Knowledge is Power

If you have ever read the poem, "The Mother's Tale," you would know that it's about a Mother writing to her son on his wedding day. The mother goes the longest yard to explain to not only her son, but the reader, that not only is knowledge power, and that women aren't exactly equal to men, but that men are physically able to end women's lives faster than they'd be able to create a new one. These are the three critical points that she wants her son to carry with him heading into his new marriage. Every parent gives their children some sort of advice on their wedding day, whether it's "don't trip while walking down the aisle," or "knowledge is power" (the more you know, the more powerful you are).  In the real world there are genius' out there, but it all comes down to how you use the information that you know. There are some sick people out there who use their knowledge in the wrong ways and it's a shame.

For example, one of the most intelligent people that I have ever done research on happens to be Adolf Hitler (notice how I said most intelligent, and not greatest). He was a man who had SOOOO much more knowledge than the average human, but he used all of his knowledge in the incorrect way. If Adolf had used his knowledge in the proper way, he could have been one of the greatest leaders of all time, but now he is known around the world as the biggest scum bag of all time. He is the worst type of person to exist, you must be thinking... How could someone be this shitty and not have his own country revolt against him? But I could answer that question, he was a genius and covered up a lot of the things he was doing AND was also an incredible public speaker, he really knew how to draw an audience in and believe in his cause. Adolf Hitler was able to convince an entire country that they were the best and that everyone else was below them. He wanted to have Germany become the greatest country on the planet, while other countries failed. Obviously he wanted to become the most powerful man AND have the most powerful country, it just turned out that he failed to do so. He only   he got to the point that he did, because of his knowledge and nothing else. Think about it, he's a scrawny little man with a rat above his lip, how could someone like that ever get into a position like the one he was in??? Oh that's right, the answer is KNOWLEDGE. 

Another example, Martin Luther King Jr., an iconic figure in American History, also happens to be one of the smartest men that I've ever had the privilege of learning about. He stood up for what he believed in, when it was wrong to think that way. He is the reason we have equality in society today between races, although there still may be circumstances where racism occurs. This man knew how to get the audience to believe in his cause, so much so that the opposite race viewed him as a threat to society and their way of living. This man chose to use his knowledge, and turn it into power, in a positive way unlike Adolf Hitler. His power came through the words he spoke with good intention and emotion. The " I have A Dream" speech, I'm sure you've heard it, happened to be extremely emotional AND very close to the Lincoln memorial. He was trying to make the location of the speech a symbol to the audience and viewers that we had once taken a GIANT step by freeing the slaves and now we should do it again because everyone deserves to be treated equally no matter what there color was.

Clearly, these two examples go to show that if you are blessed with the ability to possess knowledge, you can either use your knowledge in a good way, or a bad way, but there really is no in between.The Mother in the poem wants her son to know that knowledge is power and you must use your knowledge in order to become more powerful or even to become less prone to outside factors, which is something very similar to what my mom once told me. She said "The more you know, the more you grow" and it has stuck with me ever since. This topic means a lot to me because since that conversation it's been a goal of mine to obtain as much knowledge as possible about people, and the world so that one day I can become the ultimate version of myself. As you can tell, I chose to go through life obtaining knowledge to use it in the right way and make a positive impact on society. Which path will you choose?

Josh W

Out with the Old, In with the New

Out with the Old, in With the New 

Once I finished the novel feed all I could think about was out with the old in with the new! Violet's old feed that she could not afford to update completely malfunctioned!  As Violet was at a party with Titus her feed started to act up causing her body to react badly.  She started having a seizure and could not move some of her body parts at all! Unfortunately we see that she starts to lose memories more and more and sadly she was going to die.   

 The idea of learning that since her feed was old and could not be updated really frustrated me.  It reminded me of having an Iphone for about two years.  Once a brand new Iphone came out, the one you had for two years started acting up.   

Why does this happen?

  

This happens because the Apple corporation wants you to buy their brand new product instead of keeping your old one.  The corporation only has eyes for money.  They purposely don't make their products last so you have to update to the new and improved product that they have out.  This is just like the idea of the Feed.   The Feed as we see completely malfunctions if you do not update it or if you do not buy a new one.  But in this case it doesn't cost you a couple hundred for a phone, it's your LIFE! 

In our world today we think it's the end of the world if our phone stops working, but imagine if your whole body stopped working!  This just proves that the world they live in with the feed is out of CONTROL!! 

