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Canadi an Jour nal of

Pol i t i cal

and Soci al Theor y Revue

canadi enne de t heor i e

yol i t i que et r oci al e

Vol ume

X

N

1 2 ( 1986)

TECHNOLOGI C L N TI ON LI SM

Maur i ce

Char l and

Ther e

was

a t i me i n t h i s f a i r

l and

When t he

r ai l r oad

di d not r un

Pi ct ur e c l a r i t y

and

i nt el l ect ual

c l a r i t y

ar e l i m t ed by el ect r omagnet i c r esources

Gor don

Li ght f oot

A I nni s

I n

t he

openi ng sequence of

t he

Canadi an

Br oadcast i ng

Cor por at i on s

pr oduct i on

of

t he

Nat i onal Dr eamPi er r e Ber t on s

hi st or y

of

t he

Cana

di an

Paci f i c

Rai l way

t he pr i st i ne maj est y

of

t he

Rocky Mount ai ns

and

a l one

I ndi an ar e

conf r ont ed w t h

t he t echnol ogi cal dynamo

of a

l ocomo-

t i v e

Thi s

t el evi si on

i mage

of

a

r ai l r oad

as

t he nat i onal

dr eam

her oi cal l y

spanni ng t he w l der ness t o f ashi on a st at e

r eveal s

i n a condensed

nar r at i ve

t he

mani f ol d r el at i ons bet ween t echnol ogy and Canada

whi ch

can i mag

i ne

Her e, we ar e encour aged t o see t echnol ogy as

const i t ut i ve

of

Canada,

and

as

a mani f est at i on of Canada s et hos The Nat i onal Dr eam

hi ghl i ght s,

of cour se,

t he

r ol e of space- bi ndi ng t echnol ogy i n Canada s

hi st or y

Thi s

C C

epi c

r em nds us t hat Canada exi st s by

vi r t ue

of t echnol ogi es

whi ch bi nd

space

and

t hat t he r ai l r oad

pe rm t t ed a t r anscont i nent al

econom c

and

pol i t i cal s t a t e

t o emer ge i n

hi st or y

Fur t her mor e,

t he Nat i onal Dr eam s an

i nst ance

of

t he

di scour se

of

t echnol ogy

i n

Canada,

of

t s

r het or i c

The

CPR

s pr esent ed

as

t he

ar chet ypal

i nst ance of Canada s

t echnol ogi cal const i t u-

t i o n

Mor e

si gni f i cant l y

t he

CPR

s

of f er ed as

t he

pr oduct of pol i t i cal wi l l

nat i on and r ai l r oad wer e

dr eam of by Canada s ar chi t ect s and t hen

consci ousl y cr eat ed

We

see a

Canadawhi ch i magi ned i t s e l f

i nt o exi st ence

Canada s

i magi nat i on,

a Canadi an

i magi nat i on,

s mani f est by

t he

196

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TE HNOLOGI L

N TI ON LI SM

Nat i onal

Dr eami t s e l f

Ber t on s t el evi sed hi st or y i s a r het or i cal epi dei ct i c f or

a

t echnol ogi cal l y

medi at ed

Canada

Thi s

r het or i c

of

a

t echnol ogi cal nat i on,

basi ng

i t s e l f

on a

r omant i c

i nt er pr et at i on

of hi st or y,

equat es t he

const r uc-

t i on of

t he

PR wi t h

t he const i t ut i on

of Canada and

pr ai ses

each wi t h

r ef er ence

t o

t he

ot her Canada

i s

val or i zed

as a nat i on

because

t i s

t he

pr oduct

of a

t echnol ogi cal

achi evement ,

and

t he r ai l r oad

i s

t he gr eat pr oduct

of

her oi c i ndi vi dual s

who dr eam a nat i on

Cur i ousl y,

t he

Nat i onal

Dr eam

r ear t i cul at es a

r het or i c

whi ch gave r i s e t o i t s own

mat er i al i zat i on

That

r het or i c i s

of f er ed

t hr ough

a

pr oduct

of i t s e l f

t he

CBC

The

CBCexi st s by

vi r t ue of a di scour se of t echnol ogi cal

nat i on- bui l di ng,

and r epr oduces t he

r het or i c

whi ch

l egi t i mat es

t

and

t he

anadi an

s t a t e

when

i t

i nvi t es us t o

j o i n

Ber t on

and dr eamof

nat i onhood

I n t h i s essay,

I

w l l expl or e what per cei ve t o be r het or i c of t echnol ogi -

c l

nat i onal i sm i n angl ophone Canada whi ch ascr i bes t o t echnol ogy

t he

capaci t y

t o

creat e

a

nat i on

by enhanci ngcommuni cat i on

As I

wi l l show

t he

r het or i c

of

t he

PRbecomes

t he

power - l aden

di scour se

of a s t a t e

seeki ng

t o

l egi t i mat e

i t s e l f p o l i t i c l l y by

const i t ut i ng

nat i on

i n

i t s

i mage Thi s i s

a si gni f i cant r het or i c, f or i t

under gui r ds Canada s

o f f i c i l i deol ogy and

gui des

t he f or mul at i on

of

f eder al

gover nment

pol i c y

t

l e st

i n

t he ar ea

of

br oadcast i ng t he

CBC

i s l egi t i mat ed i n

p o l i t i c l

di scour se by t he PR

Fur t her mor e,

w l l ar gue

t hat

t he

r het or i c

of

t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm

i s

i nsi di ous, f or i t

t i e s

a anadi ani dent i t y

not

t o

i t s

peopl e,

but

t o

t hei r

medi at i on t hr ough t echnol ogy

Rhet or i c and I deol ogi cal D scour se

Thi s

s t hen,

a c r i t i c l

t heor i sat i on

of

t he

devel opment

of

anadi an

i deol ogi cal

di scour se

Wt h

regard

t o

t he

met hod

of

i deol ogy-anal ysi s,

t he

st udy

pr oceeds 1) by

i dent i f yi ng

how anadi ani deol ogi cal

di scour se

i s

grounded

i n

t he p o l i t i c s

and

econom cs

of

t he ear l y

anadi ans t t e

;

2) by

t r aci ng out t he r het or i cal

ef f ec t

t he

consequence

of

t hat

di scour se on

t he anadi anpol i t i c l economc and i ndeed popul ar

m nd,

as i t c l l s a

cer t ai n

Canada

i n t o

bei ng

and 3) by examni ng how t h i s di scour se cr eat es

t he

condi t i ons

of

i t s

own r epr oduct i on

w l l demonst r at e t hat

t he r het or i c

of

t he CPR seeki ng

t o const i t ut e a s t t e becomes

t he r het or i c

of

t he

CBC

seeki ng

t o

const i t ut e

a

pol i r and

nat i on

Thi s r het or i c,

t he r het or i c

of

t echnol ogi cal nat i onal i sm

i s

t he

domnant

di scour se

of

t he

o f f i c i l

i deol ogy

of nat i on- bui l di ng

t hr ough st at e- suppor t ed

br oadcast i ng,

and

has

been

si gni f i cant

but

not excl usi ve)

det er m nant

of

t he f orm

of

Canada s

br oad-

cast i ng

syst em

t i s

al so

t he domnant di scour se of anadi annat i onal i sm i n

angl ophoneCanada

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M URI EH RL ND

Whi l e my concer n i s wi t h r het or i c and i t s si gni f i cance, I w l l

not si mpl y

st udy di scour se

Such an

appr oach

woul d

numb

my

cr i t i que

f or r het or i c

i s

pr eci sel y

t he

f orm

of

di scour se

whi ch

pr oj ect s out si de of

i t s e l f

i n t o t he

r eal m

of human at t i t ude and

act i on

I w l l t ake a

l ead

f r omKennet h ur kewho

has

r i gh t l y obser ved

t hat

whi l e

t her e

exi st s a

di f f er ence bet ween

t hi ngs and

wor ds

about t hi ngs,

wor ds

pr ovi de

an

or i ent at i on

t o t hi ngs Thus I w l l

examne t he r el at i onshi p

of words t o t hi ngs

speci f i cal l y

t he r el at i onshi p

bet ween

t wo

di st i nct but

i nt er t w ned

ent i t i es

t he

Canadi an

r het or i c

of

a

t echnol ogi cal nat i on,

and

t he t echnol ogy

of

t he

Canadi an

s t a t e

ot h

t echnol ogy

and

r het or i c

wer e

necessar y

f or Canada as a nat i on

com ng

t o

be,

but

t hey

const i t ut ed

a

Canada

w t hi n

a spi ral

of

cont r adi ct i ons

I

w l l

seek

t o i dent i f y t hese cont r adi ct i ons I ndeed, my cl ai m i s

t hat

t he

cont r adi ct i ons

bet ween t hese t wo have produced

t he

r ecur r i ng c r i ses i n Canadi an br oad-

cast i ng pol i cy

and i n

t he

quest f or a Canadi an i dent i t y Technol ogi cal

nat i onal i smpr om ses a

l i ber a l s t a t e

i n whi ch t echnol ogy woul d be a

neut r al

medi umf or t he

devel opment

of

a

pol i s

Thi s

vi si on

of

a

nat i on

i s

bankr upt ,

however ,

because

i t pr ovi des

no subst ance

or

commonal i t y f or

t he

pol i s

except

communi cat i on i t s e l f

As

a

consequence,

t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm s

( angl ophone)

