Blog Assignment#6-
When reading both Frankenstein and Rossum’s Universal Robots, I saw many similarities to the studies of the characters in each book. Both show the beginning of a love for technology and new ideas in the world. Then they both transition into a fear of new things they created. In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein begins with an obsession over ideas of the creation of life and wants to build his own live creature. As a young child, he is not interested in “typical” areas of study, but rather wants to explore the ideas of philosophy. RUR also begins with the directors of the company explaining their fascination with the robot creatures they have created as well. Their creation may stir up questions about ethics and if it is right to create robots to do the work of humans. Although the directors are aware of this question, they are more concerned with efficiency and productivity of work. Characters from both books are initially very enthralled and excited about their studies and creations. Victor Frankenstein keeps his creation a secret; while on the other hand, the directors of RUR are very open to telling others about the robots. However, by the end of both books, this love for their creations turns into a fear of their creations. This shift occurs fairly rapidly in both books. Frankenstein fears the evil that his creature can cause, for example, his ability to kill a human such as William or Elizabeth. Once Victor discovers what the creature had done, he instantly fears it and regrets his decision to out him together. The Robots in RUR do a similar evil. They decide to take over the factory and kill off all of the directors and other humans present. This obviously leads to the fear of their founded technology. Both books show a transition from technophilia to technophobia once they realize the outcome of their creations.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Frankenstein Evidence
Blog Assigment #5-
Frankenstein has many examples of technophilia, a love technology, and technophobia, a fear of technology, and how one’s perspective on these two views can change. The story starts out with young Frankenstein interested in many types of mystical and philosophical studies. Frankenstein did not have the desire to learn typical areas of study such as politics or literature, but about “the secrets of heaven” (33). He continues to study the works of scientists such as Agrippa, Paracelsus, and Albertus Magnus. He also says about himself that he has “always (had) been embued with a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature” (35). Frankenstein’s love for this philosophical view on life started early, but later changed.
After much research and experimentation, Frankenstein finally creates his creature. He obsessed over this creation for many years and at last reached his goal. However, once he creates this new life, he instantly fears it. He describes his feelings in a vivid way by saying:
“(he) had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that (he) finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled (his) heart” (51).
Frankenstein also quickly refers to his experiment a “catastrophe” (51). His change from technophilia to technophobia occurred very rapidly once his ultimate goal was reached and the creature was produced.
The regret and fear towards Frankenstein’s creature continues later on in the book once he discovers that his creature was the cause of William’s death. He blatantly states that he “wished to extinguish that life which (he) has so thoughtlessly bestowed” (81). His fear of this new creature was enhanced once he discovered that his own creation was the “author of unalterable events” (81). Frankenstein’s fear of his creature was exemplified because of its actions.
These three parts of the novel show Frankenstein’s view of technology and experimentation change over time. The initial love for his studies changed once he saw the outcome of his experiments. The results changed his point of view to a fear of his experiment. It was hard for Frankenstein to see how his creation would affect him and others around him as well.
Frankenstein has many examples of technophilia, a love technology, and technophobia, a fear of technology, and how one’s perspective on these two views can change. The story starts out with young Frankenstein interested in many types of mystical and philosophical studies. Frankenstein did not have the desire to learn typical areas of study such as politics or literature, but about “the secrets of heaven” (33). He continues to study the works of scientists such as Agrippa, Paracelsus, and Albertus Magnus. He also says about himself that he has “always (had) been embued with a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature” (35). Frankenstein’s love for this philosophical view on life started early, but later changed.
After much research and experimentation, Frankenstein finally creates his creature. He obsessed over this creation for many years and at last reached his goal. However, once he creates this new life, he instantly fears it. He describes his feelings in a vivid way by saying:
“(he) had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that (he) finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled (his) heart” (51).
Frankenstein also quickly refers to his experiment a “catastrophe” (51). His change from technophilia to technophobia occurred very rapidly once his ultimate goal was reached and the creature was produced.
The regret and fear towards Frankenstein’s creature continues later on in the book once he discovers that his creature was the cause of William’s death. He blatantly states that he “wished to extinguish that life which (he) has so thoughtlessly bestowed” (81). His fear of this new creature was enhanced once he discovered that his own creation was the “author of unalterable events” (81). Frankenstein’s fear of his creature was exemplified because of its actions.
These three parts of the novel show Frankenstein’s view of technology and experimentation change over time. The initial love for his studies changed once he saw the outcome of his experiments. The results changed his point of view to a fear of his experiment. It was hard for Frankenstein to see how his creation would affect him and others around him as well.
Monday, February 1, 2010
"An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
Blog Assignment #4-
The beginning of Ambrose Bierce’s story is told from a third person objective point of view. From this point of view, it seems as if an outsider is describing the scene to the reader. By starting the story out this way, the reader is given a descriptive view of the setting and situation. In this case, readers are given details about the man, Peyton Farquhar, about to be hung off of Owl Creek Bridge and about his surroundings of soldiers and captains. However, this point of view may also suppress from the story because this way, the reader has no insight on the inner thoughts and feelings of either Peyton Farquhar or the soldiers sending him to his death. This insider view can help to make the reader feel more involved in the story.
The last three paragraphs of part one switch to a third person limited point of view. Peyton Farquhar’s thoughts about his coming death are now revealed. The first paragraph of this transition reveals his point of view of where he stands; the reader is told about the soldiers around him and the water below him. The next paragraph brings the reader into Peyton Farquhar’s thoughts about how to save him from this seemingly inescapable fate. He also thinks about his wife and kids back home safe. By being allowed into the thoughts of this man, the reader now has an emotion connection to him.
Part two of Ambrose Bierce’s story returns to a third person objective point of view. The reader is brought back out of the mind of Peyton Farquhar and can now see how he got into the situation previously presented. In terms of chronology, the reader is brought back into the past, before the hanging occurs. By doing so, it is shown how the situation and hanging came to happen.
The beginning of Ambrose Bierce’s story is told from a third person objective point of view. From this point of view, it seems as if an outsider is describing the scene to the reader. By starting the story out this way, the reader is given a descriptive view of the setting and situation. In this case, readers are given details about the man, Peyton Farquhar, about to be hung off of Owl Creek Bridge and about his surroundings of soldiers and captains. However, this point of view may also suppress from the story because this way, the reader has no insight on the inner thoughts and feelings of either Peyton Farquhar or the soldiers sending him to his death. This insider view can help to make the reader feel more involved in the story.
The last three paragraphs of part one switch to a third person limited point of view. Peyton Farquhar’s thoughts about his coming death are now revealed. The first paragraph of this transition reveals his point of view of where he stands; the reader is told about the soldiers around him and the water below him. The next paragraph brings the reader into Peyton Farquhar’s thoughts about how to save him from this seemingly inescapable fate. He also thinks about his wife and kids back home safe. By being allowed into the thoughts of this man, the reader now has an emotion connection to him.
Part two of Ambrose Bierce’s story returns to a third person objective point of view. The reader is brought back out of the mind of Peyton Farquhar and can now see how he got into the situation previously presented. In terms of chronology, the reader is brought back into the past, before the hanging occurs. By doing so, it is shown how the situation and hanging came to happen.
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