“I don’t know.  The whole brain is tied in to the feed. The whole brain, like the memory and the part that makes you move and the part for your emotions.” (page 222)  

The fact that who you are and your life is controlled by the feed is crazy!  I thought it was crazy that the feed could control thoughts, any information given, and who could communicate with you.  But learning that the feed is tied into the brain to the point you could die if it stops working properly is absolutely crazy!!  A piece of technology should not control if you live or not.  This just shows if we let technology and corporations continue to get out of control this is what could happen to our world! Not only will we be controlled with our thoughts and what they want us to hear but this tiny computer could control your life if you don’t update it like the corporations want you to.  

“Maybe, Violet, if we check out some of the great bargains available to you through the feednet over the next six months, we might be able to create a consumer portrait of you that would interest our investment team. How ‘bout it, Violet Durn? Just us, you and me – girls together! Shop till you stop and drop!” (page 247) 

This quote just proves the fact that corporations only care about money.  It is sad to know that corporations are already like this today.  The novel shows into the future and the fact that the idea of the book is already just like our everyday life is scary!  In our world today corporations only care about making money and spending as little of their own money as possible. 

  

 “We Americans are interested only in the consumption of our products. We have no interest in how they were produced, or what happens to them, what happen to them once we discard them, once we throw them away” (290). 

Once again corporations only care about $$$$.  Everyone in the novel is blind!  They do not care about what goes on behind the scenes of corporations, all they care about is having the brand new shiny product.  They do not care how it is made or any of the consequences that could come.  All they care about is upgrades and the brand new product.  Titus and Violet learn new things about the Feed every day.  They don't know all the consequences or how it entirely looks.  The Feed cost violet her life.  I bet she didn't know that when she got it.  The world is blind and it already is today when it comes to products.  We do not care how these products are made, what happens to them, if they are entirely safe, nothing!  Everyone is BLIND.  The main focus is buying what you need and getting the new products, whether you know anything about them or not. 

Out with the Old, In with the New 

This whole idea is illustrated throughout the entire book because of corporations.  They can control you just like they can control us today.  Instead of the world continuing to be blind to this matter, everyone needs to wake up! We do not want the feed in the future so we need to stop being controlled now. 

-Madison Wronko 

What That Mouth Do? Feed Into Sexualization, That's What

If you've read the novel Feed by M.T. Anderson, you'd know that the world Titus, the protagonist, lives in is dominated by corporations and technology. Most of the people Titus knows has a feed chip inserted into their brains, which allows them unlimited access to the internet. This book has many themes like consumerism, environmental decay, and the obvious: technology. But I'm not here to talk about any of those ideas. I'm here to talk about how Titus sexualizes violet from the moment he meets her.

After reading the book, I've come to the conclusion that Titus was really just some ignorant, horny teenage boy who didn't give a sh*t about anyone. Throughout the book, he didn't help Violet with anything at all and that made me so mad because she put so much effort into their relationship. When he first met Violet, Titus thought she was the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. He didn't know what it was that made her so beautiful; he thought it was maybe her spine aka the curve of her back. Later on when he stares at her from afar, he just pays attention to her mouth and the way she plays with her drink (which she's only able to do because of the gravity on the moon). This would probably be the moment where a guy today would be like, "What that mouth do?"

After reading about their first meeting, I was like, "okay... you know what? Lemme not judge him because everyone does that sometimes; I do it all the time." But even after Titus and Violet date for a while, it doesn't get any better. He takes her to a party for the first time and all is well until he goes upstairs with his friends, Marty and Link, so they can go into mal (their version of getting high). Titus decides not to go into mal because Violet doesn't like that and he goes back downstairs to see what she's up to. At this point I'm like, "oh okay that's nice of him." BUT THEN!!! When Violet asks him what's wrong he doesn't tell her about it and instead lies and talks about truffles (random, I know). He says, "I felt like I was protecting her from something and that felt good, like I was a man already. I hugged her like a man and we kissed" (91). After reading that I was like ???????? HUH? So to be a "real man" you gotta lie to your girl? Mind you, since this is way into the future (or not because we're all very similar to these characters) I would at least expect the hyper-masculinity to be toned down a bit, but clearly it's still strong. The whole damsel in distress thing threw me off because he literally wasn't helping Violet at all by lying to her, but he felt so enlightened afterwards. I'm already sick of him. 