Canada

has

no

def ense

agai nst t he

power

and

seduct i on

of

t he

Amer i can cul t ur al i ndust r y

or

i ndeed,

of t he t echnol ogi cal exper i ence

Canada,

t hen, i s

t he

absent

nat i on

My anal ysi s w l l

t ake

i nspi r at i on f r omJamesCar ey s and John J

Qui r k s appl i cat i on of I nni s i n t hei r st udy of t he

r het or i c

of e l e c t r i c i t y i n t he

Uni t ed

St at es

3 I wi l l consi der howwhat I nni s t erms

t he bi as

of communi

cat i on t echnol ogy undermnes t he pr om ses of

t hat

t echnol ogy s

r het or i c

as

Car ey and Qui r k

put

i t

I nni s

uncover ed t he

most

vul ner abl e

poi nt

i n

r het or i c

of

el ect r i cal

subl i me I nni s

pr i nci pal l y

di sput ed

t he not i on t hat e l e c t r i c i t y

woul d

r epl ace

cent r al i zat i on

i n econom cs

and

p o l i t i c s

w t h decen-

t r al i zat i on

democr acy

and

a

cul t ur al r ev i val I nni s

pl aced

t he

t r ag -

edy of moder n cul t ur e

i n Amer i ca

and Eur ope

upon t he

i n t r i n s i c

t endenci es of bot h

pr i nt i ng pr ess

and

el ect r oni c medi a t o

r educe

space

and t i me

i n t he

ser v i ce

of a cal cul us of commer ci al i sm

and

expansi oni sm

4

Fol l owi ng

M chael

McGee

I

t ake rhet or i c

t o

be

a

necessar y

mat er i al

condi t i on of human

soc i al

exi st ence I ndeed,

r het or i c i s

a

const i t ut i ve

component of t he soc i al appl i cat i on of t echnol ogy,

f or i t gui des i t s

possi bl e

appl i cat i ons Consequent l y, my ai m s t o consi der

t he appr opr i at eness of t he

r het or i c

of t echnol ogi cal nat i onal i sm

i n t he

f ace of

Canadi an exi genci es

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TE HNOLOGI L

N TI ON LI SM

Canada Technol ogy and Technol ogi cal Rhet or i c

Canada

i s

a

t echnol ogi cal

state

Thi s

i s

j ust

t o say t hat

Canada s

exi st ence

as an economc uni t

i s

pr edi cat ed

upon

t r anspor t at i on and communi cat i on

t echnol ogy

I n

addi t i on, t he

i dea of Canada

depends upon a

r het or i c

about

t echnol ogy

Fur t her mor e, we

can

under st and

t he devel opment of a

Cana-

di an

nat i on- st at e

i n

t er ms

of t he i nt er pl ay bet ween

t h i s t echnol ogy and i t s

r het or i c

That Canada owes

i t s exi st ence t o t echnol ogi es

whi ch

bi nd space

i s

r eadi l y appar ent Canada

i s

a

spar sel y popul at ed

t e r r i t o r y i n

whi ch

r ock,

mount ai ns,

and

sheer di st ance

i nhi bi t

human

cont act

bet ween

t hose

who

l i v e i n i t s

sever al

di st i nct r egi ons The t el egr aph

and

t he

r ai l road t o a

degr ee

over came t hese obst acl es and pe rm t t ed

t he

movement of goods

and i nf or -

mat i on

acr oss

what was, i n

t he

ni net eent h cent ur y, an undevel oped

w l der -

ness

I ndeed, as Har ol d

I nni s obser ves, [ t ] he

hi st or y of

t he

Canadi an

Paci f i c

Rai l r oad

i s

pr i mar i l y

t he hi st or y

of

t he spr ead

of

west er n ci vi l i zat i on over

t he

nor t her n

hal f

of

t he Nor t h mer i can

cont i nent

. 6 Thr ough t he CPR

I nni s

poi nt s out

west er n

Canadi an t e r r i t o r i e s became

i nt egr at ed

i n t o

t he

economc and pol i t i cal syst ems

whi ch had

devel oped

i n East er n Canada

nd

what

i s

t he

nat ur e

of t hi s ci vi l i zat i on?

t

i s

one

based

i n

t he

ci rcul at i on or communi cat i on of commodi t i es

and capi t al The ci vi l i zat i on

t he rai l r oad ext ended was one of commer ce as t he PR

ext ended east er n

economc i nt er est s The rai l road r epr oduced andext ended a s t a t e

appar at us

and economy whi ch

concent r at ed

power i n

met r opol i t an

cent r es,

pe rm t -

t i ng t he i ncor por at i on

and dom nat i on of margi ns

f

t he

PR was a

nat i onal

pr oj ect ,

i t

was so f i r s t and f or emost as an

econom c

vent ur e The

r ai l r oad

was bui l t wi t h a combi nat i on of

publ i c

and

pr i vat e capi t al f or

t he

advant age of

t he

state and

mer chant s,

and

t he

f or mer , l i k e t he l a t t e r

saw

i t s

i nt er est s i n t er ms of

econom c devel opment

The

ni net eent h

cent ur y

Br i t i sh-s tyl e

s t a t e

was,

a f t e r

a l l a st at e of

capi t al i st s

The rai l road d

. i d

mor e t hough

t han enhance t r ade t pe rm t t ed t he

devel opment of a pol i t i cal

s t a t e

and

cr eat ed t he

possi bi l i t y of a

nat i on

t di d

so by

ext endi ng

Ot t awa s

pol i t i cal

power i t pe rm t t ed

O t awa t o

excl ude

a

power f ul mer i canpr esence

f r omwest er n

Canada and t hus est abl i sh

i t s

pol i t i cal

cont r ol

over

t he

t er r i t or y Speci f i cal l y

t he

PR

f ost er ed

i mmgr a

t i on i nt o t he West er n

pl ai n, ef f ect i vel y

di scour agi ng

Mnnesot ans f r om

movi ng

nor t hwar d and annexi ng

a

spar sel y

popul at ed

ar ea

t he

PR

pe rm t t ed

O t awa

t o est abl i sh i t s m l i t ar y pr esence

i n t he

west ,

as

i t di d

when

suppr essi ng t he

Met i s

r ebel l i on,

and,

of cour se,

east er n

Canadi ans

no

l onger had t o t r avel t hr ough t he

Uni t ed

St at es

i n or der

t o

r each Br i t i sh

Col umbi a Fur t her mor e, t h i s physi cal spanni ng of

t he count r y

pe rm t t ed

Canadi ans, i ncl udi ng t hose i n Quebec, t o uni t e i n pat r i ot i c sent i ment , as t hey

7/24/2019 Charland - Technological Nationalism

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M URI E H RL ND

di d

when m l i t i a f r omNova Scot i a,

Quebec,

and

Ont ar i o f ought

si de by

si de

agai nst

R el s

suppor t er s

i n

Saskat chewan

I n a

sense, t he power t he

CPR ext ended coul d become

t he obj ect

of a

nat i onal

exper i ence t he PR of f er ed

t hose i n Canada

t he exper i ence

of

a t echnol ogi cal l y-medi at ed pol i t i cal

uni t y

as a

common

denom nat or

My poi nt

her e

i s

t hat

t hePRpe rm t t ed

mor e

t han t he

physi cal

l i nki ng

of a t er r i t or y Apar t f r om

j oi ni ng

t he count r y t o f a c i l i t a t e commer ci al

i nt er cour se and pol i t i cal adm ni st r at i on, t he PR

of f er ed

t he

possi bi l i t y

of

devel opi ng

a myt hi c r het or i c of nat i onal or i gi n Fol l ow ng McGee s

argument s on t he

devel opment

of

col l ect i vi t i es,

woul d

ar gue

t hat

such a

r het or i c

i s

necessar y

t o

t he

r eal i zat i on of

t he

pr oj ect

of

Canadi an

nat i on-

hood

That

r het or i c

i s necessar y bot h as

a l egi t i mat i on

of

a

sover ei gn

uni t ed

Canada

w t hi n t he

di scur si ve f i e l d of

par l i ament ar y gover nment

and as an

i nducement

f or

t hose i n Canada t o

see

t hemsel ves as Canadi an

f or Canada

t o be

l egi t i mat ed,

a

myt h

i s necessar y

The

PR i s wel l

sui t ed

t o such

myt hol ogi zat i on because

( 1) i t s const r uct i on i n

t he

f ace of

p o l i t i c a l , eco-

nom c,

and geogr aphi c

obst acl es

can be

pr esent ed

as an

epi c st r uggl e 2

t he

PRwas a st at e

pr oj ect

and

t hus can

be

r epr esent ed

as

t he

mani f est a-

t i o n

of a Canadi an wi l l t o sur vi ve

p o l i t i c a l l y

and ( 3) t he

st eamengi ne

i t s e l f

of fers Canadi ans t he oppor t uni t y t o i dent i f y w t h a nat i onal i zed

i con

of

power I n sum t he PR i s

si gni f i cant

not

onl y as a mode of t r anspor t at i on

and communi cat i on, but al so as t he basi s f or a

nat i onal i st

di scour se The

t echnol ogi cal

nat i on i s

di scur si ve

as

wel l

as pol i t i cal

Fur t her mor e,

t he

very

exi st ence of

t he

PR

can

be under st ood as a moment i n

t he

nat i onal i st

r het or i c

i t

r ender s

possi bl e, f or i t was a symbol i c

st r at egy

i n

t he

f ace of

pol i t i cal exi genci es

To

put i t bl unt l y,

t he CPR s exi st ence

i s

di scur si ve

as

wel l

as

mat er i al ,

f or

i t

st ands

as

an

ar t i cul at i on

of

pol i t i cal

w l l

Whi l e

t he

PR

pr oved

econom -

c a l l y

pr of i t abl e f or i t s

backers,

t he

l i nki ng

of Mont r eal t o

Vancouver was

not

a

happenst ance

or t he

r esul t

of a

pr i vat e

ent r epr eneur i al vent ur e, r at her t he

r oad was

bui l t

under t he auspi ces of Canada s f eder al gover nment f or

t he

expl i ci t pur pose of ext endi ng spat i al

cont r ol

over a t er r i t or y That i s t o say,

t he

det er m nat i on of Canada t o r emai n

Br i t i sh

i n

char act er

r at her

t han

be

absor bed by

t he

Uni t ed

St at es

pr eceded

t he

r ai l way s

const r uct i on

Fur t her -

mor e,

t he

const r uct i on of

t he

Paci f i c Rai l way

was

not even

a necessar y

condi t i on

t o Br i t i sh Col umbi a s

ent r y i n t o

Conf eder at i on

That

Paci f i c

col ony

had

demanded

onl y

t hat

O t awa

bui l d

a

wagon

r oad

Thus, t he

PR

was par t of

a

r het or i cal pl oy

Car t i er

and

MacDonal d

of f er ed

mor e t han

was

necessar y, a

r a i l l i nk

t o t he west coast

wi t hi n

t en

year s

of Br i t i sh

Col umbi a s

j oi ni ng

t he Dom ni on

l Consequent l y,

t he

PR

cannot

be vi ewed as

t he

pr oduct or mani f est at i on onl y of economy The const r uct i on of

t he

r ai l r oad

was mor e t han an over det er m ned r esponse t o mat er i al and

pol i t i cal exi -

2

7/24/2019 Charland - Technological Nationalism

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TECHNOLOGI CAL NATI ONALI SM

