested the limits. With all this flying, it gave the population a new perspective on their home and it’s landscape as they looked down from high in the sky. This change in people’s views reminded me of the French movie “The Grand Illusion” (1937), which I watched in my film history class. It was described as a war movie without war and also discussed man-made borders and the division caused by nationalism. There is one part in the film where the characters discuss the “illusion” of borders between people which isn’t represented in nature and is an imaginary construct of human society. People could see that proven even more once they took to the air and saw images of a continued landscape that didn’t have any divisions no matter what people believed.
ReplyDeleteLecture really made me think about how planes were used in the past and how they are used in the present. Right now most planes are used for commercial purposes. I didn't really think about how dangerous planes were, and I didn't know that at one point the most dangerous part was take off because that was when engines malfunctioned. The part that gets to me the most is how people would do all these tricks on top of planes and how people actually died doing it. I had totally forgotten that at one point, planes were that dangerous and that a lot of people died.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I have been on a lot of planes and I never considered just how dangerous they were and can be.
DeleteI feel like today we take for granted just how safe planes really are and how far we have advanced in this sort of technology
DeleteI personally have not learned much about the history of aviation; so learning about it in lecture has been incredibly interesting. Seeing its direct effect on the advancement of technology such as aerial photography is an interesting connection that I would have never thought of. The history of aviation is extremely important in all aspects. We are able to travel greater distances in a far less amount of time and we are able to see immense areas of land from the sky that we would otherwise be unable to see. This photography went from being used in wars for strategic purposes to being used for mapping and showing land’s beauty. The importance that our history has had on everyday things has a much higher impact than I would have ever thought.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Aerial photography is something so important in society that goes under looked, and the evolution of aviation has allowed for it to completely take off.
DeleteI love learning about the connection between aviation and photography - they are two of my favorite things that I enjoy and knowing how aviation started in wars and can now be used for personal transportation is amazing.
DeleteI found the past two lectures about aerial flights very interesting. I enjoyed watching the videos the professor showed in lecture because it immersed myself more than the pictures in class. The video showing the comforts of air travel really opened my eyes to see the simple system people had to go through in order to fly in a plane. Today we take flying in planes for granted, but back then flying in a plane was a huge adventure that would amaze and dazzle the passengers. In a short period of time between the Wright brothers inventing the first airplane to having them used in war to commercial use spanned only a few decades. I have never thought about the complex system of airplanes I always assumed they were created for primarily commercial use not being pushed by armies as an advantage in warfare. I hope to become a second lieutenant in the Air Force and travel on the beautiful planes it has to offer. Maybe in time I will feel the very excitement that the first pilots felt on their first voyage across the sky.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed the videos that Professor Kaplan showed to us in lectures as they really showed how fascinated people were with aviation at the time. While many of us take flight for granted nowadays, it is understandable since airplanes are so easily accessible to developed countries. Good luck becoming a second lieutenant in the Air Force!
DeleteOne of the most intriguing lectures, in my opinion, was the one we had in Tuesday, talking about flight. The reading we did for that lecture was a fascinating one, one talking about the small plane's pilot's point of view of the land from above, and how he enjoyed seeing flat, smooth, plain areas, while one would think that, like ourselves, he would enjoy seeing interesting terrain. We also talked about women and flying in the lecture as well, and I thought it was shocking when professor Kaplan was talking about the efforts that Bessie Coleman had to take and the perils she had to go through in order to become a pilot. It really opened my eyes to how much more progressive our society is today, even if the events that occured were not too far in the past. Women have so many more opportunities to be the equals, if not superiors, of men today. I also especially enjoyed when we talked about the daredevil stunts that were performed on small planes like the wingwalkers. It was unbelievable to me that people actually did things like that, that were so wild and unsafe. The number of safety hazards that must have been present is crazy.
ReplyDeleteTo add on to your first point about the pilot's point of view, I think it is really amazing how little we think about it today. The flat areas actually really meant something to those that flew in those days, while today, we just look out of the window and sometimes can't help but feel bored by the sight of the flatness.
DeleteThe concept of a world fair greatly interests me. It must have been amazing to go to these fairs and view all the different things they had. Anything from new technology to just trying different foods from around the world would have been a whole lot of fun. We can see their influence on certain things like comic cons and technology expos, where people come from all around the world to experience a certain thing together. However, I do not believe these are nearly the size that the world fairs once were. It would have been incredible to witness the sheer size of one of these and just how much work went into putting it on. I think it would be wonderful if they would put on something the size of these world fairs because I still think it would attract millions of people, so they could experience the joy that it brought people in the 1900s
ReplyDeletewas interested in the fact that the invention of airplane has made a dramatic difference in strategies in war. The document that we watched in the class suggested that by being able to see the buildings from a aero point of view, camouflaging buildings with trees will not do any better than it used to. I was surprised how the development has dramatically been made after it first appeared. I was also impressed how some people volunteered to ride the airplane although it was highly dangerous. I was also interested that in America although it is a land of free, they did not allow people of color or women to get the license. On the other hand, France allowed any kind of people to apply for getting a license. I thought it was a paradox that Bessie Coleman achieved her American dream in France.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I found most interesting topic in the last several lectures was the airplane. Today, most of us take flight for granted - we can just pay some reasonable amount of money, and travel to nearly wherever we want without any real thought about how amazing it is that we are flying. The topic of airplanes has really put this into perspective - the readings and documentary show how amazing flight was to everyone at the time. The pilots of the era took flight very seriously, and felt privileged to be able to fly airplanes. It was a life goal for people to take a ride in an airplane, while today it is very strange to meet somebody that has not flown before.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, the advent of the airplane changed many, many things. It changed war, it eventually changed travel, it changed the mailing service. I think this further ties into how much we take flight for granted - without flight, many things today would not be possible.