Not too long after the party, Violet rants to Titus about how nothing would ever get done in a two party system. By now, the audience can tell that Violet is obviously different from everyone else. She keeps up with the news and is very cultured. When she goes into this rant, Titus gets kind of ticked off. "I hated it when she got like this, because she wasn't like herself, I mean, she wasn't like this playful person who drags me around the mall doing crazy shit, she was suddenly like those girls at School™ who sit underground and dress in all black with ribbing and get an iron fixture for their jaws and they're like, 'Capitalist fool - propaganda tool'" (111). What's wrong Titus, can't handle opinionated women? He says that she doesn't act like herself, but he doesn't realize that Violet actually is like that. Having opinions on things, especially the government, is a normal thing to do. Everyone who knows me knows that I can go on and on about that. But Titus' perception of Violet is only the fun, crazy, new girl he's into that makes his boring life a tad bit more exciting. Once again, he doesn't listen to her opinions and can only accept her as the sexual being that he recognized her to be from the start. Even later on in the novel when Violet asks Titus about the things going on in Central America or South America, he just dismisses her. I don't understand how Violet stayed with him for as long as she did because I would've been OUT, but that's just me. 

I actually lied, I do know why Violet stayed as long as she did. She was dying because her feed was malfunctioning and she just wanted to live the rest of her days with Titus because he made her happy. She later on made up a list of things she wanted to do and most of the things included him and that really got me in my feelings. But when Titus finds out that Violet is dying, he drifts from her. Whenever she opens up to him, he'll be like "oh that sucks." Meanwhile, WHENEVER he had a problem or felt some type of way, she would always try her best to make him feel better. He eventually stops answering her messages and even deletes them. I felt bad because she was trying so hard but it was like she was talking to a wall or something. I get how she was dying and wanted to experience some amazing love story, but if love isn't reciprocated there's no point in continuously trying. She didn't seem to get that. Violet showed up at his house one day and whisked him away to some cabin in the mountains. She was all flirty and was feeling him up, yet Titus stopped it and said that he felt like he was being felt up by a zombie because he already pictured her as being dead. It was good that he stopped it because there always has to be consent from both parties whenever something happens, but that was harsh. She was supposed to be his girlfriend, but once she lost her sexual appeal, his interest in her completely disappeared. 

In the very end of the novel when Violet is literally on her deathbed, Titus says, "It didn't feel like you were in the room with anyone. You could stand there and feel completely alone, like you were just in a room with a prop" (286). I was APPALLED! Even though she was his girlfriend for months, once she became sick he felt like being in a room with her was like being in a room with a prop. It once again goes to show that Titus only had sexual feelings for Violet, not really emotional; he pursued her out of lust. He only felt bad in the very, very end when he visited her for the last time and told her what was going on in the world and snippets of memories she had. This was emotional because she couldn't remember them herself since her mind and body were failing her. Sure, that was nice and all, but it didn't make up for the way he treated her throughout the book. Violet deserved so much better. 

Maia M.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend

    Shawn Carter, more commonly known as Jay Z or J-Hova(god) , released a song called "Big Pimpin'" in 2000. Jay Z is known by many as the greatest or one of the greatest rappers of all time. He doesn't create much music nowadays, but about ten to fifteen years ago he was releasing music all the time and it was all incredible. This song, Big Pimpin' discusses multiple social hegemonies that we discussed in class and this song features the artist known as UGK. This song is on the album " Vol 3... Life and Times of S. Carter," which happened to go triple platinum in the United States back in 2004. This album also debuted at number 1 on the billboard 200 in the first week of being released. Wow!

    If you're interested in listening to the song, you can find it below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgoqrgc_0cM
   
  As you can see from Jay Z's accomplishments on this album alone, he is truly a musical legend. Jay Z says " You know I thug 'em, fuck 'em, love 'em, leave 'em...‘Cause I don't fucking need 'em" He demonstrates machismo(strong or exaggerated sense of manliness)  here by showing the world that he could finesse whatever girls he wants, love them, and just kick them to the curb after because he doesn't need any hoes.  Jay Z is the king of NY and can do what he wants. He doesn't need anyone, he is capable of great things on his own. Jay z has the attitude of a champ and in a way this idea of girls in this hit, ties in with individualism(you make your own ways in life) in the song as well. He's only "Big Pimpin'"with these girls because he made it to the top by himself and has proved his talent to the world, placing him at the top of the game. And we ALL know if you're famous, especially to the extent of Jay Z(no matter how ugly he actually is), any girl would do whatever they had to, to sleep or spend time with you. Jay Z is living the life that many people hope to grow up and live.