genci es

;

a w l l t o st at ehood pr eceded i t

I t was

anel ement of a

st r at egy

based

i n

t he

bel i ef t hat a

nat i on

coul d

be

bui l t

by

bi ndi ng

space

s

t he mat er i al i za-

t i o n

of

bel i ef and

of

pol i t i cal w l l , t he

r ai l r oad

i s t he consequence

of

pol i t i cal

r het or i c,

of di scour se

whi ch

const i t ut es

power

s John

A

MacDonal d put

i t speaki ng i n

t he House

of Commons :

The

r oad w l l be

const r uct ed

and

t he

f a t e

of

Canada,

w l l

t hen

as

a Dom ni on,

be r eal i zed

Then wi l l t he

f a t e of Canada, as

one gr eat

body be f i xed

I

I

Thi s

epi dei ct i c

or at or y

r eveal s

t hat

t he

rai l r oad

pr oj ect

exi st s as a

moment

i n

a

speci es

of rhet or i c

:

t echnol ogi cal nat i onal i sm Thi s r het or i c i s

evi dent

i n

MacDonal d s di scour se

above, f or

i t

l i nks Canada s f at e t o a

t echnol ogy

Si r Char l es Tupper , f or exampl e, coul d r ef er t o t heCPR

as a our

great

nat i onal wor k

.

Thi s

r het or i c pr esent s

t he

r ai l r oad

as mat er i al

condi t i on

of possi bi l i t y f or t he exi st ence of

anadi an

nat i on,

and

i t f i nds i t s

cont emporary echo

i n Ber t on s

t r eat ment

of

anadi anhi s t or y,

as

he

f eat ur es

MacDonal d

as a myt hi cal her o

and

asser t s :

[ I t was

Macdonal d s i nt ent i on t o def y nat ur e

and

f ashi on

a nat i on

i n

t he process

H s t ool ,

t o t hi s

end, woul d be t he Canadi an Paci f i c

t

woul d be a

r a r e

exampl e of a nat i on

creat ed

t hr ough t he

const r uc-

t i o n

of a r ai l way

13

The myt h

of

t he r a i l r oad,

or of

t he bi ndi ng

of space

t echnol ogi cal l y

t o

creat e a

nat i on,

pl aces Canadi ans

i n

a very par t i cul ar

r el at i onshi p

t o

t echnol -

ogy

14

I n Kennet h Bur ke s

l anguage, t h i s r het or i c

pr i vi l eges agency as

t he

mot i ve

force

f or

Canada s

const r uct i on

Canada s

exi st ence

woul d

be

based

i n a ( l i b e r a l )

pr agmat i sm

i n

whi ch

t echnol ogy i s mor e

pot ent and

mor e

r esponsi bl e

f or Canada s

cr eat i on

t han

t he

so- cal l ed Fat her s of

Conf eder a-

t i on .

I n

t he

popul ar

m nd anada

exi st s mor e because of t he t echnol ogi cal

t r anscendence

of

geogr aphi cal

obst acl es t han

because

of

any

pol i t i ci an s w l l

Thus,

t echnol ogy

i t s e l f

i s

at

t he cent r e

of

t he anadi an

i magi nat i on, f or

i t

pr ovi des

t he

condi t i on of possi bi l i t y f or a

anadi an

m nd

The i mpor t

of agency or

t echnol ogy

i n Canada s o f f i c i a l popul ar

cul t ur e

al so

can

be seen, f or

exampl e, i n Gor don

Li ght f oot s

Canadi an Rai l r oad

Tr i l ogy, wher e

t he

CPR

f uses

wi t h

an

ent r epr eneur i al

s p i r i t

and

her al ds t he

t r u l y moder n

pr oj ect

of expansi on

and

pr ogr ess

:

But

t hey

l ooked

i n t he

f u t u r e

and what

di d t hey see?

They saw

an i r on

r a i l

r unni ng

f r om t he sea t o t he sea

20

7/24/2019 Charland - Technological Nationalism

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M URI E H RL ND

The song of t he f u t u r e has

been

sung,

Al l

t he bat t l es

have been

won

We have

opened

up t he l and

Al l t he wor l d s

at

our

command

We have

opened

up t he

soi l

Wt h

our t ear dr ops and our

t o l

I n

t he r het or i c and

const r uct i on of

t he CPR

we

see t he

genesi s

of

t echnol ogi cal nat i onal i sm as a component

i n

t he

pr oj ect

of bui l di ng

t he

nat i onal

state

Thi s

pr oj ect has

t wo component s

one,

physi cal ,

t he ot her ,

di scur si ve

( 1)

The exi st ence

of

a

t r anscont i nent al

Canada

r equi r ed t he

devel opment

of a

syst em

of t r anspor t at i on f aci l i t at i ng

t e r r i t o r i a l

annexa-

t i on col oni zat i on, and t he

i mpl ant at i on of a

m l i t ar y

pr esence

( 2)

The

exi st ence of t h i s Canada al so r equi r ed t he devel opment of a

r het or i c

whi ch

i deol ogi cal l y

const i t ut ed

t hose i n Canada as

Canadi ans,

uni t ed i n

t he

nat i onal

pr oj ect

and

under

t he pol i t i cal

aut hor i t y

of a

nat i onal

gover n-

ment

For t he moment l et

us f ocus

on t he r het or i cal component

of

t echnol ogi -

cal nat i onal i sm

The

Canadi an

t r adi t i on of

par l i ament ar y

publ i c

address,

whi ch Canada

i nher i t ed f r om

Br i t ai n,

pl aces par t i cul ar

demands

on t he

r het or i c

of

t he

Canadi an

s t a t e I n t h i s Whi g

Li ber al

t r adi t i on,

pol i t i cal

power

s

l egi t i mat ed

by

a

r het or i c

of

t he

peopl e

16

That

s t o

say at t empt s

t o

di scur si vel y secur e

l egi t i macy

wi l l

ar gue

t hat

a nat i onal peopl e exi st s

whi ch

aut hor i zes

t he

s t at e s

power

For

O t awa t o

successf ul l y exer ci se t he

power

t he

PR

ext ended, t

must

count er

argument s

i n

f avour

of

pr ovi nci al

aut onomy or

conver sel y,

annexat i on by

t he

Uni t ed

St at es

by per suasi vel y

r epr esent i ng t hose i n Canada as

f or m ng

a

Canadi an peopl e

I ndeed,

t he

exi st ence

of

such

a

pan Canadi an

col l ect i vi t y

was

asser t ed

by

Geor ges

Et i enne

Car t i er

i n def ense of

Conf eder at i on

. Wt hout such a per suasi ve

r het or i c

of nat i onal i dent i t y

and

nat i onal i nt er est Ot t awa s

power

woul d di ssol ve

I n Canada,

t he const i t ut i on

of

peopl e of

i ndi vi dual s

uni t ed

under

a

l i ber al

state

r equi r es

t hat t he bar r i er s bet ween r egi ons

be

appar ent l y t r an-

scended As

t

per m t s mast er y over

nat ur e,

t echnol ogy of fers

t he

possi bi l i t y

of

t hat

appar ent

t r anscendence Consequent l y,

i n

or der

t o asser t a

nat i onal

i nt er est

and

uni t y, O t awa

depends

upon a

r het or i c

of t echnol ogi cal

nat i on-

al i sm

a

r het or i c

whi ch

bot h

asser t s

t hat

a

t echnol ogi cal l y

medi at ed

Canadi an

nat i on

ex i st s

and c a l l s

f or i mproved

communi cat i on

bet ween

r egi ons

t o

r ender t hat

nat i on mat er i al l y pr esent

I n

ot her

wor ds,

Canada

s

a st at e

whi chmust

const ant l y seek t o w l l a

nat i on

i n

t s

own i mage,

i n or der

t o

j u s t i f y

t s

very exi st ence

The

PR

can be under st ood

as

one

mani f est a-

t i o n

of t hi s necessi t y,

but

as a

f orm

of

economc communi cat i on

i t

gave

r i s e

nei t her t o a common

Canadi an

cul t ur e,

nor

t o a

Canadi an

publ i c of

202

7/24/2019 Charland - Technological Nationalism

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TE HNOLOGI L N TI ON LI SM

ci t i zens

capabl e

of

par t i ci pat i ng

i n

t he count r y s

pol i t i cal w l l f or mat i on

At

most ,

i t

of f er ed

t hose

i nCanada

t he

possi bi l i t y

of

j o i n t l y

par t i ci pat i ng

i n

t he

r het or i c

of

t he

nat i onal

pr oj ect

Pr i mar i l y,

t he

PR

enmeshed

Canada

w t hi n a ser i es of net wor ks of

dom nat i on

As

I nni s

obser ves

and

t he

suppr essi on of

t he

Met i s upr i si ng of 1885

makes

mani f est l y

c l ear

space-

bi ndi ng

t echnol ogi es

ext end

power as t hey

f ost er

empi r e.

