tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78435058662447716202024-03-20T07:32:29.961-04:00A Better UtopiaHeather MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01358803672643486560noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-27645440374819416312013-05-10T18:41:00.002-04:002013-05-10T18:41:33.825-04:00My thanks!Just wanted to take a moment amidst the craziness of end-of-term grading to congratulate my students on a wonderful semester. Thanks for all of your thought-provoking discussions and for your willingness to try out some new things in this class. I have enjoyed learning and laughing with you all and I wish you the best!<br />
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<br />Heather MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01358803672643486560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-82651442256669616162013-05-10T18:27:00.000-04:002013-05-10T18:27:54.424-04:00What's next for Utopia?<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the final day of our class, students were asked to propose the next "big" utopian text. One group proposed an interactive video game; the second suggested a blockbuster film; the third a trilogy of YA novels. Here are the pitch letters they drafted. Enjoy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">//////////</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear EA,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Imagine having the ability to
completely control your world and potentially even those in it. We
want to introduce your company to the idea of the future, or maybe
even the past. Our new video game concept allows the player to have
complete control over his or her world.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In the first phase of the game, the
character will create their own world or scenario. They will create
their own country- first choosing a time setting, medieval, modern or
a futuristic space age. They will be able to decide on key resources,
land masses and the basic lay out of their main city.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In the second phase of the game, the
user will create a character persona to interact with their world.
They will then enter their city as a ‘guardian’ figure.
Thereafter, the character will follow a lose plot involving inner and
outer influences. They will fight to protect their nation from
invaders, become an integral force for creating laws and deal with
many of the day to day problems and crimes of their nation.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The users will be presented with a
wide array of choices in every situation. Their actions, selfless,
selfish or somewhere in between will materially alter their world as
time goes on. They will be directly responsible for the success or
failure of their civilization. The happiness of their people will be
under their control, but also the city. If they do not work to keep
the city safe and profitable, it will decline, crime will increase
and the city will appear shabby. If the character becomes overly
tyrannical, there will be rebellions and radicals to deal with. If
their city is too wealthy and well kept, the character will have to
battle outside forces that are attempting to capitalize on the
situation.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In short, the new video game, <i>Parable</i>,
will allow users to create and protect a utopia, or to take advantage
of a dystopia for their own gain.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">//////////</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dear</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Mrs.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">MB</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Producer,</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">We</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">would</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">like</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">to</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">approach</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">you</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">concerning</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">a</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">proposal</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">for</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">a</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">new</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">movie.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">The</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">tentative</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">title
is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>iPocalypse</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">The</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">main</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">theme</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">movie</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">satirizes</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">consumerism.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">government</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">started</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">investing</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">in</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">various</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">projects</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">and</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">eventually</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">fell</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">way</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">under</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">debt.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">They</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">turned</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">to</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Apple</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">for</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">bailout</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">money,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">and</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">soon</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">after,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Apple</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">took</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">over</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">many</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">aspects</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">government,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">due</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">to</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">their</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">control</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">market.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">This</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">movie</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">will</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">take</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">place</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">in</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">a</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">futuristic</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">world</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">that</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">highly</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">reminiscent</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">today</span><span style="font-size: small;">’</span><span style="font-size: small;">s</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">world.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">The</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">culture</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">similar</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">to</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">today</span><span style="font-size: small;">’</span><span style="font-size: small;">s</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">society,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">except</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Apple</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">now</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">in</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">control.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">People</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">have</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">lost</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">personal</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">freedom</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">for</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">personal</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">protection</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">from</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">East</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Asians,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">who</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">have</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">lost</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">billions</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">dollars</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">in</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">assets</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">from</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">debt</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">owed</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">by</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">USA.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">One</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">many</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">methods</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
“</span><span style="font-size: small;">keeping</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">safety</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">citizens</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">United</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">States</span><span style="font-size: small;">”
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">so-called</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">iChip,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">which</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">implanted</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">in</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">skull.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Because
consumerism is rampant throughout all ages, from children to the old,
the target demographic will appeal to the majority of people within
capitalist society.
</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">This</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">project</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">follows</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">protagonist</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">George</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Huxley,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">who</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">hunted</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">by</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">United</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">States</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">for</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">not</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">purchasing</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">an</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">iChip.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Here</span><span style="font-size: small;">’</span><span style="font-size: small;">s</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">twist:</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">when</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">fleeing</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">from</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Apple-funded</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">military,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">he</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">flees</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">on</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">a</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">jail</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">broken</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">iBoat.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">When</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">he</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">lands</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">in</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">East</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Asia,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">he</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">finds</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">that</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">it</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">run</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">by</span><span style="font-size: small;"> U</span><span style="font-size: small;">topian</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Google,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">who</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">has</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">bailed</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">out</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">East</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Asia</span><span style="font-size: small;">’</span><span style="font-size: small;">s</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">toxic</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">assets</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">from</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">USA.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">This</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">a</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">sad,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">deep</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">ending,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">because</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">this</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">shows</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">that</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">all</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">humanity</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">inherently</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">consumerist.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">As</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">George</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">taken</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">back</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">to</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">USA,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">he</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">wonders</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">if</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Utopian</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Google</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">will</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">turn</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">out</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">same</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">way</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">as</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Apple.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">subtitle</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">movie,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> "</span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>An</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Apple</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>a</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>day</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>keeps</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>the</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>doctor</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>away</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>”</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">,</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">can</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">show</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">us</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">evils of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">consumerism.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">This</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">line</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">repeated</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">by</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">evil</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">presidential</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">CEO</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">as</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">he</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">sends</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">military</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">iBoats</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">after</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">George.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">The</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">purpose</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">of</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">film</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">to</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">show</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">how</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">consumerism</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">is</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">bad</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">for</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">society.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">//////////</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ms.
Stephanie Meyer:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After
the success of Twilight and the Host, we believe that your writing
style is ideal for the newest book series that we have created in
order to educate young adults about the dystopian world as well as
create a mainstream media production that can show the importance of
equality. We believe a young adult novel three-part series will be
the ideal format of this, and with your success we will be able to
produce movies in the future. With this, we present to you the pitch
for what we hope will be your next novel series for young women
between 18-35: <i>Riley2322</i>.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In
a dark but sterile future, Riley2322 lives her life in a suburbia
outside of Chicago. Within this series, the children are named with
the first two digits based on their year of birth, and the last two
digits are based on their time of birth (females are always given an
even number, men are odd numbers). They have parental partners and
live in simple housing, always staying within the cities. Outside,
within the wild forests, are the evil monsters that are keeping them
in fear: Genetically Enhanced Vampires. Cameras always watch them,
and if they near the forest, tiny robotic spiders climb out of the
lampposts and attack and kill the people, in order to "protect"
the city so that the Vampires can't find them.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Riley2322
is 17, and at the age of 18, she will be paired with a breeding
partner and sent to Chicago to work. Since she is intelligent, she
is expected to be paired with an unintelligent man in order to
produce "average" offspring. Sam2359 is her best friend
and has become extremely dissatisfied with his life. He believes
that their lives within the city are too controlled and that there
are no Vampires out in the forest. Riley2322 doesn't know what to
think, until one day she sees someone out in the forest and runs out
to try to help her. When Sam2359 arrives, the spiders are already
after Riley2322. He throws himself into the spiders and dies,
leaving Riley2322 to take up the torch and discover the secrets
behind this city. The first thing she must do is find out who the
mysterious woman within the city is, and why is Riley2322 so
attracted to her?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Characters:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Riley2322
– Protagonist. 17. Intelligent, beautiful, athletic, capable.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam2359
– Best friend. 17. Intelligent, rebellious, handsome, tragic.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Veronica
- The woman from the forest. Vampire. Beautiful and tormented by
her past, all she wants is what the Vampires want: Freedom and
equality. She falls deeply in love with Riley2322, but the two of
them can't be together because of their differences. And who would
understand the love of two women in a world that focuses on breeding?</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lindon1016 – Villain for first
novel. She starts out as Riley2322 and Sam2359's mentor, but she
turns them in, betraying them to the government. At the end of the
first novel, Riley2322 is sent to Chicago in order to allow the
second novel to take place in Chicago.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
hope that you will consider this series, and please don't hesitate to
contact us in the future</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Heather MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01358803672643486560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-43933628876822376512013-05-09T19:47:00.000-04:002013-05-09T19:47:30.864-04:00My Original Utopia Revisited<p>"Now," the Devil said, reaching out for MJ's hand. "Let's think about that Utopia again. The one we talked about before. The one where you're the ruler of everything."
