Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Harrison Bergeron
In Harrison Bergeron Kurt Vonnegut makes a society where excellence and acceleration are suppressed and places a physical handicap on everyone to attempt to make an equal society. Harrison Bergeron is the protagonist of the story and has handicaps because he is strong, intelligent, and handsom. He, like his father, wish that there weren't any such thing as handicaps but, unlike his father, Harrison acts upon his feelings. He breaks into a TV station and takes off his handicaps and has a ballerina join him and they dance until they are shot by Diana. Diana see's Harrison as a threat and wants to show people with such ideas what will happen if anyone else tries to pull a move. Vonnegut is satirizing our modern society because we are always trying to avoid racism, sexism, ageism, etc. because everyone wants to become equal to have a sense that they have just as many rights as the person next to them.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Why the future doesn't need us.
1. What kind of dangers does technology have on our future?
2. Do you think our world will be better 50 years from now or do you think it was better back when there wasn't as much technology?
3. What purpose will humans serve if we have robots performing all of our jobs?
4. If humans fuse with robot sand become immortal what will happen to our population?
5. If humans know the possible consquences of developing such robotics why do we still continue to advance?
6. What will all of this technology do to our environment?
7. What purpose would humans serve if robots are doing everything for us?
2. Do you think our world will be better 50 years from now or do you think it was better back when there wasn't as much technology?
3. What purpose will humans serve if we have robots performing all of our jobs?
4. If humans fuse with robot sand become immortal what will happen to our population?
5. If humans know the possible consquences of developing such robotics why do we still continue to advance?
6. What will all of this technology do to our environment?
7. What purpose would humans serve if robots are doing everything for us?
The Ones Who Walk Away
I really enjoyed this piece. In the beggining of the story I knew there was going to be a catch to this utopian society. The entire happiness of this society is dependant on one child that's made their scapegoat. Most people either accept this truth and live knowing what's actually going on, or make the smart choice of leaving the town and never coming back. Although, the ones who leave are just as guilty as the ones who stay and this is because the one's who leave are allowing such a situation to happen instead of attempting to save this child so everyone can learn some moral values. This story makes me question how much of my happiness is dependant on other people and if I could truely be happy if I was entirely independant and could walk away from it.
The Ones Who Walk Away is connected to 1984 in the sense that both of their happiness is fake. In The Ones Who Walk Away the society's 'happiness' is dependant on one child and it devastates and disturbes many people. No one really speaks of this child and truth either, it's something that's in the back of everyone's mind. In 1984 everyone's 'happiness' is dependant on the government and what they can make from it. Also, no one in 1984 can really speak of what's going on as well.
Some literary devices used are; plot twist, symbolism, and tone. Obviously plot twist is used because the narrator is describing this perfect society with no flaws and you know that something has to be wrong with it and that something bad is going to have to happen. The child is used as symbolism because he sybolizes the society's happiness. Tone is used because you can tell that the narrator doesn't believe in this society and says things like " Do you believe? Do you accept the festival, the city, the joy? No? " because he/she knows that such a society would never exist.
5 Questions:
1. How much of your happiness is dependant on other people?
2. Would you walk away from this society or would you stay?
3. How would you end the story?
4. Why does the narrator think that we believe happiness is stupid?
5. Why do people choose to walk away from Omelas?
The Ones Who Walk Away is connected to 1984 in the sense that both of their happiness is fake. In The Ones Who Walk Away the society's 'happiness' is dependant on one child and it devastates and disturbes many people. No one really speaks of this child and truth either, it's something that's in the back of everyone's mind. In 1984 everyone's 'happiness' is dependant on the government and what they can make from it. Also, no one in 1984 can really speak of what's going on as well.
Some literary devices used are; plot twist, symbolism, and tone. Obviously plot twist is used because the narrator is describing this perfect society with no flaws and you know that something has to be wrong with it and that something bad is going to have to happen. The child is used as symbolism because he sybolizes the society's happiness. Tone is used because you can tell that the narrator doesn't believe in this society and says things like " Do you believe? Do you accept the festival, the city, the joy? No? " because he/she knows that such a society would never exist.
5 Questions:
1. How much of your happiness is dependant on other people?
2. Would you walk away from this society or would you stay?
3. How would you end the story?
4. Why does the narrator think that we believe happiness is stupid?
5. Why do people choose to walk away from Omelas?
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Goal
Top 3 Colleges:
1. Wayne State
2. Detroit Mercy
3. Michigan State
GPA Goal:
Since I messed up my GPA last year I would like to raise it back up to somewhere around a 3.0.
A.P. English Goal:
4-5
Person:
Hopefully you, Mr. Hughes.
1. Wayne State
2. Detroit Mercy
3. Michigan State
GPA Goal:
Since I messed up my GPA last year I would like to raise it back up to somewhere around a 3.0.
A.P. English Goal:
4-5
Person:
Hopefully you, Mr. Hughes.
"Robot Dreams"
What similarities does this piece have with 1984? Differences? What might George Orwell say to Isaac Asimov if there were to have dinner together? On what issues would they agree? Disagree? Why?
1984 and Robot Dreams both posses many of the same ideas and concepts while the actual story and plot differ. In 1984 Winston and his government are controlled by a leading party that dictates what they do and controls every aspect of their life. It even goes as far as certain thoughts are considered a crime. Robot Dreams compares to this because Elvex is being controlled by the government and also has to live by certain rules as Winston has to. Elvex's thoughts are controlled as well for he is not allowed to dream or have human like thoughts which eventually gets him terminated.
If Orwell and Asimov were to have dinner together I believe that they would agree that our world is changing rapidly and the government is slowly taking more and more control over the citizens. Also, they would question our technology. I read an article today about how our scientists are being funded to make computers that can actually read our thoughts and emotions by the oxygen level in our brain. They believe this will help employers decide if their employees are working to their fullest capability. This demonstrates that our government is taking over slowly and I think both writers would agree that if this doesn't stop we will lose what little control we have left.
1984 and Robot Dreams both posses many of the same ideas and concepts while the actual story and plot differ. In 1984 Winston and his government are controlled by a leading party that dictates what they do and controls every aspect of their life. It even goes as far as certain thoughts are considered a crime. Robot Dreams compares to this because Elvex is being controlled by the government and also has to live by certain rules as Winston has to. Elvex's thoughts are controlled as well for he is not allowed to dream or have human like thoughts which eventually gets him terminated.
If Orwell and Asimov were to have dinner together I believe that they would agree that our world is changing rapidly and the government is slowly taking more and more control over the citizens. Also, they would question our technology. I read an article today about how our scientists are being funded to make computers that can actually read our thoughts and emotions by the oxygen level in our brain. They believe this will help employers decide if their employees are working to their fullest capability. This demonstrates that our government is taking over slowly and I think both writers would agree that if this doesn't stop we will lose what little control we have left.
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