Because

of

t he

CPR s

i n a b i l i t y t o creat e a peopl e or nat i on, anot her t echnol ogi cal i nst r u-

ment was necessar y, an

i nst r ument

whi ch woul d perm t

t he

r epr esent at i on

and

act ual i zat i on

of

some

f orm

of

Canadi an publ i c

andcommon Canadi an

cul t ur e

Bot h

t he r het or i c

of nat i onal i dent i t y and

t he

f ac t of a Canadi an

pol i t i cal communi t y

r equi r ed

a

cul t ur al

r at her

t han

economc

f orm

of

communi cat i on Technol ogi cal nat i onal i sm

r equi r ed

r adi o, and t he advent

of

t he

br oadcast i ng er a advanced t he

pr oj ect

of a

t echnol ogi cal l y- const i t ut ed

nat i on

Technol ogi cal Nat i onal i sm

i n

t he Br oadcast i ng

Er a

The

devel opment

of

el ect r oni c

communi cat i on,

and i n par t i cul ar br oad-

cast

t echnol ogy,

pe rm t t ed

a

new

ar t i cul at i on of

t he r het or i c

of

t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm

Technol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm

became

a

maj or

f act or i n t he

devel -

opment

of

t he st r uct ur e

of br oadcast i ng i n

Canada,

as r adi o and t el evi si on

wer e enl i st ed

i n t o

t he nat i onal

pr oj ect

However t h i s

r het or i c

of a

t echnol o-

gi cal l y-medi at ed Canada

i s cont r adi ct or y

S gni f i cant l y,

Canada s

f i r s t

nat i onal r adi o net wor k

was

est abl i shed

by a

r ai l way

Whi l e

l ocal

r adi o had been pi oneer ed by pr i vat e ent r epr eneur s,

nat i onal

r adi o was

t he pr oduct

of a st at e agency,

t he NR The

nat i onal

r ai l way saw i n r adi o a means

t o f ost er i mm gr at i on, t o enhance

i t s

own

i mage,

and

t o

suppor t

t he pr oj ect

of

nat i onhood

9

NR

r adi o

whi ch

i n i t i a l l y

br oadcast

t o rai l r oad

par l our

cars devel oped i n 1924

i n t o

a

net wor k

of st at i ons i n maj or Canadi an c i t i e s f r omVancouver t o

Monct on

I t

of f er ed

symphony br oadcast s,

comc

oper as,

speci al

event s,

and i n

1931,

a dr amat i c

pr esent at i on of Canadi an hi st or y

St at e- suppor t ed r adi o, f ol l ow ng t he

r ai l r oad s pat h,

pr esent ed

t hose

who

l i v e i n Angl ophone Canada wi t h an

i mage

of Canada

NR sought t o bi ndCanada wi t h i nf or mat i on j us t as

r ai l

had bound

Canada

econom cal l y

Thus

was

f or ged t he

l i nk i n

t he

o f f i c i a l

Canadi anmnd

bet ween r ai l r oad

r adi o and

nat i onal

i dent i t y

As t he

o f f i c i a l

bi ogr apher

of

Si r

Henr y

Thor t on, t he

CNR s

pr esi dent

and

i nst i gat or

of

i t s

r adi o ser vi ces,

wr i t es

As

a di r ect r esul t

of

Si r

Henr y s

ab i l i t i e s

t o

see

t he possi bi l i t i es

i nher ent i n

a

newmedi umof expressi on, t he r ai l way di d f or Canada

what

she

was t o apat het i c

t o do

f or

her sel f

He saw

r adi o as a gr eat

uni f yi ng

f o r c e

i n Canada

;

t o

hi m

t he pol i t i cal

concept i on

t r an

3

7/24/2019 Charland - Technological Nationalism

9/25

MAURI CEH RL ND

scended

t he

commerci al , and

he set

out

consci ousl y

t o

c reat e

a sense

of

nat i onhood t hr ough

t he

medi um

of t he

Canadi an

Nat i onal

Rai l way Ser vi ce

12

The

r het or i c of t echnol ogi cal nat i onal i sm

had i ncor por at ed r adi o I t

sought t o enl i st

anot her space- bi ndi ng t echnol ogy

i n

t he pr oj ect

of const i -

t ut i ng a nat i on i n t he

i mage

of t he state Fur t her mor e, t h i s

vi si on

of

an

el ect r oni cal l y

const i t ut ed

Canada

di d

not r emai n

Thor t on s,

but

became

t hat

of

t he nat i onal gover nment

Thus,

one

of

t he f i r s t

l i ve nat i onal br oadcast s

was

a

cel ebr at i on

of Canada

Pr i me

M ni st er MacKenzi e

Ki ng s

voi ce was

hear d

acr oss

t he

count r y

as

he

spoke

f r om

O t awa

on

Jul y

1927,

Con

f eder at i on s

anni ver sar y

Comment i ng

on

t hat moment

a

mont h l at er

at

t he

Canadi an

Nat i onal

Exhi bi t i on, t he

Pr i me M ni st er

pr esent ed r adi o, a g i f t of

sci ence, as

t he

means

wher eby

Canada woul d devel op

a

peopl e

or

publ i c

t o j u s t i f y i t s

gover nment

On t he

mor ni ng, af t er noon and eveni ng of Jul y

l l

Canada

became, f or

t he

t i me- bei ng,

a

si ngl e

assembl age, swayed by a

com-

mon emot i on, w t hi n t he

sound of a si ngl e voi ce

Thus has moder n

sci ence

f or t he f i r s t

t i me r eal i z ed

i n t hegreat nat i on- st at e of moder n

days t hat condi t i on whi ch

ex i st ed

i n t he l i t t l e ci t y st at es of anci ent

t i mes

and

whi ch

was

consi der ed by

t he w sdomof t he

anc i ent s

as

i ndi spensabl e t o f r e e

and

democr at i c

gover nment

t hat al l t he

ci t i zens

shoul d

be abl e t o hear f or

t hemsel ves

t he

l i v i n g

voi ce

To

t hem

t

was

t he

voi ce of a

si ngl e

or at or a

Demost henes

or a

C cer o

speaki ng

on

publ i c

quest i ons

i n t he

At heni an

Assembl y

or i n

t he Roman

Forum

H t her t o

t o

most Canadi ans,

Ot t awa

had

seemed

f ar

o f f

a mer e

name t o

hundr eds

of

t housands

of

our

peopl e,

but hencef or t h

al l Canadi ans w l l st and w t hi n

t he sound of t he

car i l l on

and

w t hi n

hear i ng

of t he

speaker s on

Par l i ament Hi l l May

we

not

pr edi c t

t hat as a r esul t of

t h i s car r yi ng of t he

l i vi ng voi ce

t hr oughout

t he l engt h

of t he

Dom ni on, t her e w l l be

ar oused

a

mor e

gener al i nt er es t i n

publ i c

af f ai r s

and an

i ncr eased

devot i on

of

t he

i ndi v i dual

ci t i zen t o

t he

commonweal ?

23

Ki ng s st at ement

pr eceded

a

nat i onal

r adi o

pol i cy

by

f i v e

year s

However

t

can

be

under st ood

as a

char ge

t o

f u tu re

pol i cy

maker s

Cer t ai nl y, t

ar t i cul at ed

t he

maj or

t hemes of

t echnol ogi cal nat i onal i sm

i n t he br oadcast -

i ng er a

I n

par t i cul ar , t

r eveal s

t he par adoxi cal pr omse of

democracy and

domnat i on

i nher ent t o

t he rhet or i c

of

t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm MacKen

zi e

Ki ng s

speech

r educes Canada t o a communi t y or

smal l c i t y whi ch does

not

suf f er f r om

t he

i sol at i ng

e f f e c t s

of di st ance,

r egi onal i sm or cul t ur al

di ver si t y

Her e,

t echnol ogy

woul d

creat e

a

pol i s

where t he

pr oxi m t y of

4

7/24/2019 Charland - Technological Nationalism

10/25

TE HNOLOGI L

N TI ON LI SM

speaker t o audi ence woul d promot e f r eedom

and

gi ve

r i s e

t o a

democ

r acy

of a

publ i c

shar i ng

a

commonweal

s

MacKenzi e

Ki ng

al so

put

i t

I t

i s

doubt f ul

i f

ever bef or e t hose i n aut hor i t y wer e br ought

i n t o

such

i mmedi at e and sympat het i c and

per sonal t ouch wi t h t hose wi t h

whomt hei r

aut hor i t y

i s

der i ved

24

s such, t echnol ogi cal nat i onal i sm

i s

a f or m of

l i ber al i sm I t pr oposes

t he

el ect r oni c pol i s

and

af f i r ms

no

val ue save

t he

communi cat i on of

t he peopl e s voi ces

as

expr essed

i n

Par l i ament However

t h i s

vi si on

of a soci et y

i n

and

t hr ough communi cat i on

i s

underm ned

by

t echnol ogi cal nat i onal i sm s

ot her goal ,

t hat of

cr eat i ng

a

uni t ed

Canada

Thi s

second

goal i s

al so

i mpl i ed

above Not e t hat

t he

speech

i dent i f i es

an

i nt er est i n

publ i c

a f f a i r s wi t h devot i on, and

t hat t he

communi t y cal l ed

i n t o bei ng i s but an audi ence, subj ect

t o a

voi ce Radi o, i f i t of fers communi t y

al so of f er s dom nat i on, as I nni s obser ves i n count er poi nt t o MacKenzi e

Ki ng

The

r i s e

of H t l er t o

power was

f a c i l i t a t e d by

t he

use of

t he

l oudspeaker and

r adi o The r adi o

appeal ed

t o vast ar eas over -

came

t he

di vi si on

bet ween cl asses i n t

escape

f r om l i t eracy and

f avour ed

cent r al i zat i on

and

bur eaucracy

si ngl e

i ndi vi dual

coul d

appeal

at

one

t i me

t o

vast

number s of peopl e speaki ng t he

same

l anguage

.