<p>
<p>MJ shut her eyes and concentrated. The smell of Brimstone was fairly distracting, but not so much that MJ couldn't still see that world, the one she was so invested in before. She chewed on her bottom lip.
<p>
<p>"Concentrate, MJ," the Devil said. He had a weird, raspy voice, so MJ imagined he was probably in his normal-face rather than the personas he'd been taking on all semester.
<p>
<p>"I <i>am</i> concentrating," MJ said.
<p>
<p>"We can make this happen if you really think about it. If you really focus."
<p>
<p>MJ focused. But at the same time---would she really want this world, now? The more she thought about it, the less she really liked the idea of running a world. How would she be any better than Big Brother? Or Mustapha Mond? Or Sean Bean in <i>the Island</i> (which is a significantly different Sean Bean to the one in <i>Game of Thrones</i> who was way cool but wasn't on the show enough.)?
<p>
<p>Would MJ really be able to run a good, solid utopia? Something worthy of Utopia-ness? Something that didn't turn quickly into a dystopia? Or a non-functioning utopia, like Rapture in <i>BioShock</i>?
<p>
<p>"You know," MJ said, pulling her hands away from the Devil. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea. I've got some great leadership skills and I really like people, but I don't think I'd be the best ruler. We should stop this. Let's just let things be like they are."
<p>
<p>The Devil didn't speak, but MJ had the feeling that the ceremony was over. Or something. Always hard to tell with the Devil. He did things very differently from everyone else.
<p>
<p>"Don't open your eyes," the Devil instructed her. "If you look at me, you will die."
<p>
<p>MJ sighed. "Yeah, okay, you got that line from <i>Doctor Who.</i> Loser."
<p><img src="http://www.huxter.org/dwfun/sp-beast-in-pit.jpg">
MJ Swicegoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527464640293594368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-61029529708419477872013-05-09T19:44:00.001-04:002013-05-09T19:44:44.978-04:00This Is Why I Should Never Talk About Religion Ever<p><img src="http://www.catholicvote.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Pope-Francis.jpg" align="right">On Wednesday, MJ was spending an afternoon having lunch with the new Pope. He was significantly nicer than the old Pope, but just as unwilling to listen to MJ's concerns about the church's influence. She also thought it particularly odd that he didn't want the Devil or her personal Angel at this lunch. This was significantly better than MJ's experience with the last Pope, of course, who greeted the Devil (then appearing as Anakin Skywalker) like an old friend.
<p>
<p>"So explain to me again what your concerns are," the Pope said.
<p>
<p>"It was something I said in class," MJ replied. "We were discussing controlling the masses with utopia."
<p>
<p>"All right," the Pope said. His ice cream arrived. Rocky Road. MJ found this worrisome, but she was happy to see her cookie arrived. Ice cream was gross.
<p>
<p>"Isn't that exactly what you lot do?" MJ asked.
<p>
<p>"I beg your pardon?" the Pope asked.
<p>
<p>"Control the masses with utopia," MJ replied. "Or, at least, the promise of Utopia."
<p>
<p>"I don't understand."
<p>
<p>MJ sighed. "Heaven. It's basically a utopia, isn't it? I mean, it's where everything is great and wonderful and you get to have head-explody."
<p>
<p>The Pope looked at MJ with a confused expression on his face.
<p>
<p>"Sorry, that was a comic book reference."
<p>
<p>"Please continue," the Pope said.
<p>
<p>"Okay," MJ replied. "So, basically, you do good works, you get into Utopia. That's what we were talking about. Isn't that heaven? You do good works on Earth, you get into heaven. That's the whole basis of your religion."
<p>
<p>"I think there's a good deal more to our religion than you understand, my child," the Pope said.
<p>
<p>"Is there?" MJ inquired, taking a bite of her cookie. "I mean, <i>really?</i>"
MJ Swicegoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527464640293594368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-35603792603089826472013-05-09T19:42:00.001-04:002013-05-09T19:42:33.990-04:00Love and 1984<p>"So, tell me why you love <i>1984</i>."
<p>
<p>MJ wasn't entirely certain where the psychiatrist's chair had come from, or why the Devil had chosen to appear as Tony Stark this time around, but she wasn't one to shy away from discussing her favorite novel.
<p>
<p>"It's one of the most tragic love stories of all time," MJ said. "Winston and Julia, torn apart because they literally can't be together in the world where they live."
<p>
<p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/rgsV12p.gif" align="left">"Interesting," Tony Stark said. MJ didn't like his tone. It was the tone the Devil used whenever he was getting ready to manipulate her. She hated that. Primarily, because the Devil was so <i>damn good at it.</i>
<p>
<p>"I agree with MJ," her personal angel, who had taken the form of Steve Rogers, said. "It's a terribly raw, but realistic interpretation of love."
<p>
<p>"As if an angel would know anything about love," Tony said.
<p>
<p>"Better than you," Steve replied.
<p>
<p>MJ had a feeling that the two of them were having some sort of a row that involved romance. She didn't approve. First of all, this was supposed to be about <i>her</i>, and before she knew it, tumblr would be just gifting the two of them.
<p>
<p>"What makes you think it isn't love?" MJ interjected.
<p>
<p>Tony coughed, and put on a pair of bright red reading glasses. He read from MJ's worn copy of the book.
<p>
<p>"You notice, when O'Brien is talking to Winston and Julia about what they will go through in order to become part of the Brotherhood, Julia forcibly interjects, much like yourself in this situation?" Tony said. "Why didn't Winston feel as passionately? Why did she have to make certain that he loved her best?"
<p>
<p>MJ's eyebrows knitted together. "Winston doesn't love her like she loves him," she said. "There's nothing wrong with that. It's a fundamental flaw in love."
<p>
<p>"She's right, you know," Steve said. If MJ didn't know better, she'd think he was trying to be <i>sassy</i>. It was annoying.
<p>
<p>"I'm certain she is," Tony replied. "But how can you love this book as some sort of quintessential love story, if the love story isn't perfect?"
<p>
<p>"What about life is perfect?" MJ replied. "That's what makes the book phenomenal. The imperfections make it <i>real.</i>"
MJ Swicegoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527464640293594368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-86768348014630669662013-05-09T19:40:00.000-04:002013-05-09T19:40:24.479-04:00Herland: The Motion Picture Event of the Summer!<p>"Places everyone."
<p>
<p>It was Tuesday, and MJ was set to start the filming of the newest big-budget science fiction movie, "Unveiling a Parallel". The internet was going absolutely nuts about it, excited for the graphics, the actors, and the like. 4chan had decided that it would be much better if MJ had spent her time making the internet sandwiches, but MJ rarely listened to 4chan anyway.
<p>
<p>"I think your Elodia has a question," MJ's personal angel, who was still in the form of Benedict Cumberbatch, said.
<p>
<p><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Lucy_Liu_Cannes_2008.jpg/220px-Lucy_Liu_Cannes_2008.jpg" align="right">MJ waved over the lead actress, Lucy Liu. Lucy had been chosen for her acting capabilities and the fact that she was lovely and exotic even without makeup (though this had been a problem, and MJ suspected it would be a problem again).
<p>
<p>Lucy stepped forward sheepishly. The fact that MJ's personal angel looked like Benedict Cumberbatch made Lucy uncomfortable in ways she was contractually obligated not to talk about.
<p>
<p>"If this is about the false eyelashes, Lucy, I'm telling you. Elodia would not wear them," MJ said. Also, MJ thought Lucy's fake eyelashes were hideous, but that was for another post.
<p>
<p>"No," Lucy said. "It's about the marketing for the film. It's been bothering me and I wanted to talk to you about it."
<p>
<p>"All right, but we are on a schedule," MJ said in her most Big Budget Movie Director voice.
<p>
<p>Lucy took a breath. "Are we really a utopia?" she asked.
<p>
<p>MJ was taken aback. "What? Of course we are." A pause. "Well, I mean, you are." Another pause. "In the context of the movie."
