I read the article, “Society Is Dead: We Have Retreated into the iWorld” byAndrew Sullivan. In this article Sullivan talks about the Ipod people and how technology has given us a universe entirely to our selfs, “Society without the social,” he says.
Basically he went to new york and saw everyone walking around lifelessly with white wires hanging from their ears, from their Ipods. He even admits that he is one of them and how what started as a convenient way to control and hold all of his music became a compulsive obsession. He even goes as far as saying its a cult.
Everything from TV to our phones receiving our emails of our favorite bloggers thoughts; everything is directed to our own basic thoughts and needs. We no longer get to meet new strangers that can give us outside Ideas on worldviews or, an opinion that might force us to
change our mind about something.
Sullivan says, “Music was once the preserve of the living room or the concert hall. It was sometimes solitary but it was primarily a shared experience, something that brought people together, gave them the comfort of knowing that others too understood the pleasure of a Brahms symphony or that Beatles album.” Now we all just hide it away in our little white wires and keep it all to ourselfs. We have a constant soundtrack to our lives to keep ourselfs going through out the day.Finally to close it all out he shares the old I forgot my ipod sob story but flips it. “I noticed the rhythms of others again, the sound of the airplane, the opinions of the taxi driver, the small social cues that had been obscured before. I noticed how others related to each other. And I felt just a little bit connected again and a little more aware.” I know for myself, putting down the technology that i think makes my life so much more manageable, really helps me relax and see the realworld.
Messenger, Erica (2010-01-08). Argument! (Page 279-280). Humanities & Social Science. Kindle Edition.
Shane, i really enjoy the tone in your writting. I have to admit i read all your post and i appreciate your point of view on these issues. I myself, find it hard to really put personality into my writing because of that i envy how effortless it seems for you to write what you think and have it come off so cleverly. Also, you do it in a way that isnt overwhelming or condesending, which tends to happen in cynical pieces. My only critique would be to put more images, especially with this post because it makes it more thought provoking to read.Pictures can really send a message like the S*!t hat pic in the previous blog post, halerious by the way, especially with visual learners like me. So just be consistant with that but overall i really enjoy reading you blog and keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThis is a well done article. You have short paragraphs right to the point. You have a layout with a good intro and ending. Its well done.
ReplyDeleteOnly suggestion that I can think of off the top of my head is.... post some pictures! Show someone walking with an Ipod! Otherwise the format is great!
My favorite part is where you say, "Now all you got to do is pull out your EBAY app, buy your sorrows away." This was making me laugh, they might have this app soon!
Again well done.
I really enjoyed your response to Sullivan's essay. After I read your response I felt that I understood the context in which Sullivan was coming from without reading their essay. I often feel on a daily basis that technology gives us an excuse to be disconnected with each other, that there are dwindling interpersonal relationships. In that sense I am in agreement with you and Sullivan.
ReplyDeleteI have one constructive critique for you though on this particular response. You should practice proper citation. You have a few quotes in your response but I do not know if they are coming from you, or from the author of the original source of information. Its an easy fix and its a great thing to practice.
Keep up your good work, I though of your essay as very attention grabbing and its definitely got me wanting to read the essay.
Shane,
ReplyDeleteWay to go, this is amazing.
Your last paragraph really did it for me
"Finally to close it all out he shares the old I forgot my iPod sob story but flips it. “I noticed the rhythms of others again, the sound of the airplane, the opinions of the taxi driver, the small social cues that had been obscured before. I noticed how others related to each other. And I felt just a little bit connected again and a little more aware.” I know for myself, putting down the technology that i think makes my life so much more manageable, really helps me relax and see the real world." -This is really great, I loved your emotions and your honesty in that.
Thank you for sharing,
The only thing I would change would be a hot link to the article your talking about.
The topic of this caught my attention right away this like its been said before you did a really good job with the tone throughout your writing. I was captured by this and enjoyed reading it. I also think that you should enhance this with a hot link and some pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this article.
Shane, I found your writing very interesting. It kept me hooked to your topic the whole way through. This topic makes the most sense about the world today being hooked into our wires instead of looking at the world without them in. You wrote it very well, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteShane,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your writing. I was able to fully understand your topic, and relate to the " IPOD Zombie Apocalypse." I sometimes have to tell myself not to always have my earphones in my ear. I like the way you express your opinions in all of your writings. The emotional appeal brings life to your blog. My suggestion would be to add some style to your articles by adding pictures and graphic.
Great job!
Shane, you've got the most interesting style of writing. I say this because you are engaged the entire time. I can tell that you enjoy the topic, which is what I like to read. It is crazy, that as a society, we are socially unaware at how ridiculous we look when we use our phones/iPods, etc. It's like we have to have something in our hands to feel like we are normal. We have to be communicating at all times or else we feel lonely. I think that it's actually unhealthy, because we don't have anytime for self development. Which you explained in the last paragraph; how he started to realize what was actually happening around him.
ReplyDeleteMy critique is that you should use full words. Example- "You," instead of, "U," it makes papers longer and looks way more professional.
Jasmine Hood
Shane, Your article was very easy to read. It was informative and entertaining at the same time. The way Sullivan talks about our isolation because of our electronics devices is very sad because we need face time with each other for good mental health.
ReplyDeleteI liked the rhythm you established by giving a quote from the author and then adding your own outlook about it. The only thing that you might have done differently is had more of your ideas, which I found well written and thoughtful, and less of Sullivan.
Great work!
I often find myself taking notice of how many people live and die by their electronics. Like it was said, its cumpolsive and obsessive. Ive never owned an i pod, but ive had a smart phone, and they are addicting. You close your facebook app and then re-open in the next second out of habbit. Its wild how true the statements in this article are. what once was a convenience and a luxury is now a way of life. You explained the article very well, and it made it easy for me to read.
ReplyDelete