Moore's Novel Literature or not?

In Alan Moore’s graphic novel “Light of Thy Countenance,” there is a great debate of whether it should be considered literature or not. However, I believe that the novel is literature in that it fulfills the same purpose that other literature novels do. By this I mean that Moore’s novel exemplifies equal and fir context as the other books that are seen as works of literature.

I believe that Moore’s novel should be considered literature because it basically tells a story with a plot, setting, and even characters. The novel is a bit different in that it is about technology or television in specific and that it mostly composed of graphic images. However, the images simply add more explanation of what the passage is about and it helps the reader to see what the author is aiming to portray. In other words, by using the graphics the author is visually showing the reader what is happening in the novel. I found this concept really helpful because there where some points in the novel where I was confused, but once I analyzed the pictures I was able to process what was happening in the novel.  

In addition, this novel is literature because in the end there is a specific and clear theme towards the reader or even public in general. The theme that I got from the novel was that television is a huge part of people’s lives that it has gotten to the point that it is controlling people without them realizing it. This theme is so true and can be seen in homes all over the world, from little kids all the way up to older people. For this reason I can say that Moore’s novel qualifies as a legitimate piece of literature. Therefore, it is clear that this novel has the characteristics to be considered a work of literature.   

Gender and Race in "M. Butterfly"

In M. Butterfly by Davis Henry Hwang, there is an emphasis on race and gender through the main characters Rene Gallimard and Song Liling. Rene is a White westerner and Song is an Asian easterner, which is repeated constantly throughout the play. There is the political idea of west vs. east and Americans vs. Chinese that relates to the themes of race and gender.

            As the plot unfolds the concept of the white man having power over women is highlighted. This is seen when Song says, “the submissive Oriental woman and the cruel white man” (Act 1, Scene 6, p. 17). This quote points out the typical mindset that people have when it comes to relationships. This relates to the emphasis of gender because women are usually expected to be below and have less authority than men. In addition, it points out the idea of race because Song mentions the Asian woman under the White man’s power. However, if there is no woman for men to control then the cycle is broken. Thus it can be said that both men and woman have important roles in the society. For example, women usually take care of the family or house and men usually go out to work to make money. However, examples such as these are stereotypes, which are not always the case for all families. 

            The idea of sexism in the play can be seen when Song says, “but a woman, especially a delicate Oriental woman—we always go where we please” (Act 1, Scene 9, p. 22). This emphasizes the perspective of women getting their way all the time and relates to the importance of gender in the play. There is a hint of woman having perks, which allow them to do as they please. Furthermore, the role of a woman is the main focus of the play and is shown by Song impersonating a woman “in love” with Rene.         

             

Significance of the Internet

In the William Gibson’s book Pattern Recognition, there are many examples of the internet and the prospects of online social networks. The use of the internet plays an important role all throughout the book and is the main source of communication. This being said, it is important to notice that there were two main online resources that led to the resolution of the mystery.

            The first online resource was Cayce’s hotmail. All throughout the book Cayce uses her hotmail to communicate with Parkaboy, her mom, Damien, and other characters. She was able to get valuable information that helped in the search for the maker of the footage. For example, Parkaboy and her emailed back and forth to keep each other informed about their plan to figure out who was making the segments. This is significant because if Cayce wouldn’t have kept communication with Parkaboy through the internet, she would have never discovered the watermark on the segment and wouldn’t have met Taki. The email with the watermark information that Parkaboy sent Cayce can be seen in pages 74-77. Thus, through the social network Cayce minted contact with Parkaboy and was able to obtain the information needed to find the maker.