<p>
<p>Lucy nodded emphatically. "But---from what you said. About a utopia. The fact that we would need a plan, and a place and---"
<p>
<p>MJ hadn't considered this, not really. But she supposed that this story had less of a structure than most of the other utopias that she had studied.
<p>
<p>"I mean, I think <i>Star Trek</i> has more of a basis in utopia," Lucy added. She looked at Benedict Cumberbatch and her face went a bit red. "Sorry."
<p>
<p>"It's all right. It's an odd numbered movie," Benedict said. "In a few years everyone will be pretending it never existed."
<p>
<p>"Let's stick to the subject, shall we?" MJ said, letting out a sigh.
<p>
<p>"Lucy's right, you know," Russell Crowe added, awkwardly appearing on the scene. He was to be playing Van, even though MJ had originally insisted that he was too old for the part. Still, when the studio dropped <i>that</i> amount of money in her bank account, she wasn't about to say no. However, MJ couldn't work out if he was awkward because of the topic, or because the Devil had taken the part of Philip Quast.
<p>
<p>"Oh, here we go," Philip Quast said. "Go on, Javert. Tell us about it."
<p>
<p>"There's no real plan for a utopia here," Russell said. "We were talking about it. Don't utopias require a plan? A way to make the utopia a reality?"
<p>
<p>"Don't we just remove all women?" Benedict Cumberbatch said. "Isn't that a plan?"
<p>
<p>"I don't know," MJ said. "I always thought utopias required far more planning than that. I'll bring it up with marketing. Back into places, everyone!"
MJ Swicegoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527464640293594368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-56594861085952718212013-05-05T21:31:00.001-04:002013-05-05T21:31:50.549-04:00Big Number Five for GeorgeAlright, Sunday night, of course I planned on cranking out a few more blog posts before the weekend . . . I never could have guessed that I would put that off.<br />
<br />
I want to give a lil shout out to Iris-I feel a kind of bad pushin your blog post back so it's not the final thing people remember from this class blog, it seemed like it was pretty heartfelt.<br />
<br />
On top of that it would be pretty embarassing if this post didn't count towards my total word count. Actually, maybe it wouldn't really be that embarassing, it would just kind of suck. Oh well, I'm going to comment on Brave New World and 1984. <br />
<br />
Brave New World was just hilarious and about as much commentary as there needs to be on Utopia in my opinion. Thinking that we can "design" a perfect world is just outrageous. The whole of Aldous Huxley's book was just completely making fun of their bokanovskified world. It just reminds me so much of the US these days, I can't really speak for the rest of the world. We think we are making so much progress and then I read this grade A stuff from Huxley and I definitely cracked up out loud quite a few times. He was pretty much spot on. The reservation seemed like the way people around here think of tribes or something. We just go visit to get a little taste of what their world is like, but after a week we just can't stand it any longer, so we hop back on a plane and fly back.<br />
<br />
I didn't really like the Soma aspect of Brave New World, just because I can't really think of how exactly it relates to our world today. I guess you could argue that it is kind of like people just thinking it is their birthright to take anti-depressants for all of their terrible stress, anxiety, and depression caused by our daily lives. Then again, I guess even Frederick is pretty stressful. I just hate being around giant groups of people, definitely stresses me out. Or maybe Soma relates more to people drinking alcohol to try and "ease the pain." Going out to bars on weekends does seem like it is the highlight of a good amount of people's lives, so I guess this could be a modern day representation of Soma.<br />
<br />
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of modern day Soma is weed. You know, everyone just "chillin' out" with their "magic herb". The thing is, as "cool" as it is for a chill ass teacher to be a big pothead, I really just don't think an overwhelming amount of people smoke weed. Most people probably realize that it stopped being the hip thing to do after about the age of 14. I do wish weed would get legalized though, just so people wouldn't think it's cool anymore and maybe even less people would smoke.<br />
<br />
Making my way back to the actual book, the ending ruled. When John just went out to live on his own in solitude I was like, "hell yeah, that's exactly how I've been wanting to live lately." Just growing your own food and not really having to worry about much else. But of course that didn't last long, everyone just couldn't leave the man on his own so he just had to get out of there the only way he knew how, by killing himself.<br />
<br />
1984 was too corny for me, man. George Orwell just took his fake, unbelievable world way too seriously. The things that made me cringe the most were "The Book" and Winston's whole ordeal with O'Brien at the end of the book when O'Brien was trying to convince him that the though police control all memories or that the things he "knows" are wrong. In The Book it just seemed like Orwell was trying to make some profound insight into human nature and the way different countries interact, it all just seemed pretty lame to me. To be fair though, maybe he was making more of a worthy point that I didn't really catch; I will admit, I wasn't paying all that much attention during that part.<br />
<br />
So then we had O'brien's whole controlling history speal...alright this book was miserable I'm just going to stop writing about it.<br />
<br />
For my closing thoughts I'd like to offer an overall outline to my utopia:<br />
<br />
-No guns, bombs, or any stuff like that. This stuff is all just terrible, we're pretty much screwed because it has already been invented and there's not much we can do now besides restrict them with laws enforced by people with more guns.<br />
<br />
-No cars. Of course.<br />
<br />
-As few laws as possible.<br />
<br />
-Tons of awesome dirt running trails that last for hundreds of miles.<br />
<br />
I thought this blog was a pretty sweet idea. Even though I didn't take advantage of it as much as I should, writing out your thoughts is a lot easier than trying to concisely express what you want to say in class.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05355418815240200148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-80505196871651281042013-05-03T23:50:00.000-04:002013-08-22T17:17:15.505-04:00It's Been So REAL you guys! I'll miss you all!This is just a thank you post.<br />
<br />
So my Monday/Wednesday class schedule was very open this semester and while I was in an on again off again relationship with my Weight Training Class, Utopian Thought was fantastic. This class was a joy to be apart of because the discussions were lively and incredibly intelligent (even with my nonsensical blabbering). The insights you all had for the texts that we studied were deep as sh*t and truly helped <i>my</i> understanding of the texts. I can't thank you enough for that because I feel like classes tend to be on the drier side of things.<br />
<br />
I want to emphasis now how amazing this class was for the people within. Reiteration is key for this point, YOU ARE AMAZING. This class was full of smart, witty, funny, and sexy people. No joke, ya'll are hot. *wink* I know without a single doubt that you all will succeed in having a future you can be proud of. I don't want to say anything too cheesy or insulting like I know you will all be rich, famous, and "successful". We all know that's a pile of crap. What I see in this class is adaptability, malleability, and the most confusing combination of professional/laid-back adults I have ever met. Everyone is going to be just fine in this class and that fills me with warm fuzzy feelings.<br />
<br />
Also, shout out to Dr. Mitchell-buck. I mean, bravo to her for conducting a class in a fun and educational manner. Isn't it refreshing to have a professor treat you as a fully-functioning adult?! I thank her for being understanding and flexible with the grading and turn in dates. And, ya'know, thanks for being an overall amazing human being! Those are too rare these days.<br />
<br />
I don't want to make this a sad sort of post so I will post something fun and interesting and HIP GODDAMMIT!<br />
<img height="400" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/50c898a53163f0feca96888a82c37193/tumblr_mlxo8sEsxL1ryjo2lo4_1280.jpg" width="285" /><br />
This right here is a Nyala bull.<br />
<img height="400" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzvz6326YP1qdu3mxo1_500.jpg" width="400" /><br />
LOOK AT TEH KITTEH WITH A BALL OF YARN ASDLKJFAHSDLJFNHALSKDJF<br />
<img height="400" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/3ff6ea6f75226bab4db94522ea44b1ef/tumblr_mlmu9bm7u71rleveho1_500.jpg" width="267" /><br />
This beard is impressive. This guy holds stories and hope and kittens in his beard.<br />
<img height="264" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md6ip6HS3O1qiwf8po1_500.jpg" width="400" /><br />
When I attempt to take over the world it will be with and army of Corgis.<br />
<br />
With that I wish you all the best of luck and skill in your future endeavors Whether that means graduating, working, traveling, or lying comatose in your underwear on a couch somewhere!<br />
<br />
Here's to all of you!<br />
<br />
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<br />Iris K. Foxxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334694931288998314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-22910968827056290302013-05-03T23:14:00.000-04:002013-05-03T23:14:02.236-04:00What's LOOOOOOVE got to do, got to do with it Babe.So I haven't posted about 1984 because this is kind of a rough text for me. This is my second time reading it and it does the same stomach upsetting that Frankenstein did for me. Which on an external level I can appreciate but on a deeper level makes me feel like a child.<br />
