Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
LAST BLOG!
Throughout Alan Moore's graphic novel, Light of Thy Countenance, he speaks about television taking over people's lives. Moore talks about how the television is were everyone gets their information. He shows multiple pictures of different historic events: Hitler, Gandhi, the dropping of the "A" bomb, lunar landing. Moore develops a dreary scene during the novel and with the graphics behind all the captions he is able to do more than just write. "Pictures say a thousand words." With the graphics, Moore is able to have illusions and allow the reader to wonder why he added certain pictures. I believe this should be considered literature. It feels like it has the same amount writing as a short story, but it is able to tell a better story because of the graphics.
Moore referred to other literature throughout his novel. Moore makes a couple of Frankenstein references and is able to draw out the comparisons between television and Frankenstein's creature. Moore is calling television a monster and thinks that it is very manipulative.
Moore's ideas are still relevant today because television is still controlling many lives. But for young adults, the internet is starting to overtake the need for television. Internet is were most get their news updates and many television stations are starting to air their shows on the internet instead of television.
Moore referred to other literature throughout his novel. Moore makes a couple of Frankenstein references and is able to draw out the comparisons between television and Frankenstein's creature. Moore is calling television a monster and thinks that it is very manipulative.
Moore's ideas are still relevant today because television is still controlling many lives. But for young adults, the internet is starting to overtake the need for television. Internet is were most get their news updates and many television stations are starting to air their shows on the internet instead of television.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Blade Runner
Blade Runner was very similar to R.U.R in a sense because the Robots in both pieces of work were identical to humans. No one could distinguish the two and eventually in both works the Robots revolted. They developed over time and eventually out smarted the humans. Frankenstein relates to Blade Runner because a human is pursuing a created being. Victor Frankenstein is chasing down his creature to destroy it and the same scenario occurred in Blade Runner as well. Harrison Ford wasn't the creator but he was chasing down the Robots with the objective to kill them all. And in all three of these works, the created being is physically stronger than the humans, but except for Blade Runner, the creatures tend to destroy the humans. The Robots in R.U.R. wipe out the human race. The creature in Frankenstein destroys Victor Frankenstein's life. But in Blade Runner, Harrison Ford is spared. The last Robot standing, Roy Baty, has the opportunity to kill Ford on multiple occasions, but instead he toys around with him and then eventually decides not to kill him. Baty talks about living in fear, and having other people's memories in his head. Baty knows these aren't his memories, but they feel so real. As Baty decides to spare Ford you see the Robots as fellow humans. Baty has saved a humans life and chosen to sympathize and try to have Ford understand his pains, just has the creature in Frankenstein did, only Baty was successful.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Informal Brainstorming
Throughout the two novels, Frankenstein and R.U.R., we see different points of view on what it is to be human. Throughout Frankenstein we see that no one thinks the creature is a human, but while reading the novel we think what it means to be human. The creature has emotions, moral compass, but the only thing he doesn't have is a companion. In R.U.R., the Robots are very similar to humans and even more efficient. They are given a soul towards the end of the story and the Robots think of themselves as a better version of humans. The only thing the Robots can not do is reproduce because they are not fertile. The Robots and Frankenstein's creature are very similar because they are both superior in a sense to humans. The Robots are smarter and more intelligent and the creature is stronger, faster, and bigger.
The creature labels himself as a non-human in one of his speeches to his creator. The creature says this because he feels that no one can look past his hideousness and show him compassion. What is it to be human? Humans should be able to have abstract thoughts, be able to develop and learn language, and have the ability to solve problems. I believe that both the creature and the Robots have the ability to do all of these. The only thing that the two of them do not have is the ability to reproduce, the creature is not smart enough to make a wife for himself, and the Robots can not re-create each other because they must be taught how to do everything. For this reason alone they can not be human because they can not reproduce.
The creature labels himself as a non-human in one of his speeches to his creator. The creature says this because he feels that no one can look past his hideousness and show him compassion. What is it to be human? Humans should be able to have abstract thoughts, be able to develop and learn language, and have the ability to solve problems. I believe that both the creature and the Robots have the ability to do all of these. The only thing that the two of them do not have is the ability to reproduce, the creature is not smart enough to make a wife for himself, and the Robots can not re-create each other because they must be taught how to do everything. For this reason alone they can not be human because they can not reproduce.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Essay Brainstorm
For my essay topic, I was thinking about writing on "Being Human" and what that entails. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein we see a human-like creation that terrorizes his creator. Throughout the novel the creature is being tested and is constantly questioning what he is. Is he a human or a demon? During the novel, the creature has a monologue and refers to himself as a non-human. This helps identify him as non-human, but what makes someone human? The ability to feel happy, sad, love? Frankenstein's creature can do this, but he is lonely and considered an outcast because no one can bear to look at his hideous form.
In Karel Capek's R.U.R., Capek writes about his Robots and how they are the best workers. The Robots have human like skin and are very closely linked to humans. In the opening seen we meet a young woman named Helena, Helena is unable to see the difference between Robots and humans, she confuses the two. Helena also came to fight for the Robots "human" rights. She wants the Robots to be treated fairly and she wants the creators of the Robots to give the Robots souls and feelings, so they can relate to humans.
