Practise SSR – Of Machines and Markets Report by Karla Destéfani

Complete citation

Matthews, J.J. (2005). Dance hall & picture palace: Sydney’s romance with modernity. (Pp. 102-116)Currency Press.

Keywords:

Magic
Machines
Modern
International
Travel
Entertainment
Mass production
Global

Brief overview:

A look into reproducing machines and the subsequent entertainment domain. Focussing primarily on how Australians interacted with these new technologies but referencing other nations in order to provide context to understand Australians accurately. 

Key points:

Reproducing machines include a wide variety of tech - wireless radio, talkies, gramophones - and became the foundation of the commercial. 

These technologies were international, nonetheless, they reached Australia often a decade or more late.

Technologies reached Australia through travellers and performers often associated with magic.  It was quickly capitalized and pirated versions of shows would be used. 

This technology is what is referred to as a major segment of modernity.

The technology paved a way for entertainment in a public space (much like how magazines were often shared in a household) to private for example gramophones. 

Important quote:

Engines acted as a form of the robotic body that could replace human labour ... to advance science, improve education, dominate nature, serve the nation, delight and entertain, and make money. 

Paraphrased:

To be modernity the machine must work in modern ways and serve modern purposes. 

Over three decades of a complex interaction between machines and people in search of a good time created a new domain of popular culture.