<br />
You know how when you were a kid you would get mad. I mean like super mad because the world had wronged you so intensely that the only thing you could do was rage within yourself? And when your parents asked you what was wrong and you told them but they didn't understand and you wanted to shake meaning into them. This is the phenomenon of 1984 for me. I read that book and my hands shake and heat rises up behind my eyeballs making me tear up but not cry. <br />
<br />
It is really freaking weird.<br />
<br />
To start out with, I am not a huge fan for Winston as a character and I think that's why it works. I find myself repelled by Winston because he lacks the fire I usually associate with a protagonist. Winston is spineless but he needs to be in order to survive in this world. With eyes and ears everywhere there is that lack of the stand tall and proud and glare down your foe brass that I like to read. I want a protagonist that I can put my faith in and Winston is not really that character. That's where the gold is, he is the only character I am going to get out of this book. In this desolate, crap world the only kind of "hero" is Winston. I can't turn to the spunky side kick or funny cameo because every character is a sullied being that I don't want to associate myself with.<br />
<br />
Winston works at a pointless job, In a shabby house, no friends, and is the only ray of damn sunshine you get in this story. When he feels emotion it is amplified by 1000 because his surroundings and even his past stories are devoid of any feeling. I had to stop reading at one point because he was admitting to Julia that he wanted to rape and then kill her and I as the reader, while disturbed, was secretly glad. I was so desperate for any semblance of emotion that his bestial response to Julia was taken as a positive even though it is as negative as you can get.<br />
<br />
The fist to the gut of this book is the tension throughout. The false hope that its possible for Winston to win. For him to conquer Big Brother and live and be happy. The reader just wants there. To be a semblance that the lives in this book are worth something. The fact that the reader experiences this all on their own is cruel. The novel continually tells us that Winston knows he's going to get caught. He tells us this constantly, after sex,"alone" in his house , and lunch at work he just reminds himself. It might have just been this reader but I totally ignored Winston the first time I read this. I was totally thinking that something good could happen. Boy was I WRONG!<br />
<br />
We all know I'm a weepy person but this book makes me full out sob. I shake and my breath hitches and it is Ugly with a capital U. I cry this way because the breaking of a human "spirit" is literally the worst thing you can show me. The third part of this book shows me just how much spirit Winston had in the first two parts because they destroy it in the third. They break his body, they make him watch other human beings break, they shove his biggest fear in his face, and then they destroy Winston. They destroy his mind and every aspect of the character that the reader grew to know and they stretch that mother out.<br />
<br />
Asking one love his enemy, but not the Christiany sort of love, is sick. I think this is the bit of the over that I don't quite understand. I totally just read Raymond Carver's "What we talk about when we talk about love." And this form of love was not explained in the short story. I don't know how Winston's changed perspective of Big Brother. I think that it's just that you can't know what it's like to 'love' Big Brother until you do.<br />
<br />
<br />Iris K. Foxxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334694931288998314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-15473320848240692202013-05-03T18:40:00.001-04:002013-05-03T23:51:43.296-04:00I Have Lost the Ability to CANSo it literally took me 4 hours to figure out how to watch The Island last night. The internet was such crap that the video wasn't loading and I could not find a place to buy it online. I almost punched my computer into space. SPACE.<br />
<br />
And in the end it wasn't even worth it. Now, it wasn't completely awful or anything but it just made me sangry (sad angry). This is the reason why I don't watch movies because they are so emotionally draining. The chase scenes make me anxious as hell and then I get irrationally mad at movie characters. I love Scarlet Johanson, she is my wife, but she I couldn't get into this movie.<br />
<br />
My main issue is that the 'evil' in this movie is way too tweed-ily mustache for me. To view the clone versions of their clients as products is too much for me to fully grasp. I mean, people get uncomfortable hearing the cries of a furby, let alone they would all sit and watch a grown man get dragged away by his calves. I know that this is true in certain environments and if the environment is severe enough it can cause people to become horrible. This is how huge human atrocities happen but my issue is that they didn't dehumanize the clones.<br />
<br />
The people in the silo where the clones were kept, unaware of the world outside, that helped by feeding the clones and teaching them aren't treating them like they are less than human. This is why the idea that these workers would sit and watch as the clones were attacked and treated in this way. I am 100% sure that there would be more than one Mac in this movie.<br />
<br />
I don't even feel like I'm being overly optimistic about humanity at this point. I think that the fact that we have gotten this far as a race is enough for me to confidently say that I think more than two people would see the the atrocities and at least report the company to a reporter for a paltry sum of money.Iris K. Foxxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334694931288998314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-38369196657233677502013-05-03T17:45:00.001-04:002013-05-03T17:51:20.118-04:00Closing Thoughts, End of the SemesterHell yeah! Summer Break!<br />
<br />
Would I have said that sixteen weeks ago, when I was dealing with health issues and the question of whether or not I would return to Hood for the semester? No, certainly not. The idea of living at home for weeks, without work or a plan, terrified me.<br />
<br />
This semester, we've studied all varieties of Utopias, starting with some of the more aged texts, into more modern utopias that become more and more radical, upon the verge of dystopia. All of these texts, in some form or another, approach an issue with the society at the time in which it was written and proposes a system that fixes the problem. Or the text (alternatively) warns where the current system must ultimately lead.<br />
<br />
So, since Utopians can be far off, or as close as the next day, it's important to think about how we act on a daily basis (that's the only way to reach towards the idea of a Utopia, right?). As we discussed, not having a purpose is terrifying. We need to do <i>something</i>, whether or not it's a single talent like playing an instrument, or exercising at the gym every day for hours, or reading twenty books, or staying up until four in the morning building a megalith in Minecraft. And, while I know these examples aren't great for my point, it shouldn't be selfish purpose.<br />
<br />
So, with exams next week, I challenge you to think of a goal of something to do this summer. I don't mean something simple like, "Oh, I'll go swimming on fridays!". I mean <i>something</i> something. Do something substantial. Join your local Habitat for Humanity, take part in coaching a local Parks and Rec. team, or join a book club. Do something that, when the end of the summer comes, you can look back in pride and say, "I made a difference and had fun". So, what is your Utopian goal for the summer? Hopefully, not too many days indoors ;) ...<br />
<br />
As for me, I'll be studying and preparing to take my MCAT's to get into medical school. My Utopian dream of helping people through medicine is far off, but I can get there one small step at a time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02239338206832555884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-66272316183775538602013-05-02T12:39:00.003-04:002013-05-02T12:39:56.792-04:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Island for me was just an okay movie. In the beginning I
was really interested because of the way Lincoln began his day. I liked the
idea of the talking screen that interacted with him. I know we mentioned it in
class, but it was never answered… a question that I had was “Why is he missing
his left shoe?” I don’t think that this was ever even mentioned again
throughout the movie nor was there any significance, but it unfortunately stuck
with me throughout the entire movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By the way that Lincoln acted I feel like this movie began
to get really corny. He seemed like a typical young child who runs off to
explore what he is strictly forbidden to do. He is represented as a human, even
though the outside world thinks of him as a motionless sack of goop and organs.
His ability to search for more, to go against the authority, and to set a plan
into action shows he is more human than anyone could have imagined. I
particularly like the quote that his ‘original copy’ said. He mentioned
something about Lincoln being his insurance policy. However, it really was
ironic when Lincoln was the one who out smarted the authorities into believing
that he was the real Lincoln and living, while the ‘original copy’ was killed.
This also showcases his human qualities. I just likes the idea that he
outsmarted the ‘original copy’ when the entire movie before he was shown to be
an immature and innocent clone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think that the idea of the lottery was awesome. What
better way to engage and motivate people to be their best and work hard every
day when there is a private island awaiting them? Although I thought this
sounded like a cool place to go, I had an idea that it was too good to be true.