In R.U.R., Helena, a human, has an encounter with one of the Robots named Radius. Radius says, "You are not as strong as the Robots. You are not as skillful as the Robots. The Robots can do everything. (27)" Radius has been given a better brain and he believes that he should be master over people because the Robots are the superior race.
Frankenstein's creature believes he is non-human, but I believe he is. The Robots in R.U.R. are the same way, people treat them as non-human, but they can manage to do everything a human can, except the Robots can do everything better. Reproduction is a key discussion because the Robots are unable to, but Frankenstein's creature can. Both the Robots and the creature can feel emotions and can think for themselves, but only one can reproduce.
P.S. The website doesn't let you underline the titles...sorry
In Karel Capek's R.U.R., Capek writes about his Robots and how they are the best workers. The Robots have human like skin and are very closely linked to humans. In the opening seen we meet a young woman named Helena, Helena is unable to see the difference between Robots and humans, she confuses the two. Helena also came to fight for the Robots "human" rights. She wants the Robots to be treated fairly and she wants the creators of the Robots to give the Robots souls and feelings, so they can relate to humans.
In R.U.R., Helena, a human, has an encounter with one of the Robots named Radius. Radius says, "You are not as strong as the Robots. You are not as skillful as the Robots. The Robots can do everything. (27)" Radius has been given a better brain and he believes that he should be master over people because the Robots are the superior race.
Frankenstein's creature believes he is non-human, but I believe he is. The Robots in R.U.R. are the same way, people treat them as non-human, but they can manage to do everything a human can, except the Robots can do everything better. Reproduction is a key discussion because the Robots are unable to, but Frankenstein's creature can. Both the Robots and the creature can feel emotions and can think for themselves, but only one can reproduce.
P.S. The website doesn't let you underline the titles...sorry
Friday, January 29, 2010
Post #4
While reading Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" I noticed how Bierce has us go back and forth through time. I wasn't sure why he did this, but then I thought to myself how would the story be different if Bierce had put this short story in chronological order starting at part two. The story would definitely have a slower pace and it may cause some readers to give up on the story. Also with the beginning starting at the bridge we do not know much about the victim, we just think he is a bad guy and not a family man. Lastly, towards the end of the story Bierce adds one last flash back or dream to the end of the story to shed some light on Peyton Farquhar's family. I feel that Bierce does this to stir up some sympathy for his main character.
Throughout Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", Bierce chooses to change to point of view often. The story begins on a bridge and the narrator is a 3rd person objective mode and then as the story progresses the narrator becomes more subjective. We know this because the narrator begins to explain the feelings and thoughts of the characters. Then as the rope is being cut down we start to get a perspective more from Farquhar's point of view. A lot of thinking to himself and speaking out loud about how he needs to escape and about how much pain he is in. The adjustments throughout the story to the point of view add detail and allows the reader more knowledge because the narrator can give the reader more knowledge.
Throughout Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", Bierce chooses to change to point of view often. The story begins on a bridge and the narrator is a 3rd person objective mode and then as the story progresses the narrator becomes more subjective. We know this because the narrator begins to explain the feelings and thoughts of the characters. Then as the rope is being cut down we start to get a perspective more from Farquhar's point of view. A lot of thinking to himself and speaking out loud about how he needs to escape and about how much pain he is in. The adjustments throughout the story to the point of view add detail and allows the reader more knowledge because the narrator can give the reader more knowledge.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Post #3
After Langston Hughes's poem "Suicide's Note" was machinima-ized I thought it added more meaning and enjoyment to the poem because it gave the poem a visual. Not only did it add a visual, but the song in the background was on the same lines of the poem which added another meaning. If I had read Hughes's poem by itself I would have thought it was kind of strange and very short. But by adding the clip and the song it created a new feeling and a new vibe to the poem. The tone of the poem remains true because it is just explaining suicide on a lighter tone. Hughes writes, "Asked me for a kiss", I think this makes it seem like the jumper was trying to do a nice thing for the river.
In Family Guy, when Stewie Griffin quotes Dylan Thomas's "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night", the scene has some history and some intelligence. This helps because when people are watching and think it is just some dumb show with stupid stuff in it, the creators show some of their intelligence and you see it throughout Family Guy. They do a lot of dumb stuff, but often they add some intellectual quotes or comments to make the show more respectable.
In Family Guy, when Stewie Griffin quotes Dylan Thomas's "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night", the scene has some history and some intelligence. This helps because when people are watching and think it is just some dumb show with stupid stuff in it, the creators show some of their intelligence and you see it throughout Family Guy. They do a lot of dumb stuff, but often they add some intellectual quotes or comments to make the show more respectable.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Post #2
"All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace" by Richard Brautigan
Richard Brautigan's poem can be understood as anti-technology due to many unbelievable comparisons. Some of Brautigan's comparisons are: "mammals and computers live together in mutually programming harmony like pure water touching clear sky", "deer stroll peacefully past computers as if they were flowers with spinning blossoms" , "all watched over by machines of loving grace". I read these comparisons as sarcasm. Mammals and computers living together, well that happens, but Brautigans talks about the two in a meadow. Brautigans treats the computer like a living being. He gives the computer human characteristics. When I read this I think of computers with legs, dancing and skipping through the meadow. I believe Brautigan is trying to warn us that if we aren't careful robots are going to be become humanistic and that might cause a problem.
