Why_Nothing_Works

黄骏

December 17 ,2011

Why Nothing Works

Marvin Harris introduces the Murphy’s Law that if anything can go wrong, it will. The Murphy’s Law suggests clues to the shoddy goods problems which mean the products would fail to be used if it will be. In order to postpone its effects on the products, not only the intelligence , skills, and commitment are demanded , but also the special quality-control instruments are needed to maintenance.Therefore ,although the technology advanced , the quality of the technology demands more human inputs rather than the advanced technology .

Marvin suggests us to visit the museum which displays the artifacts of primitive to prove that the artifacts of primitive cultures so reliable in quality.That makes us believe that quality is not dependent on technology. We can find the reason from the Pomo Indian basket and the Eskimo skin boat to prove that it is exactly the factor of human commitment, rather than the technological advancement, that guarantees the reliability of products. The reason we honor the label “handmade” in because it evokes a social relationship between producer and consumer. Throughout prehistory such kind of relationship guaranteed the highest degree of reliability and durability in manufactured items. Later, although many items were obtained through barter and trade, the connection between producer and consumer remained intimate.

However , it is very hard for people to care about strangers or about products to be used by strangers. The alienated relationship between the comsumer and producter make the quality become a serious problem in the era of industrial mass production and mass marketing . Not only the comsumer and producter alienate each other ,but also the colleagues in the same factory . The larger the company and the greater the sum of uncaring relationship is, the greater effects by the Murphy’s Law.And this is the fundamental reason of shoddy goods in the modern industrialized society.