Present Shock

In his novel, Present Shock, Douglas Rushkoff describes a society in which technology has advanced to such an accelerated state the technology itself is evolving faster than humans are able to account for. No longer are people concerned with what is happening in the present, but rather are constantly concerned with the events of the future. Furthermore, technology, such as the remote control, has enabled entertainment to reach a state of constant climax; rather than spending time to build up a plot and rising action that culminates in an apex. Rushkoff explains that the remote control has “more than any postmodern idea or media educator, changed the way we related to television, its commercials, and the story structure on which both depended”(Rushkoff 21). Since an audience can switch away from a channel with the click of a button, television must offer the viewer a constant of stream of excitement or else fail to draw in and maintain a sizable audience. Modern day television shows, such as Rick and Morty, aim to keep the viewer wondering what will happen next, and this is most commonly achieved by creating a sporadic and unpredictable experience.

Rick and Morty depicts the misadventures of an average highschool student and his grandfather, who just happens to be a maniacal mad scientist who spends the majority of his time hoping around the multiverse. The television show sets a precedent of unpredictability as Morty is dragged through different universes and forced to endure a different apocalyptic scenario every episode. In one particular episode, Rick accidentally mutates the entirety of the human race in to a mismatched combination of different species. The episode consists of nothing but chaos that could be considered climax after climax, and in the final two minutes of the episode Rick and Morty simply abandon their universe for an identical one. This sort of plot narrative is counter-intuitive to any that has been seen in the past centuries. Furthermore, the issue of abandoning their own universe is never brought up in any further episodes, thus drawing parallels between other modern television shows such as The Simpsons and South Park. Rushkoff gives his perspective on this phenomena in saying that “The Simpsons, along with the many satirical, self-referential shows that followed its path (the creators of Family Guy, South Park, and even The Office all credit The Simpsons as a seminal influence), offers the narrative-wary viewer some of the satisfaction that traditional stories used to provide— but through nonnarrative means (Rushkoff 26). Television shows such as Rick and Morty, South Park, and the Simpsons give the audience the entertainment they crave, but without having to sit through the exposition that would be found in more traditional forms of entertainment. Furthermore, innovations such as Netflix offer entertainment free of commercials, allowing the viewer even greater access a constant stream of excitement.

In conclusion, the modern narrative arc of television shows has evolved to accommodate society’s need for constant entertainment, even if it undermines the structural integrity of the plot. In Rick and Morty, the two adventurers spend twenty minutes creating chaos in various universes, only to resolve their issue with a simple solution in the remaining two minutes. Rather than following the traditional format of a plot triangle (exposition, followed by rising action, falling action, and a resolution), shows such as Rick and Morty or the Simpsons cut out the “unnecessary” rising and falling actions; instead opting for a model that favors a constant state of apex and excitement. Additionally, innovations such as the remote control and companies such as Netflix allow viewers to cut out any further distractions such as commercials and actual plot devices.

Works Cited

Rushkoff, Douglas. Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now. New York: Penguin Group, 2013. Print.

The Line Between Delirium and Diligence

The Line Between Delirium and Diligence

            In the biographical novel A Moveable Feast, the story of Ernest Hemingway’s life is recreated from a series of unorganized diary entries and letters which have been pieced together in order to illustrate the life of the up and coming writer in Paris during the early twentieth century. The use of Hemingway’s own journal entries as a basis for the novel allows for a first person perspective which is unique to most other biographical pieces, welcoming readers in to the peculiar mind of what many would consider to be a literary genius. However, due to the cluttered nature of the journals, the plot of the story consequentially does not follow a linear timeline but rather jumps around to highlights in Hemingway’s life, while at the same time avoiding the tragedies that Hemingway himself would be too haunted by to write in a journal. Hemingway alludes to the wrongdoings in his life in his diaries yet fails to address them directly, as was the case when he had an affair with Pauline Pfeiffer despite the love he retained for his wife. Hemingway describes the winter prior to the affair as “a happy and innocent winter in childhood compared to the next year, a nightmare winter disguised as the greatest fun of all, and the murderous summer that was to follow” (Hemingway 179). Hemingway illustrates perfectly the stereotype of the tortured artist; driven to insanity by the frustrations and temptations set forth by his art and by the people that surround him. Hemingway’s depression would deteriorate his spirit and his body alike, making it difficult to face the reality of the mistakes he had made and the people he had hurt along the way.

