RUR video

RUR video

the last blog

After reading Alan Moore's graphic novel, I am still unsure of what exactly literature can be defined as. I have always known it as a novel, play, or poetry, but this brings me to question my definition of what it literature. I feel like it should be considered literature because it brings in many important themes and references including: the 1920s, Nazi Germany, the man on the moon, as well as cultural icons like the TV and Mickey Mouse. However, does that really make it literature?

I feel like this graphic novel is so scattered over the place and doesn't really flow together that it is to spastic to be considered literature. It took several readings for me to figure out the meaning or purpose behind its publication, and I am still unsure of what exactly that is.

Although it alludes to Shelley's Frankenstein, it seems to settle more with the TV version that with the novel version. I feel like although it makes an attempt to have an in-depth analysis of the world surrounding us, it falls short of being considered literature.

Blade Runner

Blade Runner is very similar to both Frankenstein and Rossum’s Universal Robots in that all three have a negative tone about the effects of scientific creation of humans on society. Just as is seen in R.U.R., in Blade Runner, the robots, though not created with souls, are building emotions and realizing they can act just as humans and thus try to live like normal human beings. By the six robots escaping and going out into the real world to live like humans and try to extend their lives, the robots in the movie are showing how they have created their own emotions and thus begun to have a soul. Their actions, however, are destructive as they seek vengeance on their creators. This is similar to how in R.U.R. the robots began a revolt on the people after the people began a revolt against robotic work. The robots, though created without emotion, have been given the chance to feel pain and do all jobs that normal humans would. The movie, however takes it a step farther than both books because the creator of the robots gives them false memories of real human beings, thus the robots become more prone to acting like humans and fighting for the same rights as those that surround them. The creator took it a step past simple science and delved into creationism by giving the memories of real humans. Through scientific means, these humans were given real life events as their memories, thus playing with God’s actions in a different way. However, as much the movie tries to impose the idea that no God is needed to create life, it shows that God is actually of importance. Without the idea of creationism, the human memories that were transcribed into the robots workings would have never existed.

At the end of the movie, Roy, the main conspirator of the robots, is speaking to Decker about how you can not live in fear of life or be a slave to anybody but yourself. Also, memories are only truly memories if you, yourself, make them. By sparing Decker’s life at the end, it is proving how God is really the sole creator and no other means should be used to create life.

Frankenstein v. RUR

Both Frankenstein and R.U.R. have an underlying element of technology. In Shelley’s novel, we as readers see the effects that the creation of Victor’s monster has had on him and on his family. By using this technological advancements to create an almost super human type being, he is isolating himself from the world. Similarly, in Capek’s play, the creation of the robots is causing not just the demise of the creators, but rather the entire human race as a population; contrary to Victor Frankenstein, these creator’s seem to be somewhat thriving (to an extent) until the robots take over every job.

Reproduction is also talked about in both novels. In Shelley’s novel, Victor is unsure of what havoc the creation of a female monster will bring as he does not know exactly what the personality will end up being. He is scared that they will reproduce, and since they have uncanny strength, kill off humans. In R.U.R., the humans stop reproducing and become somewhat sterile because the robots have been so mass produced the humans don’t even feed themselves anymore, instead the robots do everything. With the surplus of labor, humans simply have to sit back, relax, and watch the robots go to work.

Together, these stories tell how technology can lead to destruction in many different ways. Whether it is because of the effect it has on an individual or on the entire human race. Technology is satisfactory to an extent, and then it is too much. The fine line between the two, however, is often hard to see.

Frankenstein Essay

For my essay, I plan to talk about how technology and destruction seem to go hand in hand with one another. Victor Frankenstein has been away from his family for a very long time, and when he receives notice from his father that his brother has died, he returns home. On page 56, Victor realizes that his own creation has killed his brother. “A flash of lightning illuminated the object, and discovered it shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instant informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy daemon to whom I had given life…He was the murdered!” This is important because it serves has the first time he has seen his creation since it was made and it is a realization that he has done evil.

Next, when the monster is telling his story to Victor, he recalls how emotionally hurt he has become by not being able to be accepted by society. He tells of the girl who fell into the stream and how he “rushed from [his] hiding place…and dragged her to shore” (115) only to be put at gun point by what seemed to be her husband. He then sought revenge on the next human he came across, a little boy, whom he attempted to “seize and educate him as [his] companion and friend” (117) only to be called a “hideous monster.” He then “grasped his throat to silence him, and in a moment, he lay dead” at the monster’s feet.

Finally, I would also like to examine what happens to Elizabeth as a result of Victor’s creation. Although he attempts to create a female for the monster, he ends up destroying her for fear that she would not keep the same promise that his original creation did. (142). And, the monster warns, “I shall be with you on your wedding night” (140). The death of Elizabeth is played out on pages 164-166.

These are all similar pieces of evidence in that we see the technology Victor used to create this monster ends up causing him pain as loved ones are killed as well as innocent stand-byers. As the story progresses, each time the monster does damage, more and more grief is felt by victor.

blog #4

The introduction of this short story really captures the reader because there is an image of a man, in the midst of war, about to die. This offers the reader the ability to absorb what is happening before delving into the very complex plot that lies ahead. However, there is not enough information given to the reader to understand what the story is actually about.

When the story begins, it is in the third person point of view allowing the reader to get the image of the setting in mind. This perspective sets up for the moment when Farquhar’s thoughts and feelings finally become relevant and expressed. At the beginning of the second part, Farquhar is finally introduced and the story of why how he got to the bridge is explained. Bierce then goes deeper into telling the pain Farquhar was feeling on his wrists because of being hung which takes the narration away from his thoughts for a moment, and more on the physical struggle of that moment, then tells in great detail how he got to be there as if Farquhar is remembering the events for one last time before he actually passes.