MacKenzi e

Ki ng s

r emar ks capt ur e t he

s p i r i t

of

t he r het or i c

of

Canadi an

gover nment

pol i cy t owar ds br oadcast i ng

as ameans of

bi ndi ng

space

f r om

hi s

own

t i me unt i l t he r ecent f l i r t a t i o n s

w t h

cul t ur al cont i nent al i sm s

wi t h r a i l ser vi ce

i n

Canada, br oadcast i ng was consci ousl y r egar ded as a

means

of

cr eat i ng

a Canada

w t h

suf f i ci ent commonal i t y t o j u s t i f y i t s

pol i t i cal

uni on,

whi l e

si mul t aneousl y,

i t

was al so

consi der ed

a

means

of

si mpl y enabl i ng Canadi ans

t o be

aware

of each

ot her

and t hei r

al r eady

const i t ut ed

val ues

and

i dent i t y

Such

a cont r adi ct or y

rol e

f or br oadcast i ng

was ar t i cul at ed i n

var i ous

gover nment

r epor t s

deal i ng wi t h

t he probl ems

posed

by br oadcast i ng t echnol ogy

i ncl udi ng

t he 1929 Repor t of t he Royal

Comm ssi on

on Br oadcast i ng,

and t he

1932

Repor t of t he

Par l i ament ar y

Comm t t ee on Br oadcast i ng

These

and subsequent

r epor t s

of f er ed

a

r het o-

r i c whi ch asser t ed t he exi st ence

of a di st i nct l y

Canadi an

( and t hus uni t ar y)

consci ousness whi ch r equi r ed t echnol ogi cal

medi at i on and al so

char ged

br oadcast i ng wi t h

t he

t ask of

real i zi ng

t hat

consci ousness

and

i t s

nat i on

The

Devel opment

of

a

Br oadcast i ng Pol i cy

of

Technol ogi cal Nat i onal i sm

The

1932

Br oadcast i ng Act

f ol l owed

r at her t han ant i ci pat ed

br oadcast -

i ng s devel opment

Canada s

f i r s t commer ci al

r adi o

st at i on was l i cenced

i n

20

5

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MAURI CE

H RL ND

1919

decade

el apsed

bef ore t he

Royal

Comm ssi on

on Radi o Br oadcast -

i ng,

chai r ed

by

Si r

John

Ai r d,

f or mer

pr esi dent

of

t he

Canadi an

I mper i al

Bank

of Commer ce

i ssued

a

report

cal l i ng f or

excl usi ve

gover nment cont r ol

of

br oadcast i ng, i ncl udi ng t he

nat i onal i zat i on

of

exi st i ng

pr i vat el y owned

out l et s . z6

The

Comm ssi on s

st ance

was one of

def ensi ve expansi oni sm

as

Margar et

Pr ang

woul d put i t

f or

i t poi nt ed

t o

t he

t hr eat of Amer i cani zed

ai r waves

and cal l ed f or

pr ot ect i ve f eder al i ni t i t i ves . O

cour se, t he Com

m ssi on

asser t ed t hat

t he ai r waves

must be pr ot ect ed f r oman

Amer i can

expansi on dr i ven by mar ket f or ces

Mor e

si gni f i c nt l y t he

Ai r d Repor t

al so

echoed

MacKenzi e Ki ng s

i t asser t ed

t hat

r adi o must become a

means

f or

devel opi ng

Canadi an

hegemony

and

f ost er i ng

a

uni f i ed

cul t ur e

i n

t he

f ace

of geography and

r egi onal i sm

At present t he maj or i t y of

pr ogr ams heard r e f r omsour ces

out si de

of Canada

t has

been emphasi zed

t h t t he

cont i nued

r ecept i on of

t hese

had t endency

t o mol d t he

m nds of young

peopl e

i n t he

home

t o

i de l s

and opi ni ons

t h t are

not Canadi an

I n

count r y

of

t he vast

geogr aphi cal di mensi on

of Canada,

br oadcast i ng w l l

undoubt edl y

become

a gr eat

f o r c e

i n

i mpar t i ng

a nat i onal

s p i r i t

and

i nt er pr et i ng nat i onal ci t i zenshi p

. z

The o f f i c i l Canadi an m nd concei ves

of Canada as a

nat i on

whi ch must

come

t o be i n spi t e of space

Thus,

even t hough

t he

Ai r d

Comm ssi on

di d

not

seek t o

est abl i sh a

r epr essi ve si ngl e

Canadi an di scour se,

but

cal l ed

f or

a br oadcast i ng

syst em

i n whi ch

progr amm ng

woul d be

pr ovi nci al l y

con-

t r ol l ed

i t

sought t o

creat e

an ext ended communi t y

i n whi ch common

Canadi an i nt er est s woul d be

ar t i cul at ed and a shar ed

nat i onal i dent i t y

coul d

emer ge

The

popul ar

m nd

l i k e

t he

l and, must

be

occupi ed

Not e

however

t hat

t echnol ogi cal nat i onal i sm

onl y

def i nes

Canadi an

i deal s

and

opi ni on by

vi r t ue

of

t hei r not

bei ng f r om

f or ei gn sour ces

Thi s

i s

si gni f i cant because,

i n

i t s r el uct ance

or

i n b i l i t y

t o art i cul at e

a

posi t i ve

cont ent t o

t he

Canadi an

i dent i t y an

i dent i t y s t i l l t o be

cr eat ed

t echnol ogi cal nat i onal i sm

i s

a

fo rm of l i ber al i sm

pr i vi l egi ng

t he pr ocess of

communi cat i on over

t he

subst ance of

what

i s

communi cat ed

Consequent l y, i f

r adi o were t o

br i ng

f o r t h a nat i on by

pr ovi di ng

a common

nat i onal

exper i ence, t hat

exper i ence

woul d

be

one of communi cat i on of

sheer medi at i on

Thi s

i s t he f i r s t

cont r adi ct i on

of

t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm The

cont ent

of

t he

Canadi an

i dent i t y woul d be

but t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm

i t s e l f

O t awa

di d not ,

of

cour se,

per m t

a

great

deal

of pr ovi nci al

aut onomy i n

br oadcast i ng

Nor

di d i t

ul t i mat el y,

est abl i sh a st at e

monopol y The 1929

Depr essi on began

weeks

af t er

t he Ai r d Repor t s

publ i cat i on and

t he

gov-

er nment

t ur ned

t o mor e

ur gent mat t er s

Meanwhi l e

sever al

pr ovi nces,

l ed

by

Quebec, chal l enged

Ot t awa s j ur i sdi ct i on over

br oadcast i ng i n

t he

cour t s

206

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TE HNOLOGI L

N TI ON LI SM

Thi s

del ayed

t he i mpl ement at i on

of a

Canadi an r adi o

pol i cy

Canada s

Supr eme

cour t

uphel d

O t awa s

j ur i sdi ct i onal

cl ai m

i n

1931

The

Br i t i sh

Pr i vy

Counci l r ej ect ed Quebec s

appeal

of

t hat r ul i ng

i n 1932

Onl y t hen

di d

O t awa

act

Pr i me M ni st er Bennet t ,

who

consi der ed

r adi o

a

most ef f ect i ve i nst ru-

ment

f or nat i on

bui l di ng, est abl i shed

i n 1932

speci al

comm t t ee

of

t he

House of

Commons

t o

exam ne

br oadcast i ng

and dr af t appr opr i at e l egi sl a

t i o n

z

The 1932 report echoed bot h t he

r het or i c

and t he

r ecommendat i ons

of

t he

Ai r d

Comm ssi on Mor e st r ongl y

t han bef or e,

r adi o was pr esent ed

as

hei r

t o t he

r ai l r oad s

m ssi on Thus, t he chai rman of t he 1932 Par l i ament ar y

comm t t ee,

Dr

Raymond

Mor an

asser t ed

Had

t he

f a t he r s

of Conf eder at i on been

abl e

t o

add

t h i s means of

communi cat i on t o

t he

r i bbons of

st eel

by whi ch t hey endeavor ed t o

bi nd

Canada

i n

an econom c whol e, t hey woul d have

accompl i shed

great

deal

mor e

t han

t hey

di d

gr eat even as

t hei r achi evement

was

The

comm t t ee

r eal i zed

t hat

nat i onal

r adi o

ser v i ce

l i k e

nat i onal

r a i l

ser v i ce

woul d not devel op

w t hout

s t a t e di r ect i on

and

capi t al

The

Canadi an

cul t ur e

and

uni t y

sought a f t e r woul d not spr i ng

f r om

unbr i dl ed

commer ce

but

woul d

have t o spr i ng

f r om t he s t a t e

i t s e l f

Thus t he comm t t ee, l i nki ng

r adi o t o

r ai l r oad

cal l ed f or t he

cr eat i on

of a r adi o commssi on empower ed

t o

nat i onal i ze

pr i vat e br oadcast i ng st at i ons

The

hoped- f or r esul t

woul d

be

uni t ed Canada TheCommons comm t t ee s report l ed t o t he 1932 Radi o

Br oadcast i ng

Bi l l

That

b i l l

was i nt r oduced t o

t he

House

by

Pr i me

M ni st er

Bennet t s

he

pr esent ed t he l egi sl at i on he char ged r adi o wi t h t he

t ask

of

cr eat i ng nat i onal uni t y

and

ser vi ng

t he

Empi r e

Radi o,

l i k e

t he

CPR

woul d

permt a

t echnol ogi cal l y medi at ed s t a t e

and

nat i on

Wt hout such ( Canadi an) cont r ol r adi o br oadcast i ng can never

become

great agency f or t hecommuni cat i on of mat t er s of

nat i onal

concern and f or

t he

di f f usi on

of

nat i onal t hought and i deal s and

w t hout

such

cont r ol

i t can never

be

t he agency

by

whi ch

nat i onal

consci ousness may

be

f os t er ed and sust ai ned and nat i onal

uni t y

s t i l l

f ur t her

st r engt hened Fur t her more,

r adi o br oadcast i ng, con-

t r o l l e d and oper at ed i n t hi s

way,

can ser ve

s

a dependabl e l i n k

i n

a

chai n

of empi r e communi cat i ons by whi ch

wemay

be mor e

cl osel y

uni t ed one

w t h

t he ot her

Bennet t s

r het or i c appr opr i at ed

f or O t awa

t he r i ght

t o

creat e

a

consci ous-

ness

Cer t ai nl y, hi s

di scour se i s

appar ent l y

l i b e r a l f or

i t

pr esumes

t hat

7

7/24/2019 Charland - Technological Nationalism

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MAURI CE

CHARLAND

nat i onal concer ns

and

t hought s

pr e- exi st

r adi o and need

onl y t o

be com

muni cat ed

and

di f f used

However

Bennet t s address

al so

r eveal s

t hat

w t hout t he

common

denomnat or s

of r adi o

and

s ta t e

t her e woul d be

no

nat i on,

f or

i t i s

a

nat i on dependent upon t echnol ogy

t o be cr eat ed

and

sust ai ned

Radi o was

t o be a

means of soci al i zat i on, di f f usi ng

t he

i deal of t he

nat i on

t o

be const r uct ed, t he

i deal of

communi cat i on I n ot her

wor ds,

t he

pr ocess of

communi cat i on woul d

l egi t i mat e

t he state

and

t he (Br i t i sh)