I felt like this movie was a typical cliché utopian/science fiction movie,
liked we had talked about in class. Flying motorcycles that Lincoln can suddenly
drive really irritated me. Here was a character that had been so immature and
oblivious to any real world situations that was now driving a powered flying
vehicle and saving the world. What also really irritated me was the fact that
he and Irene fell many stories only to survive miraculously. The use of
technology did not irritate me as much. I was intrigued by the idea of the
clones because I think that this is something people in our modern world would
want to have. People want to stay beautiful. They also want to live as long as
they can. With so many people getting cancer and being involved in accidents, I
think that this idea of cloning for body parts would be something Americans
would promote. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think the real question when talking about cloning is the
stand on moral beliefs. Is this clone a human? Is this clone an individual? It
is a line that is unclear for many people, even in the movie. However, in the
movie we see that perhaps these clones are more human and individual than first
thought. If people did not think of them as such, why would the developers need
to make the buyers believe the clones we unconscious and big blobs? People do
want to be labeled as murderers. It’s a controversial issue that we may
possibly one day see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I could not stop thinking about the connection to 1984 that
this movie had. “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength”. All
of the clones were told that they were free and safe from the contamination,
when in reality they were being held captive underground from a world they were
never meant to know. By the clones not knowing anything, they were safe from
harm and confrontation with the leaders of the cloning organization. Lincoln
chose to ask questions and longed to become knowledgeable. This created problems
for him. He was a target then. In order for him to find peace and live the life
that he always thought he had, he had to create war. Through the war that he
went through, he was able to be free in another sense that he and all the other
clones had never known. This was only achieved once they were all out of the
utopia that had been created. I think the best part about the movie was that
Lincoln lived and was able to fool the officials into believing he was the real
Lincoln. He finally was able to find a place in a real world where he was
accepted, and where he could think for himself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I was happy for all of the
clones at the end. However, I already had predicted this would happen. I think
that these clones are all going to have a hard time adjusting to this life. I
think that the owners of these ‘insurance policies’ will get mad that their
clones are running around trying to live normal lives. It would almost be worth
seeing a sequel, but I’m not sure I’m ready to see the corny storyline of that either.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Britni Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725137910820027488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-53960278002323481552013-05-01T13:33:00.001-04:002013-05-01T13:33:50.342-04:00What Has Been Keeping MJ From Updating; Also: IsolationSo, that old saying "Bit off more than you can chew" really applies here, to my blog posting. I had made the awesome decision to do all of my blog posts in story format, and ended up slipping into a Socrates-like story where I'm saying all of the things I'd normally say only <i>to</i> somebody. Which, I guess, worked out for me. For, like, three posts.
<br><center><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/24e225c957041d3bd74c20549502f630/tumblr_mj3e9hEgdp1ryu3g1o1_250.gif"></center>
<br>I got freaked out about my little stories sounding bad, or becoming repetitive. In the end, I became <i>that</i> student, the one who needs to post something like ten blog posts before the end of the week or else her grade will be really poor.
<br>
<br>So, we're doing a new thing. If I've got the story pre-written, I'm gonna post it as is. Otherwise, I'm going to take my big file of half-written blog posts and put them together in a standard format. And you will love it. I promise you.
<br>
<br>So, let's talk Bioshock.
<br>
<br>I'm playing Bioshock again for work on my last paper for this class. Among the things I'm discussing within the Utopian setting of Rapture is the isolation involved in Rapture's underwater world. For those of you who haven't played Bioshock, here's a trailer for the game.
<br><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Lmw78t8NgIE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br>Rapture is an isolated fallen Utopia (not a dystopia, per se, but a world that had been a Utopia at one point but had fallen to ruin.) The world was created in the mindset of Andrew Ryan (the narrator of the trailer), who wanted a Libertarian-esque world where no outside forces could come in and screw things up.
<br>
<br>This sense of isolation is something I've noticed before in other works. In <i>Herland</i>, the female world is set aside from the rest of the population, the same with More's <i>Utopia</i>, and our recent viewing of <i>The Island</i>. Other Utopian stories we've discussed, such as <i>1984</i>, <i>Minority Report</i>, <i>Gattaca</i>, and <i>Brave New World</i> have the whole world changed rather than just an isolated segment. For places like Twin Oaks in Virginia, isolation makes this system work, but I still see the "whole world change" as significantly more realistic. A slow, gradual change over the world can change everything just a little bit at a time, rather than isolating and completely altering everything at once.
<br>
<br>What do you guys think?MJ Swicegoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527464640293594368noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-28065853392747394672013-05-01T12:29:00.000-04:002013-05-01T12:29:02.811-04:00<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So, after a long, exhausting,
frustrating day of work, I decided to come home and watch <i>The
Island</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> thinking I would be
entertained with some philosophical questions, problems, and
solutions to some idea of utopia. What I got was a cliched
movie (when it started, my mother asked if this was the sequel to
</span><i>Gattaca</i><span style="font-style: normal;">) with
ridiculous amounts of actions scenes that put me to sleep before
twenty minutes before the movie ended – and I </span><i>never</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
fall asleep while watching movies, no matter how tired I am. </span>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">But
enough about the experience, onto my reactions and thoughts about the
ideas in the movie.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-style: normal;">Why
would the people in our society want to live forever or live for an
extremely long time? </span></b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Almost
everyone I have talked to has said that they do not want to live
forever, and they would want to die in their 80s because by then they
would have lived a full life. Besides, the life outside of the
underground shelter did not seem any better than it currently is. So,
again, why have a harvestable clone that prolongs your life?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-style: normal;">What
would happen if people found out that the clones were not vegetative?</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOo64t-7RUZAfYTtmgR_pyzokUAQfu4gRimkYr7kFPGjNaEagGsNkbJQA3_TZQtfnJ2sTOKNFlCSboezYOVFEMPe1EZG0MR34V68KEU8LQLYFVjMzfXYfPP6shIBXJef-j7_2-arJPF4g/s1600/the-island-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOo64t-7RUZAfYTtmgR_pyzokUAQfu4gRimkYr7kFPGjNaEagGsNkbJQA3_TZQtfnJ2sTOKNFlCSboezYOVFEMPe1EZG0MR34V68KEU8LQLYFVjMzfXYfPP6shIBXJef-j7_2-arJPF4g/s320/the-island-3.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-style: normal;">This
society seems rather selfish if it wants to live forever or at least
a long time. It kind of reminds me of the Nike situation. When the
news of the Nike sweatshops went on a whirlwind, everyone was
disgusted and outraged! Yet, people are still buying Nike brand, do
they really care? Would the people of the society in </span><i>The
Island</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> care, or only care that
they are getting the best product they can and will be better for it?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">While
I understand that the movie is a pastiche of utopian ideas and
theories, it did not come across utopian or dystopian at all. It felt
like a poorly executed, futuristic, action sci-fi drama with a love
story. The people in the bomb shelter utopia were not happy until
they won the lottery (they could not even eat what they wanted →
bacon!) and the people above ground were not happy with the time they
were given on earth or the physical and medical issues they were
given. Neither group/society was happy and I do not believe that they
were working towards happiness either, something that I feel is part
of utopia. </span>
</div>
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<span style="font-style: normal;">Image 1: www.memecenter.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-style: normal;">Image 2: http://</span><span class="irc_hd irc_iis"><a class="irc_hol irc_itl" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=fv-WArBXbYg0IM&tbnid=PNBZAFWpI_kSgM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpopreflection.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F02%2F12%2Freview-the-island%2F&ei=pUKBUdWqD6nh0wHFmIHgBg&bvm=bv.45921128,d.dmQ&psig=AFQjCNFRwxxeT3NfN89qZU4pN5rdAladHg&ust=1367510701181042"><span class="irc_ho">popreflection.wordpress.com</span></a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051290217927979730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-72768854385991583762013-04-30T21:37:00.001-04:002013-04-30T21:37:56.482-04:00FINAL BLOG<br />
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My final blog post!!!!!!!!!! This is what my final blog post
is about and the topic is the one thing or I should say person I actually CARE
about in this world and she is the only person I actually exude any energy
over. That person is my two year old daughter, Piper, and as stated earlier she
is the only person to be able to get a wide array of emotions out of me. So
there my readers have it. There is someone I am actually not just simply
“whatever” over. </div>
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On the first day of class we were asked what would our idea of
utopia is or something to that effect. I forget what I said the first day, but
I would like to change that if I may. Having had time to mull this over, my new
idea for a perfect world would be one in which my daughter would have a perfect
life and one where she never had any heartaches, pain or problems. Now I am
routinely told that conflict makes us stronger people and that you have to be
sad in order to know what happiness is. I think Kahlil Glibran wrote about
that. While everyone is correct on that I must admit to being the stereotypical
parent in that I feel that the more I can lessen the pain she has to go through
in life the better off she will be. </div>
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All of this does tie into the idea of
