[New post] “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace” – Richard Brautigan (1967)

1960s: Days of Rage posted: ""'All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace' is a poem by Richard Brautigan first published in his 1967 collection of the same name, his fifth book of poetry. It presents an enthusiastic description of a technological utopia in which machines improve a" 1960s: Days of Rage "All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace" – Richard Brautigan (1967) 1960s: Days of Rage Apr 3 "'All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace' is a poem by Richard Brautigan first published in his 1967 collection of the same name, his fifth book of poetry. It presents an enthusiastic description of a technological utopia in which machines improve and protect the lives of humans. The poem has counterculture and hippie themes, influenced by Cold War-era technology. It has been interpreted both as utopian and as an ironic critique of the utopia it describes. It is Brautigan's most frequently reprinted poem. Brautigan wrote the poem and eponymous collection between January 17–26, 1967, while a poet-in-residence at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. The poem is 99 words in 3 stanzas, and describes a technological utopia in which humans and technology work together for the greater good. Brautigan writes about 'mammals and computers liv[ing] together in mutually programming harmony', with technology acting as caretakers while 'we are free of our labors and joined back to nature.' Reviewers disagree whether it should be taken earnestly or ironically. The poem is typically understood as a mix of hippie counterculture, with its desire for leisure and a return to nature, with Cold War-era technological visions. Brautigan's publisher, Claude Hayward, said it 'caught me with its magical references to benign machines keeping order ... [which] fit right in with our optimism over the promise of the computer'. Digital humanities professor Steven E. Jones described the theme of the poem as 'what is now called cyborg identity', and situated it in 1960s California counterculture, with its juxtaposition of hippie values with technology, burgeoning hacker culture, and psychedelics. The idea of a technologically enabled utopia was popular in 1960s California, with one strain, exemplified by 'All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace', described by historian Charles Perry as a post-scarcity 'robots will do all the work' leisure society. ..." Wikipedia 'All Watched over by Machines of Loving Grace': Care and the Cybernetic University studio international Comment Like You can also reply to this email to leave a comment. Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from 1960s: Days of Rage. Change your email settings at manage subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://1960sdaysofrage.wordpress.com/2023/04/03/all-watched-over-by-machines-of-loving-grace-richard-brautigan-1967/

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