What I Would Place In A Time 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 alone, computers will

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.