            Aside from Cayce keeping contact on a business level with Parkaboy, she is able to communicate with Damien and her mom in a more personal level. There are clues in the book that hint affectionate feelings that Cayce has towards Damien. However, the only way that Cayce can know about him is through email because he is in Russia doing a documentary. When Damien sends her an email of where he is at and what he is doing she is able to get a peace of mind and relax, knowing that he is fine. In addition, Cayce gets information about her father through an email that her mom sends her. Cayce wants to accept that her father is dead but her mom assures that he isn’t because of recordings, which his voice is heard. This isn’t necessarily good news because it stresses Cayce and raises questions about Win that can’t be answered, creating ambiguity. Thus, through the more personal emails the reader is able to get an inside look of Cayce’s feelings and emotions in her mind.   

            The second internet resource was the actual footage. Nora, the maker of the segments, would produce her ideas in a studio and her sister Stella would distribute them to the internet. Once the footage was uploaded, all of the footage heads view it and write feedback or comments on it. This whole process is only possible because of the internet that socially connects the viewers and alters the mystery of the footage. In addition, through the footage Cayce met Parkaboy and began an online friendship with him. More importantly, the Volkova security would have never gotten so much information about Cayce if it weren’t through her posts about the footage. This can be seen in page 339, when everything is revealed and out in the open. Therefore, the footage is what ties everyone together and makes the plot ambiguous. 

               

Patterns in 9/11 and the internet

1.)  Post-9/11 Social commentary

- Many people were traumatized after the tragic incident that occurred on September 11, 2001.

- There were many loved ones who unexpectedly died while working.

- No one would have ever imagined such a horrible disaster.

- Ever since the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers there is more precautions taking place. For example, there is more security to go through at airports and the law enforcement is more alert when it comes to terrorists.

- In general, there is the pattern of people being more cautious once a bad thing occurs. Instead of trying to figure out a way to prevent a tragedy, people unconsciously wait for something devastating to occur before taking action. Once the tragedy occurs then people react and take the precautions that are necessary to prevent anything like that to happen again. However, people usually die before serious actions are taken in situations like 9/11.

- Evidence: pgs. 134-137, Cayce has flashbacks of the attacks on the World Trade Center. She is feeling lonely and remembers of Win’s (her father) death. She can still picture how the attacks happened and how she reacted when she saw them on CNN.   

2.) Internet and the prospects of online social networks

- Nowadays it is easy to turn on a computer and immediately be connected to the internet. There are social networks such as Myspace and Facebook that practically summarize an individual’s life.

- There is also Yahoo, Hotmail, and many more emailing networks. These are usually more convenient for business people or schools. They serve as a way to communicate important information or to simply say hello.

- The internet can be an alternative when a person has no cell phone. For example, Cayce’s only form of communication with Damien, Parkaboy, her mom, and others is through her hotmail since she has no phone yet.   

-Ultimately, these online social networks allow people to keep in touch with their family, friends, and even to get to meet knew people.

- The pattern of online social networks is that first one person uses it, then another, and so on until mostly everyone is addicted to it.  

- Evidence: pgs. 72-77, Cayce is reading the emails that Parkaboy and Damien sent her. She is able to get information of exactly how, where, and what Damien is doing. She is also able to communicate with Parkaboy and keep up with the latest episode of F:F:F.      

Interpreting "A Rose for Emily" Through a Different Narrator

The reader’s perspective of William Faulkner’s, “A Rose for Emily” would be different if it were narrated in first person singular by Tobe. All throughout the story the narrator constantly mentions Tobe, who is Miss Emily Grierson’s servant, as the only one who comes in and out of Emily’s house. This is important to notice because it cause the reader to have suspicions of Tobe. Thus, if Tobe were the narrator, the reader would be able to see his point of view of why he was the only one from the house to be seen and what was actually happening inside.

            As the narrator Tobe would be able to answer questions that the reader might have. For example, why doesn’t Emily come out of her house? Since Tobe has access inside her house and he takes care for her, he knows what is internally destroying Emily. The point of view of the story would not be from the outside and the reader would not wonder what goes on inside. Instead, the story would change from the neighborhood questioning what is wrong with Emily; to Tobe explaining her tragic situation. Another change in perspective would be that the reader would get more information or details about Tobe’s feelings towards Emily. For example, whether he likes or dislikes her and most importantly he could answer why he just left once she died? However, if Tobe were the narrator then there would be no input of what people around Emily’s house speculate, which results in ambiguity.

