Jan 14

The poem "All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace" by Richard Brautigan can be interpreted as having two feelings towards technology.

First, the poem can be interpreted as having an anti-technology message. Brautigan achieves this by juxtaposing futuristic computers with nature. Throughout the poem, he describes animals, specifically mammals, walking though an artificial nature setting. For example, in the second stanza, Brautigan describes "a cybernetic forest filled with pines and electronics where deer stroll peacefully past computers as if they were flowers with spinning blossoms." This quote illustrates technology overpowering, and eventually replacing nature in our world. Trees are artificial and flowers are replicated on screens. The idea of an overwatch also contributes to the anti-technology tone. In the last stanza, Brautigan describes a world where humans are "all watched over by machines of loving grace." This quote illustrates the fact that by creating superior technology, we humans may destroying our humanity. As we become more dependent on machines to do our work or watch over us, we become subject to control by the very thing we created to aid us. The anti-technology tone is quite strong in the poem.

The poem can also be interpreted as having a pro-techonolgy tone. Throughout the poem, Brautigan describes nature and technology coexisting in peace. In the first stanza, he describes the scene of a "cybernetic meadow where mammals and computers live together in mutually programming harmony like pure water touching clear sky." This quote illustrates the idea that nature and computers can coexist, and improve the life of animals. His tone suggests that the replacement of nature with artificial nature is beneficial. Brautigan also describes freedom through technology. In the third stanza, he describes a world in which we humans are "free of our labors" and "watched over by machines of loving grace." These quotes illustrate the freedom and protection that we gain by having artificial intelligences protect us and do your work for us. In a way, he is describing a utopia that can only be achieved by implementing technology into our daily lives.

I believe that the anti-technology reading is more convincing. Brautigan, whether purposefully or not, describes the classic pre-apocalyptic world of the future. The idea of humans creating machines, machines taking over, machines killing humans, has been seen in many forms of media. Although we humans strive to create machines to do our daily tasks for us, the creation of artificial intelligences my contribute to our downfall.