The American Robot: A Cultural History

Abstract

This work offers an evolution of the interpretation and application of the idea of the robot in American society, building on a general overview of the intellectual history of the United States with regard to first defining what a person is, then evaluating the roles of technology, work, leisure, and consumption. As mostly white men have been the ones writing about robots for mostly other white men through much of American history, Abnet examines this shifting understanding of robots while remaining alert to how the dominant culture affected categories of race, class, gender, and ethnicity, tracing how the icon pointed to tensions in the society. As a complex symbol, the robot can represent competing and even contradictory beliefs, sometimes simultaneously. Abnet makes his case with a thoughtfully organized examination deftly crafted, eloquently written. This is a quite enjoyable romp across disciplines and a praiseworthy range of sources over centuries, remaining...