Furthermore, the themes of the story would change from death and love to racism and misery. This is so because Tobe being a “Negro” servant implies the typical social class status during slavery. Thus, a change in narration would partially move the spotlight from Emily to Tobe.

Pro-technology or Anit-technology?

The poem “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace,” by Richard Brautigan has a negative and positive view of technology all throughout the poem.

This poem can be seen as having an anti-technology tone or message because the author emphasizes that things should go back to how they use to be. In other words, he wishes that humans could return to those days where electronics didn’t exist or weren’t an obsession. This can be seen when Brautigan says, “…free of labors and joined back to nature, returned to our mammal brothers and sisters…” It is clear that in the quote the author is pleading for people to return to those days outside the world of technology. Nowadays people spend so much time on computers, cell phones, television and other electronics that they end up disconnecting themselves from everything else around them. For example, socializing and spending time with friends and family. The author is sending out a wake-up call to human kind as a whole, in hope that there can be a realization of how technology is an obstacle in life.

The author has a pro-technology tone or message because of how he describes the machines. This is seen simply in the title. The fact that the author uses the words “loving” and “grace” to describe the machines signifies the positive attitude towards technology. The machines are compared to nature and can even be interpreted as having human qualities. Brautigan says, “…where mammals and computers live together in mutually programming harmony…” In the quote computers are being viewed as humans who are programmed to live in harmony. This serves as an anticipation of the author’s mentality or standing point. For example, how the author emphasizes or gives an idea that people should make efficient use of technology in their life. Thus, technology in general is showed as an essence in people’s lives.

Although there is both pro-technology and anti-technology evidence in the poem, it is clear that the author leans more towards pro-technology. This is so because there is a wish for technology and humans to live together in a balanced and productive way. The author’s mentality is for there to be peace within people and the use of technology. However, in order for this to work people need to learn to balance and limit the use of electronics.               

• Burning deck
• Description of the boy
• Flames making their way to the boy
• Call for fathers response
• Flames eventually destroying the ship
• The boy perishing

 In the poem, “Casabianca” by Felicia Dorthea Hemans there are two main images that contribute to the poem’s interpretation as a whole. The images are that of the flames or fire and of the boy himself.

Since the very beginning of the poem, the author jumps straight to the tragic scene. There is a boy in a terrifying, deadly situation that seems to have no solution. The author describes the boy as, “beautiful and bright” and even compares him to a hero. This gives the reader a perspective of the boy’s inner characteristic, which includes strength and endurance. The description can also represent the boy being surrounded by light, thus in need of illumination. This is seen when the boy is calling out to his father for help or guidance, which emphasizes his innocence. The boy does not dare move unless he hears his father’s voice of approval, which unfortunately doesn’t occur. This leads to the imagery of how the boy is standing there facing the fire and allows the reader to make assumptions of what will happen at the end. In other words, by the author giving clues of the outcome she creates a visual image of the boy being alone and courageously waiting while the flames get closer and closer.

The image of the flames is important because it contributes to the plot of the poem. In many ways the flames are the boy’s enemy and can be viewed as the villain. This is so because the boy is helpless and alone, but it does not stop the fire from working its way all over the ship. Hemans image of the flames taking over the ship was that, “they wrapt the ship in splendor wild…” This emphasizes how there was no mercy for the boy, which gives the reader a mental image of how the flames eventually devoured the ship along with the boy.

The two images of the boy and the fire work together to get the reader involved with the scenario. The images portrayed in the poem invite the reader to picture themselves in the same situation. There is a sense of understanding and pity for the tragedy that happens to the boy, which makes the situation so real. Therefore, the reader can interpret the poem in a relatable way and truly interact with the author.