1.) The film compares the work of Magda Escobar, who runs Plugged In, a computer training center for the low income community of East Palo Alto, with that of Raj Jayadev, a union organizer and labor activist in Silicon Valley. What is similar about their work, and what do these similarities say about the social realities of Silicon Valley? How is their work different, and what do these differences say about the fissures within Silicon Valley culture?

2.) One of the main themes in "Secrets of Silicon Valley" is the dilemmas of the temporary worker. Raj Jayadev is an employee of Manpower, one of the world's largest employers. Manpower sends Raj out to assemble printers for Hewlett-Packard, another mega-corporation. This is characteristic of the “flexible work” that Silicon Valley companies prize. In this system, each individual acts in the economy like an independent contractor. As one entrepreneur sees it, “You're the CEO of your own life.” How do you evaluate these claims after watching this film. In what ways does Silicon Valley make it possible for everyone to be the CEO of their own life? In what ways is this just a myth? Who gains and who loses from the “flexibility” of the new economy and the high tech work structure? What roles should organized labor, government, business, community groups, and individuals play in managing and shaping the flexible work economy?

3.) Flexible work is also at the center of the so-called “new economy” that many put at the center of Silicon Valley. In what way is the Silicon Valley economy a “new” economy? In what ways is it the old economy colored in new ways? Use your historical perspective in particular to answer this question. How is the Silicon Valley depicted in the film the same Silicon Valley you have been studying all semester. In what ways is it reflective of new developments? Is the history of Silicon Valley one continuous story, or is it marked by ruptures and radical transformations? Also, why is “newness” so important to Silicon Valley? Could Silicon Valley remain Silicon Valley if it embraced an identity rooted in time-honored traditions? What role has the historical development of Silicon Valley played in producing this outcome?

4.) Magda Escobar is fighting against the so-called “Digital Divide,” the gap that separates those who are wired into the new computer-based information society and those who are not. What are the roots of this divide in your estimation? Can technology overcome these social problems by itself, or does technology simply respond to and reproduce existing social and racial divides? Which is most likely to help most in addressing the Digital Divide: government, business, community organizations, or private individuals? Defend your answer.

5.) Think about Magda Escobar’s efforts to channel the wealth of Silicon Valley toward her cause. Why is her struggle so difficult? What does this difficulty say about the culture of Silicon Valley? What tactics does she employ in her struggle and do you find them appealing or not? How would you compare her efforts with those of Raj Jayadev. Who strikes you as the more effective agent of social change and why?

6.) Consider the story of how Pulled In wins the Sand Hill Road Derby. In what ways is this event a microcosm of Silicon Valley. What does the success of Pulled In and their manner of winning tell you about the energies that actually drive Silicon Valley? Does this story leave you feeling hopeful and positive about Silicon Valley? Why or why not?

7.) Raj Jayadev gets fired from his job at the Hewlett Packard assembly plant after complaining about health and safety problems. In another part of the film, we see computer parts being recycled and melted down to recover some of the valuable metals that went into their production. These episodes illustrate the intensely chemical and highly toxic nature of the modern electronics industry. How does knowing this “secret” of Silicon Valley change your understanding of the place and its history? Has Silicon Valley been a positive development in the environmental history of the region? Who bears primary responsibility for these results: government, business, community groups, or private individuals? How should these problems be addressed in the future, and what will the solutions mean for the future development of Silicon Valley?

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