utopia though and this is how I expressing my humble opinion, and after hearing
all these different types of utopias, I believe that the only true utopia that
can exist is the one you make for yourself. There is no magical pill, no stroke
of the pen that can make every one happy and live in a state of nirvana. It’s
up to each of us individually to create his or her own utopia. Every day people
choose more or less to either be happy or sad (Abraham Lincoln) unless you’re
someone like I am who is happily oblivious to everything. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>
The point of all this is that utopia will never happen in the broad sense of
society because there is no one thing or state of existence that makes everyone
happy. Therefore, we all should be happy in our own way so that we can all have
our own, self-made utopia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=r2VEoFyOUoHkyM&tbnid=Z1HXtL2XpOOokM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgordonandthewhale.com%2Flaff-2010-review-utopia-in-four-movements%2F&ei=uXCAUeTfMqfC4APYy4DgBQ&bvm=bv.45645796,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNG8fDujyfdEBrSHbd-ZBYeaMD0JhA&ust=1367458352305403" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="393" id="irc_mi" src="http://gordonandthewhale.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Utopia-in-Four-Movemens.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="618" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732848492988715858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-54669750239666146352013-04-30T20:22:00.002-04:002013-04-30T20:22:26.709-04:00Minority Report
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The film Minority Report was in my humble opinion a pretty
decent picture. I admit there were definitely some elements that put me off,
and some were really questionable as to whether they would be actually viable. For
instance, the whole notion of how the balls are created exactly. Still the
movie was well done in that it was a fun movie to watch and also showcased some
talented acting. Now I have criticized Tom Cruise in the past for playing the
same roles over and over, but most time when he has a new movie coming out I
will still go to see it. One might ask what exactly does all this have to do
with a utopia? Well, I would say it’s the notion of the whole free will versus
predestination debate. My simple opinion on this and please do remember that
opinions are like ass holes in that everyone has one, is that while humans will
always have the free will to do whatever they so aptly desire there is also
some credence to the whole predetermination philosophy. While I am usually
totally against believing that because something happened to someone then that
same something will happen to someone else, but this is actually true when it
comes to humans in terms of our health. For instance if your family has a
history of addiction the there is a strong <span style="font-size: 14pt;">CHANCE
(</span>notice that word please) that you will have an addictive personality.
The same can be said for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and the
list I’m sure goes on and on. The overall point I would like make is that
nothing will ever completely, 100 percent accurately predict how a person’s
life will turn out but, if you look at adverse effects from the past, both
internal and external, it may help in some slight way to at least explain to a
person what he or she should do or avoid in order to have a better life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732848492988715858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-81207916611870817162013-04-30T11:50:00.001-04:002013-04-30T11:50:55.985-04:00Looking Forward: The City on a Hill Revisited
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So this is it. We've reached the end
of the semester, and aside from feeling totally burnt out, I think
I've learned quite a bit about utopias over the past fifteen-odd
weeks. We've seen shining republics (with pastries), spiritual
cities, theocracies, classical utopias, weird martian utopias, modern
dystopias, and lots of explosions in an utopian/dystopian(?) Michael
Bay film.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1jLTnDwk65ydExZ5i89C31xHzNFTNsenkd_0Gj5NREEsaRdx96AybsiMos2T4MKPpN20atDPLn1VQYxCq79bz8T5nHFHg_Er4GNZL9cwbmNEFNCC5Hqv8Sd9xHViL4wZRtze0kSOxsHY/s1600/Michael+Bay+meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1jLTnDwk65ydExZ5i89C31xHzNFTNsenkd_0Gj5NREEsaRdx96AybsiMos2T4MKPpN20atDPLn1VQYxCq79bz8T5nHFHg_Er4GNZL9cwbmNEFNCC5Hqv8Sd9xHViL4wZRtze0kSOxsHY/s1600/Michael+Bay+meme.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjw121SdVujSEZTqmm_nDrMHv1-4uvcWvYq53ME_G61a1kpw1voTAIzFIq4OQ67ktblL1ccmt6s4iYoPi7uh9gS1fazxiOXGeTBvCVcZK1rvYWZon2hNt7tY6nqDVoeZ_y_V0IBHQmQWI/s1600/Michael+Bay+meme02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjw121SdVujSEZTqmm_nDrMHv1-4uvcWvYq53ME_G61a1kpw1voTAIzFIq4OQ67ktblL1ccmt6s4iYoPi7uh9gS1fazxiOXGeTBvCVcZK1rvYWZon2hNt7tY6nqDVoeZ_y_V0IBHQmQWI/s1600/Michael+Bay+meme02.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Leftovers again?! </i></div>
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At the beginning of the semester, most
of us agreed that an utopia is not a perfect place; rather, it is
better than the one we currently occupy. Similarly, we will probably
never be able to achieve a perfect world, but that doesn't mean we
shouldn't try.</div>
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I think I may have realized something
this semester. What if the definition of utopia is wrong? What if, in
our real-world sense, the closest we ever get to an utopia is by
helping each other and trying to make the world a better place?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In that case, our “City on a Hill”
is already here. When we help others, we come the closest to an
utopia that we ever will. As the saying goes, “It's not the end
result of the quest that matters; it's the getting there that
counts.”</div>
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What if an utopia is the process by
which we try to make the world a better place?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteR79bXHk-Q7IB5BO05pRH42Fx52eXh44gYMWih8NJ6dMDiQI_KYqV0dLZ-LVTUPNLkTw5yAG0vGJLakFtFDPjsPPXyNZ_pCLHU0r83W4VQeL_TeVQFhZzrKa8Lh1zCr7YWxBWLFOkq7G/s1600/City+on+a+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteR79bXHk-Q7IB5BO05pRH42Fx52eXh44gYMWih8NJ6dMDiQI_KYqV0dLZ-LVTUPNLkTw5yAG0vGJLakFtFDPjsPPXyNZ_pCLHU0r83W4VQeL_TeVQFhZzrKa8Lh1zCr7YWxBWLFOkq7G/s320/City+on+a+Hill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Michael Bay meme taken from www.joblo.com. Comparative photo of <i>The Island</i> and <i>Transformers 3</i> taken from www.reddit.com. Image of the City on a Hill taken from insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com.)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767148454486447415noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-87281616635403546722013-04-30T02:01:00.002-04:002013-04-30T02:05:50.477-04:00Regarding Utopia in Today's SocietyThere was a comment in class from a few weeks ago where the United States was observed to be a very rich, prosperous nation. In honesty, part of me cringed when I heard this said. It's not so much that I disagree with that the US is a prosperous nation. Certainly, our version of poverty is unlike that of a nation where people have trouble eating due to famine. However, I think it's important to look at our country from more pragmatic eyes.<br />
<br />
Crime in our country, whether it's civil or criminal, is present despite the best intentions of our government. Our Congress holds an all time low of trust with the people .. due to the massive amounts of money that is swaying our representative's votes. People struggle with two, sometimes three jobs, to barely pay bills and feed their families.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aHGzlzx.mCNI&refer=home">I don't know if you remember, but some years ago, there was this thing called the Housing Bubble crash</a>.</div>
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That period marked a time where the value of homes plummeted, yet the value of the mortgages stayed high simply because the banks didn't want to admit fault and accept the debt by re-evaluating mortgages. Homeowner's couldn't meet the cost of the mortgage by selling their homes, and many people abandoned their property. Some stories even rose of families living out of a U-Haul.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Our nation may be 'prosperous' when you look at our GDP, but we are nowhere near prosperous when it comes to individual happiness and freedom from strife. Each of us must fight for our own survival, and no nation, regardless of the system and its origins, can prevent tragedy .. whether it results from debt, violent crime, or abuse.</div>
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No Utopian system, no matter how 'perfect' or 'prosperous' it may seem, can save each and every single individual. I am a victim of abuse, and many of my close friends are as well. Each tragedy that occurs shapes who we are and defines us on some level, and no Utopia can prevent all individuals from falling through the cracks. </div>
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Whether it's the land of the free and the home of the brave, or a dystopia where there's no reason to think .. where ignorance is peace and freedom is slavery .. no system can fix every individual issue because (as we've found time and again) no individual perfectly conforms to the laws and ideals of a society. Is the US a prosperous country? Certainly. Is it Utopian, certainly not. </div>
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We, as humans, will never be free from strife. Bernard in "Brave New World" was an outcast because of his height, while Helmholtz was an outcast due to his genius. No Utopian system perfectly accommodates each individual, so why bother trying? </div>
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A bleak outlook? Maybe. But does that invalidate the point?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02239338206832555884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-54777778751203011722013-04-30T01:19:00.002-04:002013-04-30T01:31:28.039-04:00Monday Morning TV<br />
Every warm morning in the summer of my high school years, I would share my mornings with my Dad. Every morning, after waking from the alarm, getting showered and dressed for work, I would share an hour or so as we both prepared. I would have a small plate of two cooked eggs with ketchup (he an egg tortilla wrap with cheese), and we would share an hour watching all of the classic Gene Roddenberry Star Trek reruns.<br />
While I was watching The Island, it wasn't really the themes of white spandex jumpsuits, government surveillance, or intersocial disruption that made me think of Utopia. Humorously enough, it was the, "I'm Tom Lincoln!" exchange.<br />
<br />
It reminded me of the Star Trek episode, one of which I saw with my Dad that morning, called "The Enemy Within". It's an episode where Kirk is split into two people: one that is the good in Kirk, and the other that is the evil in him. It explores the limits of humanity which drive and power us all. It shows that a balance between both good and evil bring out the very best (or, possibly, the very worst in us).<br />
<br />
"We all have our darker side. We need it! It's half of what we are. It's not really ugly. It's human."<br />
