Technology and Flow

  Intro:

    Albert Einstein once said "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." Although he stated this years ago before the boom in technology and he was referring to the atomic bomb, many people could feel he was foreseeing the future. Technology has completely changed the way information is exchanged. The internet, social media, and cell phones have connected us all and it's as simple as a click of a button. Although this surge in technology has made life easier, many people feel that Einstein may have been warning humans that although technology may be helpful at times, it may consumes us completely.

  

Body Paragraph 1:

   Internet- Pros vs. Cons

Body Paragraph 2:

   Social Media- gather information, connect with others

Body Paragraph 3:

   Cell Phones- connect/disconnect from others

Chapter 29

   I truly believe that words can have magic wrapped into them. I related to the part when Peter Elbow wrote about literature being an "escape route." I do believe that magic can be carried on through your words. Certain words on a paper can attract your attention and make it worth while to read it. And Elbow explains, with the example of blank checks, that this is what we all wish for as writers. In an entire sea full of essays and poems, we want our work to be sought through and interest the reader. With certain words and a little hint of magic, it's possible to make your work uniquely interesting amongst the rest. Elbow writes, "So maybe that's where the power in writing comes from that I want to call magic: context." Even if a paper has only one thoroughly written part, that short paragraph is enough to capture a readers attention. Elbow explains, "A passage long enough to carry a lot of context." Writing should be an experience and if you're not allowing the reader to join you on this journey, it won't keep their attention for long. Even if you're writing about something you've never experienced before, the magic of writing is that you could have already experienced it in your mind. But Elbow explains that by stressing too much about capturing the magic, you could very well find yourself stressing TOO much over it and not capture your true self or, anything for that matter, at all. I guess the concept of magic is perfectly written in the final sentence by Elbow: "Though you must believe in magic, then, often you must be willing to do without it." 

 

Chapter 25 & 26

   Peter Elbow explains that the one thing many students lack is voice in their papers. Looking up the definition of voice (in literature) is the author's style, the quality that makes his or her writing unique, and which conveys the author's attitude, personality, and character. When I think of voice in a paper, I always think of it as a conversation as I read it. The writer is suppose to communicate through their words and be able to relate to the reader, but in my opinion, be charismatic as well. I always try to write my paper as honest, but without being too blunt or offensive. There's nothing worse than reading a paper that feels obnoxious or even WORSE, a paper that has a nonexistent voice. I suppose there are people that are an absolute bore. But in literature, you can fake a voice and write what you wish you could say. Writing gives you that freedom so why not take it? My voice as a writer is one that tries to relate as much as possible with the reader. Some of my favorite pieces of literature have underdogs as their heroes or heroines because of how easy it is to relate to them. That's what I want to do. The greatest feeling would be to allow someone to find their own voice after reading my work because they know I'm just like them. My voice as a writer conveys that there is a unique and underdog story in all of us and writing allows us to share it with others.

Outline

Thesis: In both The Stranger and One Thousand Gifts, the authors identify that death demonstrates how differently humans attempt to cope with the loss of a loved one.

Paragraph one:Death and Loss

• spirituality
• emotions
• identity

Paragraph two: One Thousand Gift
-examples from the book
-explain how Ann Voskamp coped with death

• her belief in a divine power allowed her to cope with death

Paragraph three: The Stranger
-examples from the book
-explain how Albert Camus' character coped with death

• didn't believe in a higher power
• emotionally numb

Conclusion

   Both of these texts explore the themes of life and death and the thin line that separates the two. Although they both seem drastically different, in each of the texts, they explain that our existence on this earth is the sole balance for the two. Life is the start, death is the end, and our life is the journey. Both of the authors are very sure to be vivid when describing their losses. Their word choice and imagery they convey in their texts, make sure it implants in our minds that death is a reality we will all face one day. It's frightening and devastating, but that's what life is.
   The texts repeat over and over the theme of love and loss and the vastly different ways humans attempt to cope with loss. But the similarity they share with this theme is that: we must move on and go forward in our lives. The death of a loved one may feel like the world has stopped, but the reality is the world won't stop time to allow you to mourn this devastating loss. It's a sad reality, but life is a journey and it's never going to be easy.

The Stranger

    Over time, we're force to face our real problems and reality sinks in that we were born to die one day. As I read The Strangers, I got the sense that the Albert Camus vividly sees this reality. Burying the one person that was always there to nurture you and devoted their life to unconditionally love you is a horrific reality many have to face. But on top of that, he describes the sinking fate that life will not freeze for you and allow you to grieve. You have to move on and go back to the real world and the author seems ready to do so the moment he speaks to his employer and explains he has to miss work due to his mother's passing.
    It's a sad fate, as he describes the long walks his mother and her special friend, Tomas Perez, would enjoy. To find something like a bond, or even a love towards one another at their age is devastating, because we know many take for granted what they didn't have: time. The old folks in the Home didn't have time to live life. They are sentenced to a morose path, where they now can try and live the few moments they have on this earth. Even the old woman who sobbed during his mother's funeral felt what many can relate to when they are grieving and attempting to cope with a loss. "She says your mother was her only friend in the world, and now she is all alone." the keeper explains. I guess it's a guaranteed fate for all of us. We are born alone, although we are surrounded by others. And we will die alone, even though we are surrounded by others. In the end, we'll be alone.
   As the author describes leaving his mother behind and never visiting her until now, that he had to bury her, I understand why he didn't chose to view her body. I believe he felt that he couldn't be able to redeem his actions of neglecting his mother. Many realize their faults and actions towards someone when they've passed. The author understands what he did wrong, but in a way feels that he gave his mother the greatest gift of all. Although she cried many days after he left her at the Home, he says he felt she would've been devastated if he would've teared her from her only love, her only friends, her only Home where she even found God and religion. Yes, he should've visited her, but deep down, he knows she was happy. On long walks to nowhere and long talks that only mattered at that certain moment, she finally was able to escape and find a sanctuary in this simple oasis. Although his mother was gone, he knows she was finally Home.