empi r e

whose power

t

ext ended

The

Cont r adi c t i ons

of

Econom c and Cul t ur al

Communi cat i on

Canada di d

not

end up wi t h t he exact br oadcast i ng

syst em

t hese r epor t s

envi saged, of

cour se,

f or

t he abst r act pr i nci pl es

of

pol i cy ar e

not easi l y

r eal i zed

I n

par t i cul ar ,

t he devel opment

of bot h

communi cat i on

and

t r ans-

por t at i on

i nf r ast r uct ur es are based on

t echnol ogi es and econom c

f or ces

whi ch

exi st

somewhat aut onomousl y f r om

t he state

I ndeed,

f r om t he

out set ,

r adi o

of f er ed l i t t l e

pr omse

of cr eat i ng or

st r engt heni ng

t he Cana-

di an

state

or nat i on

si nce

Amer i can

si gnal s

penet r at ed Canada s

bor der s

f ar

mor e

easi l y t han st eel r a i l s

By 1930,

Canadi ans wer emor e l i k e l y t o

r ecei ve

Amer i can t han

Canadi an

si gnal s

near l y al l

Canadi ans

were wi t hi n

r each of

an Amer i can st at i on

whi l e onl y 6

coul d

r ecei ve

a si gnal

or i gi nat i ng i n

Canada

32 Fur t her mor e,

Amer i can-made

pr ogr ams wer e very

popul ar

among

Canadi ans

At

l east 50 of

Canadi an

l i st eni ng t i me

was

devot ed

t o

Uni t ed

St at es

pr ogramm ng

33

Whi l e t he CNR at

t hat

t i me oper at ed a

nat i onal net wor k

ser vi ce

al bei t

of

l i m t ed

scope) ,

i t

coul d

not

compet e wi t h

Amer i can

pr ogr ams, be t hey di st r i but ed

i n Canada

by

Canadi an

st at i ons

or

by

power f ul

st at i ons

based

i n

t he

Uni t ed

St at es

I n

consequence,

Margar et

Pr ang

poi nt s

out , as

I

obser ved

above,

t hat Canadi an br oadcast i ng pol i cy has

been

char act er i zed by def ensi ve

expansi oni sm

I t

has been

sensi t i ve t o

Amer i can

expansi on, and

has

cal l ed

f or

a

concer t ed

st at e ef f or t t o

use

t echnol ogy

bot h as a

form

of

def ense

and

as a means of

est abl i shi ng

Canadi an hegemony

over

i t s

t e r r i t o r y

Canada

had

secured

i t s

west er n

t e r r i t o r y

t hr ough

space- bi ndi ng

t echnol ogy

;