Richard Brautigan's poem can be taken as pro-technology because he writes about computers and humans being friends. Brautigan says, "the sooner the better!" He wants the computers and humans to become friends quickly because he thinks it will be a better place to live in. He then later says, "right now, please!" He says this referring to computers being flowers and deer grazing around them. Brautigan seems to love technology and wants it to become more intertwined with our society.
While I was reading Richard Brautigan's poem I was thinking to myself is this guy serious? I thought he must have been joking. I thought he was trying to poke fun at society and how reliant we are on technology. But then I read about the author and he wrote this when technology was starting to become a bigger role in people's lives. He knew that with the gain of technology, nature would slowly pay the price. Trees were getting cut down. Bigger cities being made. So I believe Brautigan was hoping for a middle ground were both technology and nature could prevail.
Richard Brautigan's poem can be understood as anti-technology due to many unbelievable comparisons. Some of Brautigan's comparisons are: "mammals and computers live together in mutually programming harmony like pure water touching clear sky", "deer stroll peacefully past computers as if they were flowers with spinning blossoms" , "all watched over by machines of loving grace". I read these comparisons as sarcasm. Mammals and computers living together, well that happens, but Brautigans talks about the two in a meadow. Brautigans treats the computer like a living being. He gives the computer human characteristics. When I read this I think of computers with legs, dancing and skipping through the meadow. I believe Brautigan is trying to warn us that if we aren't careful robots are going to be become humanistic and that might cause a problem.
Richard Brautigan's poem can be taken as pro-technology because he writes about computers and humans being friends. Brautigan says, "the sooner the better!" He wants the computers and humans to become friends quickly because he thinks it will be a better place to live in. He then later says, "right now, please!" He says this referring to computers being flowers and deer grazing around them. Brautigan seems to love technology and wants it to become more intertwined with our society.
While I was reading Richard Brautigan's poem I was thinking to myself is this guy serious? I thought he must have been joking. I thought he was trying to poke fun at society and how reliant we are on technology. But then I read about the author and he wrote this when technology was starting to become a bigger role in people's lives. He knew that with the gain of technology, nature would slowly pay the price. Trees were getting cut down. Bigger cities being made. So I believe Brautigan was hoping for a middle ground were both technology and nature could prevail.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Post #1
"Diving into the Wreck" by Adrienne Rich
List of Imagery: book of myths, loaded the camera, checked edge of knife-blade, body armor of black rubber, flippers, awkward mask, sun flooded schooner, here alone, ladder is always there hanging innocently, piece of maritime floss, I go down, Rung after rung, the blue light, the clear atoms, I crawl like an insect down the ladder, first the air is blue and then it is bluer and then green and then black I am blacking out, turn my body without force, swaying their crenellated fans, I stroke the beam of my lamp, the drowned face always staring, the mermaid whose dark hair streams black, the merman in his armored body, obscurely inside barrels half-wedged and left to rot.
I crawl like an insect down the ladder
and there is no one
to tell me when the ocean
will begin.
This quatrain interprets the poem well because it shows how the diver is on her own and now has to learn how to handle life on her own. Crawling down the ladder with her flippers on, she struggles with the flippers on and with not being able to see when the ocean starts. She is feeling lonely, and worried she won't be remembered and won't be able to find her way around on her own. I think insects tend to move around carefully because they are worried of being squashed, that is why I believe Adrienne Rich chooses this species to describe herself. She is treading softly and is hoping not make a mistake, even though that is not a good way to live your life.
List of Imagery: book of myths, loaded the camera, checked edge of knife-blade, body armor of black rubber, flippers, awkward mask, sun flooded schooner, here alone, ladder is always there hanging innocently, piece of maritime floss, I go down, Rung after rung, the blue light, the clear atoms, I crawl like an insect down the ladder, first the air is blue and then it is bluer and then green and then black I am blacking out, turn my body without force, swaying their crenellated fans, I stroke the beam of my lamp, the drowned face always staring, the mermaid whose dark hair streams black, the merman in his armored body, obscurely inside barrels half-wedged and left to rot.
I crawl like an insect down the ladder
and there is no one
to tell me when the ocean
will begin.
This quatrain interprets the poem well because it shows how the diver is on her own and now has to learn how to handle life on her own. Crawling down the ladder with her flippers on, she struggles with the flippers on and with not being able to see when the ocean starts. She is feeling lonely, and worried she won't be remembered and won't be able to find her way around on her own. I think insects tend to move around carefully because they are worried of being squashed, that is why I believe Adrienne Rich chooses this species to describe herself. She is treading softly and is hoping not make a mistake, even though that is not a good way to live your life.
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