"The law of the suppression of radical potential" is an idea first described by Brian Winston in his book, Technologies of Seeing: Photography, Cinematography and Television. According to the law, when a communications technology is realised, its growth is suppressed through the constraining influence of already prevailing institutions and other mechanisms.
Winston shows how the law can be used as a model for describing the life cycle of many communications technologies. His approach is in particular directed against technological determinism and instead proposes that the emergence of new media and new technologies is mediated and controlled by society.
Winston has elaborated his model of technological change in particular in the books Technologies of Seeing: Photography, Cinematography and Television (1997) and Media Technology and Society: A History: From the Telegraph to the Internet (1998; Kindle publication in 2007 )
Famous quotes containing the words law of, law, suppression, radical and/or potential:
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony
of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”
—Bible: Hebrew Psalm XIX (l. XIX, 7)
“Who does not know historys first law to be that an author must not dare to tell anything but the truth? And its second that he must make bold to tell the whole truth? That there must be no suggestion of partiality anywhere in his writings? Nor of malice?”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (10643 B.C.)
“Fashion required the suppression of all naturalnessto walk upright, with unbending joints; to shake hands after the pump- handle formula; to look inexpressibly indifferent towards everybody and everything; and speak only in a mincing voice was to be a decorous member of society.”
—For the State of Rhode Island, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Radical Chic, after all, is only radical in Style; in its heart it is part of Society and its traditionsPolitics, like Rock, Pop, and Camp, has its uses.”
—Tom Wolfe (b. 1931)
“While each child is born with his or her own distinct genetic potential for physical, social, emotional and cognitive development, the possibilities for reaching that potential remain tied to early life experiences and the parent-child relationship within the family.”
—Bernice Weissbourd (20th century)