i t

had

not ,

however

secur ed i t s

cul t ur al t er r i t or y

Thus

t he Canadi an Radi o Br oadcast i ng

Commssi on

and

i t s successor ,

t he

CBC wer e

i nst i t ut ed

t o

occupy and def end

Canada s et her

and

consci ousness

33

Whi l e var i ous

gover nment s i n O t awa coul d

rhet or i cal l y

cal l f or a

t echno-

l o g i c a l l y medi at ed

nat i on,

t hey

were

i n no

way

assur ed of success, especi al l y

si nce r adi o,

l i k e

r a i l an

ext ensi on

of

an

economc

syst em

domnat ed by

Amer i can

capi t al

I n spi t e of

Pr ang s

def ensi ve

expansi oni sm

and t he

consci ent i ous

wor k

of

br oadcast er s at t he

CRBC

and

CBC angl ophone

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TE HNOLOGI L

N TI ON LI SM

Canada

f ound i t s e l f saddl ed

wi t h a model of

br oadcast i ng

as ent er t ai nment

l ar gel y

devel oped

out si de

of

t he

count r y,

and

wi t h

a

t i met abl e

f or

i t s

devel opment

over

whi ch

O t awa had l i t t l e

cont r ol

Canada

was

t he

subj ect

of

what Boyd- Bar r et t

t er ms

medi a

[ as opposed

t o

cul t ur al ] i mper i al i sm

And

of

cour se, bot h of t hese coul d

onl y

be

count er ed t hr ough

maj or

gover nment

expendi t ur es

Technol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm

t hus

encount er ed

i t s

const r ai nt

I n

passi ng t he

1932

Radi o

Br oadcast i ng Bi l l Par l i ament sought

t o

empower

t he di scour se

of

t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm

However ,

whi l e

t a l k

may

be cheap,

i t s

t r ansm ssi on

by

r adi o

i s

not andPar l i ament

was ul t i mat el y

unw l l i ng

t o

advance

t he

f unds

necessar y f or

t he new

r adi o

s er v i c e t he

Canadi an Radi o

Br oadcast i ng

Comm ssi on

( CRBC) ,

t o

nat i onal i ze exi st i ng

st at i ons

or est abl i sh many new f a c i l i t i e s

35

The

f eder al

gover nment under

John

MacDonal d s l eader shi p, had

been

w l l i ng t o

subsi di ze t he

CPR,

but

t hat pr oj ect

ul t i mat el y

woul d

promot e

Canadi an commer ce

and

t he

Cana

di an

accumul at i on

of capi t al

St at e r adi o on t he

ot her hand,

of f er ed

no

f i nanci al benef i t s

On

t he cont r ar y, state r adi o

woul d

al ways

be

a dr ai n

on

t he publ i c

pur se, par t i cul ar l y i f i t

wer e t o avoi d

commer ci al i zat i on

and

seek

t o upl i f t

i t s

audi ence, r at her

t han

t r ansm t

popul ar ( and

pr edom nant l y

Amer i can) pr ogr ammes

We

see her e a

f undament al

di f f er ence

bet ween t he

rai l road

and

r adi o

Whi l e

bot h wer e

and

ar e cal l ed

upon

t o hel p

creat e

a

nat i on, t he

r ai l r oad s

nat i on

i s

econom c, whi l e

r adi o s i s c ul t ur al and

i deol ogi cal

That t he

PR

woul d carry Amer i can

goods, or

t hat i t s Canadi an

car go

woul d

be

undi s-

t i ngui shabl e f r omAmer i can

f r ei ght

was uni mpor t ant

Canadi an

commer ce

coul d

be i dent i cal

i n

cont ent

t o

i t s

Amer i can count er par t

and

r emai n

Canadi an

Conver sel y, r adi o

i s

not

acommon car r i er

and i s

t hus

qui t e

unl i ke

r a i l

ser vi ce

I f

r adi o

wer e

t r eat ed

as a

common

car r i er l i ke

t he

r ai l r o ad

i t s

cont ent

woul d be

i r r el evant Radi o

woul d

be

successf ul i f i t wer e pr of i t abl e

However ,

r adi o

i s Canadi an

by

i t s cont ent , and

i s

t hus qui t e unl i ke t he

PR

Canadi an

r adi o

must creat e i t s own

f rei ght ,

and f i n d

a mar ket

f or

i t

as wel l

However , bef or e

Canadi an

r adi o

had

devel oped

i n t o

a

mat ur e

f o rm t he

nat ur e of

demand

i n

t he

r adi o

mar ket had al r eady

been const i t ut ed

by

t he

di st r i but i on

of Amer i can

pr ogr ammes Consequent l y,

Canadi an

r adi o,

unl i ke

Canadi an

r a i l coul d

be ei t her

prof i t abl e or

Canadi an, not

bot h

We

see

her e t hen

t he second

cont r adi ct i on

of

t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm

i t

i dent i f i es a

medi um

ul t i mat el y

based upon a f or ei gn economc

and

pr o-

gr amm ng

l ogi c as

t he

s i t e f or

Canada s cul t ur al const r uct i on

The

CRBC s mai n

f a i l u r e

was

i t s

i n a b i l i t y

t o compet e successf ul l y

w t h

commer ci al

br oadcast er s

and so t r ansf or m

t he

ai r waves i nt o a medi um

f ost er i ng nat i onhood

Thi s

f a i l u r e

was

not uni que

t o

t he

CRBC, but i s

endemc t o

Canadi an

br oadcast i ng s hi st or y

The Canadi an

Br oadcast i ng

209

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MAURI CE

CH RL ND

Cor por at i on,

est abl i shed t o

succeed t he

CR C

i n

1936, f aced t he same

di l emma

Fr om

i t s

cr eat i on

unt i l

t he advent

of

t el evi si on

i n

Canada

i n

1952,

t he

CBC di d, t o a

degr ee,

of f set

t he i nf l uence

of

Amer i can

br oadcast i ng

i n

Canada

Cer t ai nl y,

w t hout

st at e- sponsor ed

r adi o,

t he ai r waves

i n Canada

woul d have

become

but

anot her mar ket f or

Amer i can

net wor ks

I n

par t i cu-

l a r , t he

CBC

di d

of f er t o

Canadi ans

a common

exper i ence and i t s

popul ar i t y

i ncr eased dur i ng

t he second

wor l d war , as

Canadi ans

sought i nf or mat i on on

Canada s

war ef for t

Never t hel ess, Amer i can progr amm ng

r emai nedpop-

ul ar

i n Canada

Tor ont oand

Mont r eal hadUS net wor k

a f f i l i a t e s ,

and

t he

CBC s

most

popul ar

pr ogr amme

wer e

Amer i can pr oduct i ons such

as

Fi bber McGee

and

Mol l y

and Edgar Ber gen and

Char l i e

McCar t hy

36

Communi cat i on

t echnol ogy, her al ded as

t he means

of pr omot i ng Cana-

di an st at ehood

and nat i onhood, par adoxi cal l y

of f er ed t hose i n Canada a

common nat i onal

exper i ence whi ch i ncl uded

cul t ur al commodi t i es f r om

t he Uni t edSt at es Thi s

phenomenon was

i nt ensi f i ed

w t h

t he devel opment

of mor e

sophi st i cat ed

and

expensi ve medi a

New

medi a,

as

t hey

accel er at ed

t he

bi ndi ng of space and

t he

r i s e of

empi r e, i ncr easi ngl y

dr ew

Canada i nt o

t he Amer i can

cul t ur al syst em Thus,

when CBC

t el evi si on

was bor n

i n

1952,

t her e

wer e

al r eady

146, 000

r ecei vi ng

set s i n Canada

w t h ant ennae poi nt i ng

sout h.