Through the journals and diary entries that were compiled in to A Moveable Feast, Hemingway displays a writing style which at times is highly literal and analytical, yet contrastingly uses a great deal of imagery and figurative language also. While reminiscing about the Closerie des Lilas, Hemingway notes that “the only poet I ever saw there was a Blaise Cendrars, with his broken boxer’s face and his pinned-up empty sleeve, rolling a cigarette with his one good hand” (Hemingway 69).  Hemingway meticulously notes the fact that Blaise Cendrars was rolling a cigarette whenever the two came in contact, however Hemingway doesn not give an analytical characterization of the man; preferring to instead plant the image of a broken boxer in to the mind of the reader. These contrasting styles within Hemingway’s work give insight in to the writer’s unique perspective on the world and what he deemed worthy of writing down.

Finally, this book was likely chosen to be a part of the curriculum because not only is Hemingway a highly influential author, but also has an impactful and original writing style. Unlike most biographies which are told from an outsider’s perspective, A Moveable Feast is a reflection of Hemingway’s sporadic, and at times deranged, psyche which allowed him to bleed his emotions and thoughts on to the page. Furthermore, the use of time as a nonlinear construct shows how time can be used to influence a story’s plot and coherence, which all contribute to an author’s unique style.

Works Cited

Hemingway, Ernest. A Moveable Feast. New York: Scribner. 1964. Print.

End of Education

As private school students, many of us get caught up in the horror stories that circulate about the public school system ranging from outrageous claims about gang violence to the inexplicably high failure rate. However, any student that has experienced both the public and private school systems would happily say that many of these farce claims are no more than rumors, for the most part. Although the stories of gang crime and drug abuse don’t always hold true, the criticisms of the public school curriculum does hold some truth. As Neil Postman points out in his novel End of Education, the public school system of 1995 was centralized around a one sided perspective that lacked cultural diversity and favored a Western worldview. The difference between Postman’s description of the education system in 1995 and the current public school system is that modern day America has accepted a multicultural ideology.

            In End of Education, Postman voices his criticisms of the 1995 public school system which barred religious teachings in school. Postman states that religion is a necessity for schooling as, “so much of our painting, music, architecture, literature, and science are intertwined with religion. It is, therefore, quite impossible (impossible by definition) for anyone to claim to be educated who has no knowledge of the role played by religion in the formation of culture” (Postman 150). Thus, Postman is highly critical of the narrow minded education structure that in part characterized the public education system of 1995, concluding that the ignorance of religion’s roll in social conduct is a sign of an uneducated individual. However, fast forward twenty-five years to 2015 and America has seen a huge swing towards a multicultural and socially plural society which not only acknowledges the role of religion in social conduct but also teaches religion in schools from an analytical standpoint.

 Furthermore, Postman concludes that youth that are raised in a socially aware school system will become well rounded people, by “understanding the principle of diversity, is that by studying religion, our students can become acquainted with, first, the variety of ways people have offered to explain themselves and, second, the astonishing unity of their explanations” (Postman 150).  By teaching students in an environment that promotes and accepts a multicultural perspective, students learn to express their thoughts and ideas in a more productive manner thus creating a more efficient and progressive society. Overall, Postman’s hypothesis that ignorance of religion is detrimental to the education system withstands the test of time, and is exemplified by the success of a socially plural perspective in modern day America.

Works Cited

Postman, Neil. The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School. New York: Vintage, 1996. 

       Print.

Paying the Ultimate Price: Survival of the Fittest in the Congo

            Charles Darwin was both an esteemed scientist and one of the leading philosophers of his time, applying his theory of evolution and survival of the fittest to both the physical and social interactions between people. Darwin upheld “that huge numbers were destined to succumb in the struggle for existence. Those who survived to grow up-- and perpetuate the race—would therefore be those who came out best in the struggle for survival” (Gaarder 409). According to Darwin’s studies, those species with the greatest capabilities to adapt to their physical environment would be the same species that withstood the obstacles that would have otherwise obliterated their race. Furthermore, Darwin extrapolated that the same principles of physical survival could be applied to thriving within the society; people that could fit in to the social customs of a society would be accepted while those who rejected the customs would themselves be rejected.

            In the case of the Price family in The Poisonwood Bible, Darwin’s philosophy of survival of the fittest applies in both a physical and social sense. Unlike the Kilanga villagers, the Price family were accustom to the luxuries of the western world, therefore they were ill prepared for life in the Congo where running water would have been a novelty. Additionally, the Prices’ condition was worsened by Nathan’s stubbornness in upholding western ideals and beliefs. In the physical world, Nathan refused to conform to the villagers’ system of farming and as a result his garden could not sustain a substantial number of crops. It was not until Nathan adapted his garden to fit in with the Congo that his plants began to grow. Furthermore, the Price family rejected the religious beliefs of the village and as a result they felt segregated from the rest of the Congolese people. For example, Nathan’ death was due to his disregard for the Congolese peoples’ beliefs as he attempted to forcibly baptize a group of children in the river. In conclusion, Darwin’s philosophy of survival of the fittest applies to the Poisonwood Bible in not only a physical sense, but in a social sense also.

