Capsule Essay, Research Paper
What I Would Place In A Time Capsule
As the turn of the millennium approaches, the human race will continue
to develop new technology and new ways of thinking. It is always enjoyable to
take a visual journey back in time, to view what was considered advanced and
what thoughts of future times represented. A time capsule stored with precious
documents and possessions from a past era can serve as a visual and material
presentation of what past times were like, and put in prospective the
accomplishments that have changed human lifestyles for better or worse.
If I were invited to participate in the planning of a time-capsule, I
would include items that depicted the present society’s mood and pastimes. One
item that suits this category would be music. Music is one of the most
influential forms of art, and has brought delight, sadness, love, and despair to
individuals worldwide. I would include a compilation of the most popular and
the most controversial music of the present era, and some background information
on the songs and artists. Song lyrics, like poetry, can go beyond the written
words of a book or a story, and give an in depth prospective on people and their
lives.
Guiding the new information and technology of today, computers serve as
the most useful tool for teaching and productivity across the globe. With the
aid of computers, new and better systems are manufactured and put to work
constantly. The amount of data storage, speed, and processing power is
increasing exponentially, and the obsolete models are taken off shelves and out
of business to be replaced. Within the next ten years
have evolved to what most of us can’t even perceive now. By placing a top of
the line computer system into our time capsule, we can provide our future
generation with the acknowledgment of success and probably a little humor in the
field of computers.
Maybe not the most advanced but the most commonly known media, the
newspaper, is a gold mine of facts, stock quotes, and reports that are current
and important. Including a current newspaper in a time capsule would give the
future finders a look at many issues and conditions that are sensitive to
society and change. Weather which constantly changes, and medical problems and
breakthroughs that may be turning points in the human race would be interesting
to read over and learn the origins of. Probably the most complex and
controversial topic of all, politics is a main interest in the world. A look
back at how the economy was run and comparing it to the present time would be an
experience of a lifetime. I would choose a major publication such as the New
York Times or USA Today. This would provide the most complete and factual
information for the future to diagnose and learn from.
Just as archaeologists and anthropologists have determined past lives
and civilizations through discoveries, a time capsule can allow an easier route
to understanding the past. Besides fascination, the study of the past mostly
serves as a blueprint for the future. By learning of accomplishments and
mistakes of pioneers in the past, people can plan for a better life. A great
deal of time and money is spent preserving the past, because once history is
lost, it is lost forever.