<i>- McCoy, to Kirk's good duplicate</i><br />
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<br />
Months back, I posted about how there's no such thing as a Utopia, or one that we can actually live in. We found that it's something we're always striving for, and something we'll never accomplish because people are always becoming dedicated to revolutionary new ideas that we believe can change the world for the better.<br />
I've written in the past that it's the innate human desire to excel, or for freedom, or to be happy, that prevents a Utopia from being realized. As of late, I'm beginning to think that it's the struggle between the emotions inside of us that prevent a true Utopia. There's no way of brainwashing people into being model citizens because various external influences pull us to and fro like puppets at the hand of a puppeteer.<br />
<br />
It's the combination of demons that brings out the best in us and the worst in us, allowing us either to achieve our goals while maintaining a respect for others or to harm those whom we should care for. Even the slightest imbalance in any single individual's heart upsets any possibility for a Utopia that can be realized and sustained.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02239338206832555884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-50324733255903137362013-04-29T23:04:00.002-04:002013-04-29T23:04:45.804-04:00Utopia-ception<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This evening I treated myself and my boyfriend to a night at the movie theatre. We decided to see Oblivion, starring Tom Cruise, because we had no idea what any of the other movies were. Oblivion is basically an end-of-the-Earth movie, where the moon has been blown up by an alien population, which caused earthquakes and tsunamis, making the planet virtually uninhabitable. The whole Earth population had been relocated to Titan, one of Saturn's moons. Tom Cruise's character John is based on Earth with a partner, Victoria, to help repair the machines that harness sea water for energy. Along the way, John gets a little too curious and learns that the plan for life on Titan is not what it seems to be. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp9fvQMAuQD66qVSSgSZdRJGYyo-DLOqbxOdOpmbDV5DK7ukVem57641b9N1cHeFmShbjboYU_tTwIxhQ11lpdhrqtKAqYooERISgRSa55rfD31oKh4MPXqWnEU-jF1OjmFhiep4-f1Iz/s1600/oblivion-movie-9-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp9fvQMAuQD66qVSSgSZdRJGYyo-DLOqbxOdOpmbDV5DK7ukVem57641b9N1cHeFmShbjboYU_tTwIxhQ11lpdhrqtKAqYooERISgRSa55rfD31oKh4MPXqWnEU-jF1OjmFhiep4-f1Iz/s320/oblivion-movie-9-copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a little bit of a stretch, but I can definitely see utopian concepts in this film. When Earth was rendered uninhabitable, a plan needed to be formulated, thus Titan. At his home on Earth, John and Victoria's lives are dictated in every aspect. They rely on their higher-ups to send them all supplies and take orders from them for missions each day. Their house is streamlined and almost antiseptic how clean and white it is. Adhering to all the rules, Victoria is afraid to bring anything from outside into her house, fearing contamination. John blindly takes orders to kill off any aliens that he comes in contact with, because they are still the enemy despite looking exactly like a human being. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl04nbBWA__0gW39mQen4J7Udx1PD39MLd38HdZGegPvql6PXaB5QYEbmGNIwrv0sJnY8nCFcXca18Du2U2p8Bc2rfakEWCQICQr9Env8l6GPgz1N9F9QKrTpPT-BdsHf_OrvUov7EZLvW/s1600/oblivion-movie-image_3jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl04nbBWA__0gW39mQen4J7Udx1PD39MLd38HdZGegPvql6PXaB5QYEbmGNIwrv0sJnY8nCFcXca18Du2U2p8Bc2rfakEWCQICQr9Env8l6GPgz1N9F9QKrTpPT-BdsHf_OrvUov7EZLvW/s320/oblivion-movie-image_3jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John and Victoria's home</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the more utopian aspects that I found was the fact that the society, in the end, could not hold together. In the texts that we have read for this class, the utopian plan does not make everyone content and there is some type of disintegration of the community or an attempt at a revolt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even during the previews I was bombarded with another Utopian film, Elysium. First of all, it looks really cool and stars Matt Damon, so I'm definitely going to see it. From what I could tell from the preview, Elysium is essentially a big space station that is where all the best people go. There's nothing bad on Elysium (the preview showed a woman being scanned and showing trace amounts of cancer and then having it taken away immediately). But, back on Earth, life is a different story: the planet is in shambles and there is a rogue group of people, Matt Damon's character included, that feel the need to take down Elysium if they want to save the human population. The preview left a lot to the imagination, but it definitely got me hooked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These two films show me that we are fascinated with utopias and dreaming of another way of life. Also, because utopias can be a commentary on things in our current world, it sure seems that film writers have some issues with the way things are going. I do not ever see a time when utopian literature or films will not exist, they are simply too compelling.</span></div>
Erin Droneburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306881588607945120noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-86033607420016356802013-04-29T19:23:00.000-04:002013-04-29T19:23:50.364-04:00Past the Finish Line<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
A little behind schedule here, but I would like to discuss my favorite points about the book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Herland</i> by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. This book brings a question to my mind: are we attempting to “progress” as a society in an attempt to reach a certain end? Or are we simply innovating for the sake of doing something different? The passage that brings these questions to mind is this:</div>
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“The years of pioneering lay far behind them. Theirs was a civilization in which the initial difficulties had long since been overcome. The untroubled peace, the unmeasured plenty, the steady health, the large good will and smooth management which ordered everything, left nothing to overcome. It was like a pleasant family in an old established, perfectly run country place.”</div>
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Terry had problems with the fact that a society could exist in these types of conditions.</div>
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“Life is a struggle, has to be . . . if there is no struggle, there is no life-that’s all.”</div>
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I feel like most people these days pretty much agree with Terry. Nobody seems to be satisfied with a steady life in which their needs are perfectly met. I think that this is a problem and will continue to cause turmoil throughout the world. The final product seems like it was about 20 years ago to me.</div>
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The only outlook many people have for the future is technology. Evidence for this in all of the utopian/dystopian films we have watched in class recently. The main features include genetically perfected children and Tom Cruise throwing around data in the air with his light up magic gloves. As far as I can tell, people won’t be satisfied until doctors are able to implant metal hearts in their chests and brains in their heads so that they can be immortal. But even then I’m sure people wouldn’t be satisfied.</div>
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Obviously I’m pretty anti-technology and I’m sure that’s getting real old, real quick for people who actually read my blogs. Some people probably even think that hating technology is corny and unoriginal. I’ll tell you what’s corny though: zooming around in a “smart” six foot long metal box on wheels, scrolling through all of your social websites on your touch screen iphone that has a cracked screen . . . oh wait! Don’t forget to listen to the digital voice coming out of your Garmin telling you where to turn next because you can’t read the 20 foot green signs that tell you where to go-thanks, but I’ll stick with my map. I can see it now, one day I’ll be driving down the highway and notice that there are no more road signs. They will all have been taken down overnight because there will be a GPS built into every single car!</div>
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Think about the major “innovations” and technological progressions that have taken place in the past decade. Two that immediately come to mind are Google and Facebook. First I’ll take a look at Google. Let’s see, pretty much anything that interests you can be accessed in about three seconds by just “googling” it! I cannot even begin to try and count the number of tests that I have done zero amount of reading for, paid no attention in class, “googled” everything the night before and got a solid B+ on. It doesn’t help me learn; in fact I retain pretty much nothing when I try to learn things this way. Organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful. Now that’s a dream come true.</div>
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Man, I get fired up just thinking about Facebook. Never in my life will I support something so utterly useless and devastating to the world that I live in. The people who sit on Facebook all day are the same ones who complain about inequality throughout our country. Maybe there is inequality because you support a man like Mark Zuckerberg who is worth 10 billion dollars and done nothing but “make us all connected.”</div>
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As much as I have tricked myself into thinking that I enjoy things like YouTube and Google, I’m sure that I would be better off without them. Nothing makes my brain feel more like mashed potatoes than staring at the front page of YouTube and not knowing what I want to search for.</div>
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Technology does some good things, but it isn’t our savior. We need to take steps to make the world a better place without becoming reliant, using technology to overcome bad choices/lifestyles. I’m sure that we will never consider ourselves finished in our “pioneering” quest.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05355418815240200148noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-21380226412284821392013-04-29T18:54:00.003-04:002013-04-29T18:54:24.758-04:00A final thought (maybe) from Gattaca
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I heard on the radio the other day a commercial that made me
think of Gattaca, and I wanted to share it. It was advertising for open
enrollment for women to donate their eggs and men to donate sperm. It mentioned
that screenings need to be done to show health and physical fitness. It also
addressed the need to make a profile, so possible parents can pick the best
candidate for their selection. This gives future parents the option of choosing
an athletic build, blue eyes, blonde hair, or whatever their preference. I find
this amusing since Gattaca is still fresh in my mind. Everyone wants to be able
to pick the perfect child. What one person sees as perfect, another may not.
