Visions of Heaven and Hell: Information Technology and the Future

In the wake of the Heaven's Gate tragedy, the media--television in particular--rushed to point the causal finger at the Internet, increasing its status as technology's latest whipping boy. Of course, most people would agree that the Internet was incidental to the cult mass suicide (Jim Jones didn't need AOL), but rumblings about the potential dangers of the Internet are growing. Filmed a few years back, this 3-video British series is remarkably prescient and timely in its examination of the social implications of information technology. Much of the credit belongs to the incredible who's who of interviewees: William Gibson, Howard Rheingold, Neil Postman, Faith Popcorn, John Naisbitt, Douglas Adams, Stephen Hawking, Charles Handy--a phenomenal cross-disciplinary think-tank that has the synaptic wherewithal to raise questions with which we are only now beginning to grapple. The interviewees debate whether technology is bringing society closer together or farther apart, the changing nature of the workplace (have laptop, will travel), and the repercussions of creating a society along the technological divide of those who are plugged-in vs. those who aren't. Written and directed by Mark Harrison, Visions of Heaven and Hell is rather more hellish in its crystal-ball gazing than heavenly, sometimes absurdly so (what can you say about narration like "computers reach their final goal when they totally disconnect us and remove us from what is real"?). Too, the bridging footage between the interviews--people and places filmed in slowed-down and speeded-up time--would offer a nice homage to the Godfrey Reggio/Philip Glass films Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqqatsi were it not for the fact that it borders on copyright infringement. Still, this is a powerhouse cast of interviewees and they provide enough food for thought to energize many a discussion whether in the classroom or around the dinner table. Educators take note that the second volume looks briefly at porn on the net and therefore contains some nudity and rough language though no explicit pornographic imagery. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)