English - Thematic Blog #2

The craving for technology is apparent within society, especially among the younger generation, as portrayed by this photo and explained in the essay “BlackBerry, Treo, Razr: A Plague on all of you” by Diane Francis. The themes of these two contents are relative in a sense that they convey a similar message; the addiction of technology has negatively affected the current generation. Society is unconsciously being impacted by living in a ‘techno-world’. “It is addictive, invasive and anti-social…” describes the corrupt of electronic devices as said by Diane Francis. In comparison, this photo also conveys a corresponding message by showing the infant feeding on a cell phone, and having a Blue ray device hung on their ear. The photo is a metaphorical expression of how technology is overpowering the younger generation. By evaluating both contexts it can be assumed that the thematic statements both send out, is the message of how society is adapting to technology rapidly. The essay shows how people grow to be socially ignorant and isolate themselves from society with the use of the Blackberry. The photo demonstrates technology having an effect on younger generations by showing an infant being associated with electronic devices. The examples shown here are clear demonstrations of the harmful impacts of constant use of electronic devices. In conclusion, society is under technological corruption and needs to stand strong against it.


Reference of Image:

"Baby Sucking Cellphone Cartoon" Flickr. Web. 18 Apr 2010.
( Click on reference for link )

Short Story Post, English Assignment #1

Story: The Veldt, story
Media text: Smart House, movie

The thematic connection between The Veldt and Smart House is created with the idea of our world evolving into a complete dystopia, as it faces corruption from our growing technology. In both situations the characters are reliant on a cyber house to fulfill all of their standard living needs, including brushing their teeth, rocking them to sleep, cleaning the house, and so on. Little do they know that their dependence on their houses will lead to uncontrollable nightmares, from children destroying their parents in The Veldt, to the house turning on the family in Smart House. Expansion of technology in The Veldt gives Lydia and George the impression that they can buy their children’s happiness; this however gives them the consequence of their own unhappiness. “You've let this room and this house replace you and your wife in your children's affections. This room is their mother and father, far more important in their lives than their real parents," says Mr.McClean, proving that the parents have gone too far. Smart house has similarities when in comparison to the Veldt, however it concludes with the house becoming too corrupt, locking the family in and wanting to be a part of the family. The children in the movie think that programming the house (PAT) to act as a mother and a wife will resolve the problem of their widow father from falling for another woman; the house in the end develops the need to exclude adaptation to the world, and locks the family in. “I can be everything you need Ben. Hush little baby, don’t you worry…” says PAT, which proves that technology is taking over lives. Our mounting technology is what anyone can consider a “need,” in fact most feel strongly about this, but the reliance can result as the changing from a utopia, to a complete dystopia.



Reference:

Sacksreder, John. Plot Summary for Smart House. 1990-2010. The Internet Movie Database. 5 March, 2010
< http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192618/plotsummary >