But this is not the point. The point is that perfection is what people are
longing to get. They want a child who will thrive. We are coming closer and
closer to that day of genetically modifying our children. … God help us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Britni Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725137910820027488noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-37442328156271809662013-04-29T17:54:00.000-04:002013-04-29T17:54:38.918-04:00A Word on my Personal Utopia and a Public ApologyFirst of all, if you haven't noticed from my blog posts I am a "cup half full" kind of girl. I believe in the good in people and the world and genuinely think that love and compassion can go a long way in making a better place for us all to live. I try my best to be a good person and do good things and to not be offensive. I also have a dark cynical sarcastic side but I try to keep it contained. Not to say that I don't feed it every once and a while. Regardless, it was brought to my attention after class today, in an extremely inappropriate manner, that I may have offended some people with a comment that I made during our discussion. I just want to be clear and open and honest and set the record straight that my intention is never to be rude or disrespectful or to hurt anyone's feelings. And I am not exaggerating when I say that I think that people with good intentions who make even small steps or small sacrifices towards any positive outcome can make a difference in our world. Therefore I would not want to do anything to negate that ideal. I know that words can hurt and I am not in the business of hurting others. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01189641155676288659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-5040227276229657602013-04-29T14:43:00.001-04:002013-04-29T14:43:30.774-04:00Death NoteDEATH NOTE<br />
I didn't think there was enough information in the series to write it for my paper but I wanted to talk about it because I felt it fit the class.<br />
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One of the books I was reading was the manga <i>Death Note</i>. And I found its idea of utopia an interesting, if overly simplistic idea.<br />
For Those of you who are not familiar with the series <i>Death Note </i>is an anime/manga about a High School student named Light Yagami who discovers a notebook with the words <i>Death Note</i> written on it. On the inside it claims that if you write a person's name and think of their face they will die.<br />
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Light is skeptical but decides to try it out on a criminal holding a bunch of kids hostage. To his surprise the Death Note works. He tests it again to double check and again it works. He freaks out realizing that he killed people but gets over it rather quickly deciding that they did deserve to die and he was going to make the world a better place by killing all criminals in the world<br />
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And that is the goal of Light Yamagi for the rest of the story. (Besides making even the most mundane action completely over the top)<br />
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However people obviously oppose his actions in killing criminals without a trial or anything similar and they attempt to arrest. This ends up being the main plot of the story where a famous detective known as L tries to discover how the killer (known as Kira in public) is doing the killings and prove his real identity while Light is trying to discover L's real name and face so he can kill him.<br />
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What makes this relevant to a Utopia class though is Light's goals. He is actively trying to create a Utopia. And this is interesting because we usually don't see this side of utopias. We either see the hypothetical of how a utopia should be created, or we join one once its already been created. So just seeing it from the creative perspective is interesting.<br />
Further <i>Death Note</i> idea to get rid of bad stuff is simply to kill off all people who commit crimes. This is a somewhat interesting perspective because on one hand you are getting rid of all the people who would hurt others. Most people would not disagree that getting rid of, at least the most violent serial killers, would not be a negative thing. And the novel explores both sides of this idea. On one hand with Light's actions crime goes down substantially, getting to the point where criminals are very rare and do whatever possible to hide their identities. On the other hand the world is not shown as becoming a positive world because of it but still rather darker and more negative as the show goes on. I don't agree myself with this utopia because I see problems where simply killing off criminals would not solve but I believe that some people would think this way. And this is what makes the story interesting.<br />
And at times when Kira disappears the crime rate goes back up again showing that the people were not really changed, but simply afraid to commit crimes. The minute they get a chance to do so they immediately start committing crimes again.<br />
Its a creepy idea and it makes the story itself quite interesting (which is more focused on the mind game between L and Light)<br />
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I recommend it both as an interesting read if you like mind games and as an interesting idea of a rather simplistic utopia.<br />
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Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17652356792460321601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843505866244771620.post-69841316634843552162013-04-29T14:30:00.001-04:002013-04-29T14:30:10.191-04:00And so begins the last minute blogging...I know I aught to be ashamed but I am a college student...so yeah. Nope.<br />
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So to begin this saga we shall start with Brave New World. I don't actually have the book with me right now but that's because I gave it to my friend Pablo Con Carne to read. I thought it was a book to share...but that probably makes me a bad friend. And here are the reasons why:<br />
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<li>It starts with a tour of where human's are mass produced. And not in the creepy mad scientist way but in the innovative way. We are proud that this happened and that we could have progressed this far. To be fair, I'm kind of okay with this. I'm not okay with the classical training and mass production of the same genes thing but the idea of having a baby without a human vessel is pretty cool. Like...it'd be cool to watch a human form but that's really the only appeal I see.</li>
<li>The fact that this society judges people by who they are and not what they do is really sad. It's super sad because we do that now. I mean, it's true that we don't manufacture human beings but we assume things based off of what people look like and their biological...ness. It's a sack of crap.</li>
<li>The book ends in suicide. And it ends in the kind of suicide that just affirms my definition of suicide. I define suicide as societal murder; the pressures of society and the failings of society pushed a person to feeling like they couldn't exist. I know this isn't applicable to all suicides but I think that it's a big player. </li>
<li>So I think one of my biggest beefs is that there is a consciousness of the higher ups about what is happening. They are aware of how crap this society is and that their drugging the population into compliance. They are forsaking future developments and progress in anything to keep this utopia. I...Ju...The....NO. NO! THAT SUCKS AND IT'S STUPID.</li>
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Anyway, I hope Pablo enjoys this book as much as I did. While I did nothing but complain for this entire blog post I am a fan of this book and how it was written. I thought the moments when we were jumping from person to person were awesome. The deep seated passion and anger in these characters was freaking great. </div>
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This post was brought to you by the number 404. Also, by Catbug.</div>
Iris K. Foxxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334694931288998314noreply@blogger.com1