Works Cited

Gaarder, Jostein. Sophie's World. New York: Berkley Books, 1991. Print.

Do as We Say, Not as We Do: American Exceptionalism after 9/11

            Both Noah Chomsky’s article and President Bush’s speech give insight to the wide range of reactions that Americans express in regards to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centers. On one side is President Bush, who must address a fragmented America only nine days after the attacks. In his speech, Bush is careful not to say anything that may offend and the speech itself adopts an uplifting tone and invokes a sense of patriotism through imagery of both Democrats and Republicans gathering at the Capitol to sing “God Bless America (Bush 1). Furthermore, in order to win over the hearts of Americans across the nation, Bush utilizes damning diction throughout the speech which is meant to express that an attack on American soil is not taken lightly. In order to ensure his fellow Americans that they and their loved ones are safe, President Bush makes the sensationalist claim that every terrorist group of global reach will be found, stopped, and defeated” (Bush 4). Although the speech is quite vague in terms of exactly how President Bush plans to deal with the attack on the World Trade Centers, this is made understandable when considering that at the time the most important factor was settling the chaos that had erupted within the US itself.

On the opposite side of the political spectrum is the liberal professor Noam Chomsky, who voiced his opinions ten years after the September 11^th attacks. Seeing as there is such a large gap between September 11^th, 2011 and the publishing of Chomsky’s article, Chomsky is not only able to be more direct with his claims but also more critical of America’s reaction to the event. Chomsky uses 9/11 as an example of American exceptionalism; the perception that America may advise other nations to act in favor of justice and logic, but that does not mean the US should have to conform to these same rules. From Chomsky’s perspective, the death of Osama bin Laden symbolized the hypocrisy of American jurisdiction in matters that concern itself. To support his claim Chomsky points to numerous sources of evidence and analogy, one of which being “a high-ranking military officer briefed on the assault said the SEALs knew their mission was not to take him alive” (Chomsky 4). Through his article, Chomsky attempts to persuade readers in to the mindset that all attacks on human rights must be treated equally, no matter the context.

Finally, the question of whether or not America committed an act of exceptionalism must be answered. When analyzing both Bush’s speech and Chomsky’s article it is clear to see that both represent the extreme sides of an argument and therefore truth must lay somewhere in between. As pointed out by Chomsky, the US government made the death, rather than the capture, of Osama bin Laden a national priority. However, that does not mean the killing was not justified, as it is the duty of the federal government to go to any lengths necessary to ensure the safety of the people it serves. Just as Nazi Germany had posed a direct and imminent threat to the safety of millions of Europeans, Al Qaeda’s attack on the World Trade Centers made it clear that they were a threat to the American way of life. Therefore in regards to the September 11^th attacks, the US acted in a justified manner even if that meant adopting a sense of American exceptionalism. 

Is language evolving or devolving?

Over the course of human existence, society has continued to evolve and adapt in ways that favor the needs and interests of the time. Therefore, it can be extrapolated that language and communication among people has also transformed in order to fit in the context of the time. For example in the Elizabethan era, during the height of such writers as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, the predominant form of entertainment for the average citizen was attending the local theater. In these plays props were scarce, thus playwrights needed to rely heavily on language in order to illustrate the scene within the minds of the audience. As a result, eloquent and descriptive vocabulary and sentence structure were utilized in order to get the most out of the performance. In contrast, the focus of modern society is often efficiency and productivity; what needs to be accomplished, and what is the optimal method of ensuring said task is completed? In such a world as this, it makes no sense to spend additional time, energy, and resources to make language look or sound a certain way; as long as it gets the point across it's good enough. A common example for modern day communication is often drawn from instant text messaging, other wise known as texting (the word itself is an abbreviation!). If you look through the messages of an average teenager with even the slightest sliver of a social life, you will likely find small abbreviations and phrases rather than fully fleshed out clauses. In order to keep with the fast paced, action packed nature of modern society phrases such as "talk to you later" may be condensed to simply "ttyl". Furthermore, "lol" is an abbreviation of "laughing out loud" serves to function as an expression of emotion, sarcasm, hyperbole, or one of many other long forgotten figurative devices. 

Thus, when evaluating the question "is language evolving or devolving" it is important to take in to consideration that language and communication are constantly adapting in order to fit the needs of the communicators (that's us!). In terms of eloquence and fluidity, language has devolved from the time of Shakespeare and Marlowe when it was an expectation for literature rather than a decorative afterthought. However in terms of communicating in a fast and efficient manner, language is currently leagues ahead of where it had been in any prior century. Language and communication will continue to change alongside mankind as time wears on, however what will never change is language's ability to accommodate the needs of those who use it.