Reviewed by:

• Bored, Lonely, Angry, Stupid: Changing Feelings About Technology, From the Telegraph to Twitter by Luke Fernandez and Susan J. Matt
• Martina Hessler (bio)

The history of emotions is not an established field of research within the history of technology. Even though groundbreaking works have analyzed emotions toward technology, such as David Nye's American Technological Sublime (MIT Press, 1996) or Spencer Weart's Nuclear Fear (Harvard University Press, 2009), this is a rare focus. However, Luke Fernandez and Susan Matt's book demonstrates what a promising field of research this can be.

Their starting point is observing a new American emotional style in the digital age. The authors refer to common contemporary statements about digital media, such as Facebook adding to loneliness or social media encouraging [End Page 1222] narcissism. They juxtapose such statements with a historical study that traces the changes in emotions since the eighteenth century. In doing so, they also demonstrate the importance of a historical contextualization of the digital present.

In six chapters, they offer a thorough analysis of the history of six feelings: narcissism, loneliness, boredom, attention, awe, and anger. The book uses a wide array of sources: nineteenth and twentieth century diaries, letters, memoirs, and advertisements; psychological and sociological studies from the same period; and fifty-five interviews conducted between 2014 and 2018 to capture contemporary self-descriptions of the American emotional world. These interviews represent a small sample with predictable findings, but bring the study to the present day.

In the introduction, the authors briefly outline the state of research in the history of emotions. Further, they refer to the basic consensus of the history of emotions: first, emotions have a history and are changeable; secondly, they are not purely biological, but also culturally shaped. The authors do not mention debates about different approaches, define terms, or provide conceptual considerations on the relationship between technology and emotions, which would have been useful for historians of technology. The aim of the book, however, is to understand a new American emotional style. Briefly and somewhat simplified, the authors summarize their core thesis: "Americans' emotional lives have changed as their society, culture, and technologies have changed. Today many are less humble about themselves and their powers and also less awed by the world around them. They expect constant stimulation, connection, affirmation, and activity, and they are disappointed when these expectations go unmet. This new conception of self breeds a sense of power and also a sense of disappointment" (p. 15). Throughout the book, Fernandez and Matt give voice to different social groups, revealing a variety of norms and experiences of emotions, while effectively describing changes in the broader patterns described in their summary.

Interestingly, Fernandez and Matt describe the early twentieth century as a time of change for each emotion, with the interplay of all six emotions as central to the thesis of a new American emotional style. Only one chapter can be examined here. In the chapter on loneliness, the authors trace changing norms and experiences in a multifaceted way. People suffered from loneliness in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as well, illustrated by impressive quotes from slaves and workers. However, loneliness was regarded as a part of the human condition; it had to be endured. Loneliness was also considered a divine test, idealized by an individualistic ideology. In the twentieth century, the evaluation of loneliness began to change. It was no longer seen as something to passively endure, but something to actively fight. Around 1900, Lonely Clubs or Less Lonely Leagues emerged in cities. Letters had already been used to maintain social relationships [End Page 1223] from a distance and alleviate feelings of loneliness. Companies advertised radio and telephone as means of combating loneliness. According to the industry's message, loneliness could be fought with technology. In the course of the twentieth century, the negative view of loneliness increased. The term "loner" emerged, and the ability to endure loneliness decreased. Digital media and the Internet were able to tie in seamlessly, and alleviated loneliness...

审核人：

• 无聊，孤独，愤怒，愚蠢：改变对技术的看法，从卢克·费尔南德斯（Luke Fernandez）和苏珊·马特（Susan J. Matt）从电报到推特
• 玛蒂娜·赫斯勒（Martina Hessler）（生物）

情感史不是技术史内的既定研究领域。即使具有开创性的作品已经分析了对技术的情感，例如戴维·奈（David Nye）的《美国技术崇高》（MIT Press，1996）或斯宾塞·韦尔特（Spencer Weart）的《核恐惧》（Harvard University Press，2009），但很少有人关注。但是，卢克·费尔南德斯（Luke Fernandez）和苏珊·马特（Susan Matt）的书证明了这是一个有希望的研究领域。

他们的出发点是观察数字时代新的美国情感风格。作者参考了当今关于数字媒体的常见声明，例如Facebook增加了孤独感或鼓励[End Page 1222]自恋的社交媒体。他们通过追溯18世纪以来情绪变化的历史研究将这些陈述并列在一起。通过这样做，他们还证明了数字化礼物的历史情境化的重要性。

在六章中，他们对六种感觉的历史进行了彻底的分析：自恋，孤独，无聊，注意力，敬畏和愤怒。本书使用了多种资源：19世纪和20世纪的日记，信件，回忆录和广告；同期的心理学和社会学研究；在2014年至2018年之间进行了55次访谈，以捕捉当代对美国情感世界的自我描述。这些访谈代表了一个具有可预测结果的小样本，但将研究带到了今天。

在引言中，作者简要概述了情感史的研究现状。此外，它们指的是情感史的基本共识：首先，情感具有历史并可以改变。其次，它们不是纯粹的生物，而是具有文化特征的。作者没有提及有关不同方法的辩论，定义术语或提供有关技术与情感之间关系的概念性考虑，这些对技术史学家而言将是有用的。但是，这本书的目的是了解一种新的美国情感风格。作者简要概述了他们的核心论点：“美国人的情感生活随着社会，文化和技术的变化而发生了变化。如今，许多人对自己和自己的能力不再那么谦虚，也对周围的世界感到敬畏。他们期望不断的刺激，联系，肯定和活动，而当这些期望得不到满足时，他们会感到失望。这种新的自我观念孕育了一种力量感和一种失望感”（第15页）。在整本书中，费尔南德斯和马特向不同的社会群体表达声音，揭示了各种规范和情感体验，同时有效地描述了总结中描述的更广泛模式的变化。

有趣的是，费尔南德斯和马特将二十世纪初描述为每种情感发生变化的时期，所有六种情感的相互作用是提出一种新的美国情感风格的核心。在这里只能查看一章。在关于孤独的章节中，作者以多方面的方式追踪不断变化的规范和经验。十八和十九世纪，人们也感到孤独，奴隶和工人的引人注目的例子说明了这一点。然而，孤独被视为人类生活的一部分。它必须忍受。孤独感也被认为是一种神圣的考验，被个人主义意识形态理想化了。在二十世纪，对孤独的评价开始发生变化。它不再被看作是被动忍受的东西，而是可以主动战斗的东西。1900年左右，孤独俱乐部或更少孤独联盟出现在城市中。信件已经被用来维持社会关系[结束页1223]远距离缓解了孤独感。公司宣传广播和电话作为对抗孤独感的手段。根据业界的信息，孤独可以与技术抗争。在二十世纪的过程中，对孤独感的否定看法越来越多。出现了“孤独者”一词，忍受孤独的能力下降。数字媒体和互联网能够无缝衔接，减轻了孤独感。