When I was younger, I use to be terrified of flight and thought to myself, how can anyone be so brave to ride a plane, but now that I'm older, whenever I have the opportunity to travel on a plane, I take advantage and enjoy it to the furthest extent. From take-off to landing, I look out the window, I look at the wings, and I think to myself, 'how on earth can anyone have invented this?' Airplanes bring such a great use to everyone, and I believe the airplane should be heavily appreciated, along with the inventors, the engineers, the pilots, etc.
DeleteThe past lectures we have had regarding flight and it's importance have been very eye opening, and have expressed to me how far we have come as a nation. The infomercial conveyed air travel as a luxury, and something rare for the upper to middle class. It was also obvious that the company was trying to emphasize the comfort and safety of air travel due to the fact that many people during this time were reluctant to step foot in an airplane because of safety concerns. Yet, nowadays air travel is one of the safest and most wide spread forms of travel available. Due to its efficiency and comfort, most people would much rather hop on a plane and enjoy the view than drive for hours on end in a car. It was also astounding to me how far the technology of planes has come. In the video, the plane looked to fit around 15 to 20 individuals, and in todays society the average plane carries hundreds and hundreds of people. This boom in air travel has not only done amazing things for individuals looking to travel, but also for the economies and interconnectedness of nations around the world. As traveling became easier, so did trade and communication with other countries around the world, allowing for businesses to exponentially grow. The evolution of air travel and flight was truly remarkable and has benefited many different aspects of society.
ReplyDeleteThe lectures on the rise of airpower and skyways was one that really stood out to me. I am a big fan of traveling and air transportation so learning about how all of this first came about was really interesting. I am also intrigued by the World Wars so seeing how airpower and the war came into play and had an impact caught my eye. Trench warfare was a huge tactic in World War I and the fact that it could be seen not only from a worm’s eye view but now from a bird’s eye view was probably the most fascinating thing. These trenches were mapped by aerial photographers. These photographs, which were dropped by parachute and into mobile photographic labs, helped map the 24,000+ miles of trenches - decreasing the amount of stalemate that trench warfare actually created.
ReplyDeleteI found the militarization of aerial photography very intriguing. I think that aerial photography was a huge advancement in warfare tactics and strategy, especially since it was brought about so early in World War I. It gave a much better view of the battlegrounds, which significantly improved each sides understanding of where the trenches were and where more attacks could be based. Aerial photos of battleground could be looked at and interpreted by military officials to easily plan attacks, which enhanced the strategy of the countries that utilized it. Aerial photography was also used to give soldiers a better understanding of the terrain and their surroundings, which could make them feel safer and more savvy on the battlegrounds. The militarization of aerial photography provided a huge help in planning attacks and understanding the landscapes for whoever was interpreting the photos, and thus provided huge advantages for them over those who had never taken to the skies.
ReplyDeleteThe advancement of aviation has truly been an inspiring advancement that humanity has seen. From the beginning of sending people to the sky for a limited amount of time, and seeing this as one of the greatest reaches people have made in the early years, to modern times when people are making space explorations. If the earliest inventors and supporters of aviation were to see the advancements we have to today, it would be an astonishment and such a great achievement to set the ball rolling for humanity. Today, we now see jets breaking the sound barrier, and traveling at such high altitudes, like the SpaceShipOne (2004), which broke the altitude record of over 360,000 ft. It is insane to see the advancements and beauty that these planes and rockets can do and capture. With rockets reaching such high altitudes, the landscape is also vividly and astonishingly seen and saved. In only less than 2 centuries, humanity has seen great advancements, and is only pushing forward even more. We look back now and are breath taken of what has advanced; one can only imagine what people will see in another 200 years from now, and so on, not only for aviation, but for everything as well.
ReplyDeleteIn these past few lectures we've talked a lot about aerial photography and the advancement of aviation. Currently, many people, myself included, seem to take airplanes and flight for granted, seeing it as another form of transportation that can move anyone or anything anywhere within a short time frame. Its hard to imagine how pilots back then trained for so long just to achieve liftoff and felt so grateful to be flying in the sky when its so easy to just book a flight in modern society by paying some money. Airplanes and technology in general have made so many advancements since the 1900's, creating bigger and more efficient airplanes that are capable of carrying hundreds of passengers unlike the older planes that seemed like they could only carry a small handful. While the older planes are now obsolete, they helped pave the way to all of the technological innovations and advancements of modern society.
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ReplyDeleteThe lecture regarding the advancement of airpower was interesting because it covered the transitional period from the advancement of maps and landscapes to aerial photography. As the US played an important role in the history of maps and landscape representation, they also greatly contributed to a new aerial perspective. Since early aviation contributed to the emerging interest in view from above, people had started to believe that war from the air was superior to all other models of waging war. I thought this was interesting because nowadays people think of flying as a hassle rather than being fascinated by the fact they can travel great distances without the time. It is also interesting that the emergence of aerial photography is what instigated interest within military personnel as photographers took photos of the trenches. At the time, taking photos of the trenches was difficult because the photographers had to go through a lot to take the photos, but nowadays aerial technology has advanced even further. The dramatic difference between back then and now is substantial and makes me wonder how much more advanced aerial technology could possibly get. It has been advancing so fast and is so normal now that it doesn't seem to stir the same kind of reaction as it used to.
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