Tel evi si on

as a

medi um wi t h expensi ve genr es

of progr amm ng

st yl es of

pr oduct i on,

and a st ar

syst em was

al r eady devel opi ng

i n t he Uni t ed

St at es

Canadi an t el evi si on

coul d scar cel y compet e Onl y

t he

CBC s

monop-

ol y

over

Canadi an

TV

net wor k

progr amm ngand

t he

s t i l l poor

penet r at i on

of cabl e t el evi si on

pr eser ved a Canadi an pr esence

on Canadi an scr eens

Thus, t he 1957

Royal Comm ssi onon

Br oadcast i ng

obser ved t hat Canadi an

t el evi si on coul d not be

Canadi an and t u r n a

p r o f i t , and

r easser t ed t he

s ta te s

r ol e i n const r uct i ng a

nat i onal

i dent i t y

The choi ce

i s

bet ween

a Canadi an s t a t e - c ont r ol l ed

syst em w t h

some

f l ow

of pr ogr ams east

and

west

across

Canada,

w t h

some

Canadi an cont ent and

t he

devel opment

of a Canadi an sense of

i dent i t y, at

a

subst ant i al

publ i c

cost ,

and a pr i vat el y

owned

syst em

whi ch

f or ces of econom cs

w l l

necessar i l y

make

pr edom nant l y

dependent on Amer i can

r adi o

and

t el evi si on pr ogr ammes

As i n pr evi ous

decades,

t he t hr eat

of Amer i can

expansi on i s

pr esent ed

as

war r ant i ng state

act i on

And as i n

t he

past , t h i s

1957

report

ar t i cul at es

t he

i mper at i ve of

t echnol ogi cal nat i onal i sm

I t l i kens br oadcast i ng

t o

t heCPR

as i t af f i r ms

t hat

t he

bui l di ng

of

t he

f i r s t Canadi an

r ai l way was

onl y t he

f i r s t of many

devi ces t o

pul l

t oget her

i n t o

a nat i on t he

vast

expanse of

Canadi an

t er r i t or y

39

I t t hen asser t s

t hat

w t hout publ i c

expendi t ur es, a

Canadi an

nat i on coul d not exi st

Wt hi n t he l ogi c of a

t echnol ogi cal l y

210

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TECHNOLOGI CAL

NATI ONALI SM

medi at ed

nat i on,

t he comm t t ee s obser vat i ons ar e, of cour se, t r ue

Mor e

si gni f i c nt l y

as

an

ar gument at i ve

j u s t i f i c t i o n

f or a

publ i c

pol i cy

of

nat i on-

bui l di ng, t hei r i mpor t

i s

r het or i cal The

need

t o suppor t Canadi an t el evi si on

i s based

upon a

vi si on

of t echnol ogy as a means of cr eat i ng

and

mai nt ai ni ng

a

nat i on at

wi l l

Si gni f i cant l y,

t h i s r het or i c sees

a

Canadi an

nat i on

and

i dent i t y

as

exeget i c

of

t he state i t s e l f

N net y

year s af t er Canada s

p o l i t i c l

const i t ut i on,

a

nat i onal i dent i t y

i s st i l l

so ephemer al t hat

t he s t t e and i t s

agenci es, f eel compel l ed

t o

creat e i t

Technol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm r ef uses

t o

consi der

t hat

Canada

i s not

a nat i on but a s t t e

and

t hat Canadi an

cul t ur es

coul d exi st

out si de

of t hei r

t echnol ogi cal

medi at i on

Canadi an

t el evi si on i ni t i l l y

of f er ed

a var i ed

menu

whi ch

i ncl uded

many

hi gh qual i t y

pr ogr ammes The CBC s

schedul e was marked by

accl ai med

dr amas,

musi cal

pr ogr ammes,

and

document ar i es

4 However ,

as

t el evi si on

mat ur ed,

i ncr easi ngl y

f i l ed

t o

creat e t he nat i on t hat t he r het or i c

of

t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm

envi saged As ear l y

as 1956, onl y

5

of pr o-

gr amm ng

on

CBC Engl i sh- l anguage t el evi si on was of Canadi an or i gi n

41

The

CBC, i n or der t o

f i l l i t s schedul e,

r ai se adver t i si ng r evenue,

and

r espond

t o vi ewer demand,

of f er ed

what

i t

consi der ed t o

be

t he

best

of

US

pr ogr am

m ng

W i t i ng

t he

r esear ch r epor t

f or

t he

1957

Royal

Commssi on,

Dal l as

Smyt he wonder ed whet her t he

CBC

was not i t s own wor st enemy,

of f er i ng t he

best i n

US

pr ogr ammes

and

so ar ousi ng a desi r e

f or

mor e of

t hem

42

The econom cs

of

t he

t echnol ogy

whose

m ssi on

was

t o

consol i -

dat e

Canadi an

uni t y

pe rm t t ed t he di f f usi on

of

Amer i can

cul t ur e

i n t o

Canada

Fur t her mor e,

as t el evi si on expanded i n Canada,

t he

number

of

hour s

of

Amer i can pr oduct i ons vi ewed on Canadi an scr eens st eadi l y

i ncr eased

I n par t i cul ar , as t el evi si on devel oped,

i t i ncr easi ngl y of f er ed t he

pot ent i al f or

prof i t

Thus, pr i vat e

i nt er est s

wer e anxi ous

t o gai n access t o

Canada s

maj or

mar ket s

and

compet e

wi t h

CBC

st at i ons

I n 1958,

a new

br oadcast i ng act r emoved f r om

t he

CBC

t he

power

t o

r egul at e

br oadcast i ng

and est abl i shed a

new agency f or

t hat

pur pose

I n

1961,

t he Boar d

of

Br oadcast Gover nor s BBG) , yi el ded

t o

busi ness

and

vi ewer demand and l i censed second- t el evi si on ser vi ces

i n Mont r eal ,

Tor ont o, Vancouver ,

Cal gar y, Wnni peg, and

Hal i f ax

43

The cr eat i on of t he

CTV t el evi si on

net wor k i ncr eased Canadi an vi ewer

choi ce,

and

so

f ur t her

ext ended

US

t el evi si on

i n t o

Canada I n r et r ospect , t heBBG s deci si on

mght

seem t o

have been

i l l -advi sed

Cer t ai nl y,

i t di d

not

promot e

Canadi an

uni t y

and i dent i t y

s br oadcast i ng

was char ged

t o

do However , t he t echnol ogi cal

i mper at i ve

i s not

t he excl usi ve pr oper t y of t he state

The t echnol ogi cal

and

econom c

possi bi l i t y of of f er i ng a

second

t el evi si on

ser vi ce

t o Canada begat

a

desi r e

f or i t bot h

among an

audi ence

mesmer i zed

by

t el evi si on s

del i ght s

and

ent r epr eneur s

eager t o t u r n a

prof i t Tel evi si on,

as

a

key

vehi cl e of

consumer cul t ur e, gave

r i s e

t o a desi r e f or i t s e l f

7/24/2019 Charland - Technological Nationalism

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MAURI CECH RL ND

The BBG

whi l e

pr esi di ng over t he

Amer i cani zat i on of Canadi an

ai r waves, coul d

onl y

echo

f a i n t l y

t he

r het or i c

of

t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm

and pr omul gat e a ser i es of

i nef f ect i ve

Canadi an progr amm ng cont ent

r egul at i ons

Needl ess t o say except

f or

news,

publ i c af f ai r s and hockey,

Canadi ans

pr ef er r ed progr ams pr oduced by

t he

Amer i can medi a empi r e

Canadi an

br oadcast t echnol ogy

had

become

pr i mar i l y a channel f or Amer i -

can cul t ur al

pr oduct s

Tel evi si on

was

i ncreasi ngl y

l i k e a

r ai l r oad,

f or

i t was

pr i mar i l y a

del i ver y

syst em

f or

st andar di zed commodi t i es

pr oduced

i n

t he

Uni t ed

St at es

Fur t her mor e,

t el evi si on s t endency t o

i nt egr at e

Canada

i n t o

t he

cul t ur al syst em of

t he

Uni t ed

St at es

was

accel er at ed

by

t he cabl i ng

of

Canadi an c i t i e s

Cabl e t el evi si on r ender ed

t he

i dea of a

Canadi an

medi at ed

cul t ur e

near l y

obsol et e

By

1976, cl ose

t o 50 of Canadi an

homes

wer e ser ved by cabl e and 7 9

of Canadi an

Engl i sh vi ewi ng

t i me was

devot ed

t o

pr ogr ammes of

f or ei gn

or i gi n

44 Thi s was,

i n f a c t

not ed

by t he

BBG s

successor ,

t he

Canadi an

Radi o

Tel evi si on

Comm ssi on

( CRTC) ,

whi ch

asser t ed we now

have i n pl ace a

di st r i but i on

syst em

mor e

ef f ect i vel y or i ent ed t o t he devel opment

and d i s t r i -

but i on

of mor e

f or ei gn

progr amm ng t han t o

t he

cr eat i on and

evol ut i on

of

di st i nct l y

Canadi an

works

45

Cl ear l y

space- bi ndi ng

t echnol ogy

has

not

pe rm t t ed

t he

devel opment

of an aut hent i c

Canadi an cul t ur e,

shar ed

by

t he

maj or i t y of Canadi ans,

whi ch i s aut onomous

f r om

Amer i can cul t ur e

Com-

muni cat i on t echnol ogy

has

per haps of f er ed Canadi ans

a shar ed

exper i ence,

but

onl y as i t

has

al so

i ncl uded t hem

i n

t he

Amer i can cul t ur al

mar ket

I f

r egi onal i sm

has

been sof t ened by

t echnol ogy, t he i dent i t y

or

cul t ur e f ost er ed

i s

har dl y a di st i nct i ve

Canadi an

one

Fur t her mor e,

i t coul d be

ar gued,

as does

Ber nard

Ost r y,

t hat ef f or t s by

O t awa t o devel op cul t ur al

uni t y have f uel ed

demands i n Canada f or r egi onal

aut onomy 6 I n t he

f ace

of

a di scour se of

nat i on- bui l di ng,

a

t u r n

away

f r oma

t echnol ogi zed

cul t ur e

i n

t he

i mage

of

t he f eder al state woul d

har dl y be sur pr i si ng

Never t hel ess, f eder al

pol i cy-maker s cont i nue

t o

dr eam

a nat i on and

rhet or i cal l y asser t

t he l egi t i macy

of t hei r

e f fo r t s t hr ough t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm

For

exampl e, i n 1977 CBCpr esi dent

. W

Johnson announced

t he cor por at i on s

pl an

t o

Canadi ani ze i t s

progr amm ng

He

char act er i zed

t he

Amer i can

cul t ur al onsl aught

as

r ape

and

l i kened

t oday s C C t o

Conf eder at i on s

CPR

Our

f or ef at her s

wer e pr epar ed t o pay

t he pr em umas

t hey

sup-

por t ed

John A MacDonal d

w t h

hi s

and our

nat i onal dr eam

They

pai d

t he pr em umbui l di ng

East - West communi cat i on l i n k s

whi ch

have been t he l i f e- gi vi ng

ar t er i es of

our nat i on

f r om t he t i me of

t he

voyageur s, t heHudson

Bay

t r apper s

and

VanHorne

t o t h e

cont em

por ar y connect i ve

ser i es of r ai l r oads t el ephones,

ai r l i nes pi pel i nes

212

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TE HNOLOGI L

N TI ON LI SM

r adi o and

t el evi si on

W t hout t hese East - West l i n k s

Canada

woul d

not

sur v i ve

f or ef f ect i ve

communi cat i ons

and

t r anspor t at i on

sys-

t ems ar e f ar mor e si gni f i cant f act or s i n t he

ex i s t ence

of

Canada

as

a pol i t i cal and

soci al

e n t i t y

t han

f or any ot her

nat i on

on

ear t h

8

Johnson her e

depi ct s

Canada as a

t echnol ogi cal l y

const i t ut ed

soci et y

Wt hout t echnol ogy,

t her e woul d

be no

Canada

I ndeed, Canada does

not

emer ge

out

of

t he

l and,

but out

of i t s conquest by t echnol ogy

and pol i t i cal

wi l l And f or

Johnson, t echnol ogy and

pol i t i cal

w l l

must agai n,

as

al ways,

count er

t he Amer i can t hr eat

The

Cont r adi c t i ons of Cul t ur e

and Technol ogy

Whi l e,

cer t ai nl y,

t he

Canadi an econom c state

depends

upon t echnol ogy,

we

shoul d quest i on whet her t echnol ogy const i t ut es or r egener at es a

Cana

di an cul t ur e

Technol ogi cal nat i onal i sm

of fers

Canadi ans a common

exper i -

ence of

si gns and i nf or mat i on

i n whi ch

cul t ur e i s di sembodi ed

Thus,

t echnol ogy promot es a cul t ur al exper i ence

whi ch i s

not grounded i n a

r egi on or

t radi t i on,

par t i cul ar l y

i f i t i s

i n

t he

ser vi ce

of

some nat i onal

i nt er est

Because t he state

i t s e l f

i s

t he basi s of a

Canadi an

commonal i t y, i t s

nat i onal consci ousness

woul d

be

t he

pr oduct of a

bur eaucrat i c

cul t ur al

appar at us Once

a

cul t ur e i s associ at ed

wi t h t el evi si on, and

t echnol ogy

gener al l y, t he

nat ur e

of t he Amer i can subor di nat i on becomes cl ear

Amer i

can cul t ur e

or

what s t he same : i nt ense commodi f i cat i on) i s i mposi ng

i t s e l f

onCanada t hr ough t he very

t echnol ogi es

whi ch

shoul d be const i t ut i ve

of

t he Canadi an

exper i ence

and essence Fur t her mor e,

Amer i ca s pr esence

on

Canadi an scr eens i s

a

cur i ous f or m

of

subor di nat i on,

f or

Canadi ans enj oy

Amer i can

cul t ur al

pr oduct s,

even

whi l e

r ecogni zi ng

t he

cul t ur al

i nvasi on,

or what ,

i n

br oadcast i ndust r y j ar gon, i s r ef er r ed

t o as

mar ket penet r at i on

I t seems,

t hen, mor e

accur at e

t o say

t hat

Canadi ans ar e

bei ng

seduced

by

Amer i can cul t ur al

commodi t i es

desi gned f or a t echnol ogy capabl e of

e l i c i t -

i ng desi r e

9

Thi s poi nt s t o t he t h i r d cont r adi ct i on of t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal -

i sm The medi at ed

cul t ur e

whi ch i s

i mper at i ve t o

Canadi an

st at ehood has

w t hi n i t s

l ogi c

t he

seduct i on of

t echnol ogy

i t s e l f

5 Amer i can t el evi si on

expl oi t s

t he

seduct i veness of

t he

t echnol ogi cal

exper i ence

Even

i n

t he i deal wor l d

of

Canadi an t el evi si on envi si oned by t he CBC t he

Canadi an

exper i ence

woul d

r emai n an

exper i ence of t echnol ogy, of

t he

s t at e

and

of power

I n

i t s

1978

subm ssi on

t o

t he CRTC t he

CBC asser t s

t hat

Canada s shar ed exper i ence

i ncl udes

Paul Hender son s 1972

w nni ng

goal

f or

Team

Canada

agai nst

t he USSR t he

t el evi sed dr ama of

t he

Mont

real

O ympi cs,

and Pet er Kent s r epor t i ng

of

f ederal el ect i on

r esul t s

Not e

t hat

each of t hese moment s of exper i ence

ar e medi a

event s wher e

nat i onal i dent i t y i s i nscr i bed

i n a myt hos of

power , and wher e

o f f i c i a l state

21

3

7/24/2019 Charland - Technological Nationalism

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M URI CE

CH RL ND

cul t ur e

i s

cel ebr at ed

Each of

t hese

el ement s of our

nat i onal

exper i ence

exi st s

pr eci sel y

as

an

absence

of

a

non- t echnol ogi zed

commonal i t y

The

Canadi an i magi nat i on, accor di ng t o t echnol ogi cal

nat i onal i sm i s

a

t echno-

l ogi cal l y

medi at ed one whi ch

der i ves

f r om

t he

state and

i s

i n

opposi t i on t o

nat ur e as wel l as r egi onal i sm But , i n t he

f ace

of t he Amer i can pr esence

and

r egi onal

cul t ur es

t r adi t i ons, and

hi st or y t he di scour se

of

t he

Canadi an state

and

i t s

i nst i t ut i ons

can

onl y offer medi at i on i t s e l f as

t he

ground

f or

uni t y,

as

have ear l i er obser ved

Just

as

t he

CPR

woul d

be our nat i onal dr eam

so

t he

C Cwoul dbeour common cul t ur al

ground

Thus, t he

CBCcan asser t

t hat i t s

pur pose

i s

t he creat i on of our

nat i onal

consci ousness

my empha-

si s

z

As i s obvi ous

t o even

t he casual obser ver

of Canadi an

br oadcast i ng,

and

as t heC C

andCRTChave

at

t i mes compl ai ned, el ect r oni c

del i ver y

syst ems

cannot , i n t hemsel ves,

creat e

a cul t ur e

As t he

1956

Royal

Comm ssi on

on

Br oadcast i ng

obser ved,

what

i s

i mpor t ant

i s

t he progr amm ng I n or der t o

gi ve r i s e

t o a Canadi an

i dent i t y

communi cat i on t echnol ogi es must carry

Canadi anpr oduct s

However ,

t o

si mpl y

ber at e

Par l i ament

f or

i t s

unw l l i ng-

ness t o bet t er f und Canadi an

t el evi si on,

t o c r i t i c i z e commer ci al

i nt er est s f or

t hei r

unw l l i ngness

t o

sacr i f i ce

prof i t

f or

t he

sake

of a

nat i onal

cul t ur e,

or

t o