By continually switching around what point of view is being used, Bierce is able to create a more complex plot and leave the reader on the edge of their seat as it is unknown what twist is going to come next. By switching tenses, it also allows for different parts of the story to be told at different times, thus information that is important for the beginning is not revealed until the end allowing for ambiguity into what is actually happening to Farquhar.

blog #3: Suicide and Shakespeare

Langston Hughes’s poem Suicide Note is a very short, deep poem that talks about a man deciding to commit suicide. In this particular medium of the poem, it is being machinima-ized to greater embody the tone and seriousness behind this work of literature. By being presented with graphics from the popular video game “Halo,” it shows the lonesomeness that can take over one’s soul when in desolate places where no one is around. Also, by using the song “Mad World” by Gary Jules, the tone is revealed as being one of sorrow and contemplative thoughts because the song is about suicide. The words of the poem appear just as the song lyrics “drown my sorrow, no tomorrow…I find it kind of funny, I kind of sad…” as the character looks down into the river before jumping in. Thus, the machinma version keeping in line with the original vision Hughes had for this poem. Overall, this version of the poem adds to the original literature by setting the mood of the poem before actually showing the lyrics on the screen. As a viewer, I felt the sorrow the character was feeling by seeing the open, vast spaces and hearing the desolate lyrics of the song playing. Then when the poem verses finally appeared on screen, the impact was much more powerful because I felt I had made a connection with the character already.

This comic strip uses William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” to create a satire of the woman’s beauty. In this particular picture, you notice it is raining outside, and that infers bad, ugly weather. The poet is reading to this woman Shakespeare’s sonnet to try and gain affection from her, yet she is detested that she be compared to such bad weather. This comic strip appears to be very satirical which is common in today’s pop cultural era where the entertainment industry (movies, TV, novels, music, and even comic strips) play off of popular culture from the past as well as current events.

back to nature

“All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace” by Richard Brautigan is a very satirical poem about how technology is destroying our world. This begins in the first stanza, line 3, where a “cybernetic meadow” is imagined then goes on to say that animals and computers would “live together in mutually programming harmony.” The tone of this poem, so far, is completely ironic because essentially it would be impossible for the cyber world to take over the beauty of mother nature. This satire continues in the second stanza when “deer stroll past computers as if they were flowers.” Such phrasing sets up thoughts that technology has become to quintessential to our everyday lives that animals, too, now can completely disregard such things as computers in nature because it has become somewhat natural. Finally, the last stanza closes with talk of a “cybernetic ecology” where all are “watched over by machines.” Essentially, we as a human race, are already being watched over by technology because of the strong attachment to our cell phones, laptops, televisions, etc.

Contradictory to this point of view, Brautigan’s poem could be taken in such a way that one thinks technology is beauty that cannot be replaced and now has become “natural” to us as a human race. This begins in the first stanza with the parenthetical note in lines 1-2 “(and the sooner the better!)...“mutually” will animals and technology be one with each other. The poem continues with another note in the second stanza “(right now, please!)” which conveys the idea that technology is ready to be one with nature so that “deer [can] stroll...past computers” and not think twice about how the flowers they once knew are now large rectangular, man-made pieces of electronics. Finally, the last stanza almost insists that technology and mammals will live together in nature one day because it “has to be!” because it is the new “natural” ideal for humans, so other animals, therefore, should accept it as well.

Although both interpretations of this poem are compelling, I believe that Brautigan is truly anti-technology and conveys this through irony and satire. With the 21^st century upon us, and technology at every bit of our finger tips, we as a human race have lost our connection with the natural world around us. We are more concerned with what e-mail we need to check on our Blackberry or what song to play next on our iPod. I think that it is through this satirical tone that Brautigan conveys his wish that humans connect back with nature.

Lifeless hand stretched out for love

John Keats : This Living Hand

This living hand, now warm and capable Of earnest grasping, would, if it were cold And in the icy silence of the tomb, So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights That thou wouldst wish thine own heart dry of blood So in my veins red life might stream again, And thou be conscience-calm'd—see here it is— I hold it towards you.

John Keats (1795-1821) 1819?

In John Keats poem, “This Living Hand” there are three vivid images which are portrayed and help to convey the meaning behind this piece of literature. The living hand, tomb, and blood all work together to show the difficulty he is having finding/falling in love with another. The poem starts with the image of this living hand which seems to be outstretched for another which shows that he is yearning for love. Yet, this idea of being open to love changes when, in line 3, the image of the tomb arises creating the idea that he is trapped in this cold, icy place where love cannot reach him and he, similarly, cannot reach love. The tomb he is trapped in is not a wooden box so to say, but rather his own body, thus, portraying the idea that it is he who is restricting himself from finding love. Keats then goes on to describe the third image of blood in line 5. The first time blood appears in the poem, it is said to be in his dry heart; this dryness comes from being trapped in the tomb and hidden from love, and, although he tries to reach for it, it always seems to be just beyond what he can grasp. His heart is continually closed off from love, thus he has seemed to become frozen in the cold, icy tomb of his body. Yet, line 6 shows optimism as he has hope that one day this dry blood within his veins will be of “red life” again when he is finally able to reach out to the one he loves and feel the same love back. Thus, the poem ends with the image of the hand again, still outstretched for his love to hopefully grasp it back one day.