    Jay Z is living the American Dream. In the song he states "We doing big pimpin', we spending cheese," meaning he's pimpin' and spending a lot of money, living the life. He's extremely rich and can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Must be nice right?? He has clearly made more than enough money in his lifetime and has done enough for the music industry as well. He has a great family and is married to one of the most beautiful and successful girls ever, Beyonce. Beyoncé happens to be extremely successful as well as Jay.  Jay Z says "Shit, I part with nothing, y'all be fronting, Me give my heart to a woman? , Not for nothing, never happen; I'll be forever mackin', Heart cold as assassins, I got no passion, I got no patience, And I hate waitin'; ho, get your ass in and let's ride!" What you have to keep in mind is that this song was released in 2000. Jay Z claims that he'll never fall for any woman and will always be a thug who messes around with girls. This is what everyone thinks at some point in their life, but it never seems to stay that way. Everybody has a soulmate, it just takes a different amount of time for each person to find yours. Ironically, about a year later, Jay and Bey started dating and haven't looked back since. Beyonce then stole his heart and never gave it back.

     Jay Z doesn't create a lot of music anymore because, one: he has created so much in the past that he has done his part, and two: He has a net worth of $540 million (In 2014) and a family now as well. Jay needs to be able to spend time with his wife and kid! He is 47 years old, which if you didn't know, is pretty old for someone to be making music, especially rap. He does so much more than just rap, which is pretty obvious because he has a net worth of $540 million. He has his own sports agency for professional athletes, has invested tons of money, was an executive producer for the game NBA 2k13, and even wrote a memoir! He has done so much more than the average individual and is truly a role model. (Individualism) This man is extremely talented, and is truly living out the American Dream.

Feeding Society

In today's world technology has continued to take over our lives.  People can't even have conversations anymore because all people do is sit on their phone.  It unfortunately has impacted society in a very negative way, causing people to not really communicate with each other.  People now really only communicate through text message or social media.  It's pretty sad huh?     Phone calls, writing letters, and most importantly talking in person has slowly gone away.  Now people can barely even talk without their phone, they would rather text the person even if they are across the room or in the house.  Its pretty sad.

But guess what!? It's only going to get worse!!!!

In the novel Feed the idea of technology has taken over the world.  It shows what the future could possibly look like and shows that we are already on some of these crazy technological levels! In the book humans are placed with the "Feed" in their brain which is basically a computer in your brain.  This feeds a person information and is the internet and phone all in your brain. Mind blowing I know!! but we are headed in this direction. It may seem cool but nobody wants to be forced information like the feed does.

Feeding into society...

The biggest problem about the feed is that is completely taking over society! No human can control it.  With the feed they communicate using texts, not talking.  They are always being fed information even when they don't want to be, even if they are sleeping! Imagine? trying to sleep but sources of information is constantly contacting you! The feed runs society and unfortunately anyone with power will do anything to protect the feed.  This is because the people with the power have control over the people withe the feed.  Power is important!! All anyone wants is the idea of power because you can influence others and even control them.

Titus and Violet constantly keep learning new information about the feed.  Not everyone has the feed but when you do get the feed you have to learn how to use it and eventually you learn that you stop being able to think for yourself.  Violet has the feed but has the better understanding of how human should communicate because she didn't get it till age seven, where Titus has no idea how to think for himself because he was born with the feed.  

“Now that School™ is run by the corporations, it’s pretty brag, because it teaches us how the world can be used, like mainly how to use our feeds.” (Pg. 109)

Instead of going to school to learn and decide what you want to do with your life for yourself the idea of the "feed" has changed this.  Now in school Titus explains that they learn how to use their feed's and how to get a job.  NO ONE can think for their self anymore.  It is SAD.  Instead of going to school and learning about what YOU choose to be, you learn how to use your feed, which controls your mind.  Instead of thinking for yourself the feed continues to take over.

"Only about seventy-three percent of Americans have feeds.” (pg. 109)

Violet wasn't born with the feed like many other people, she didn't get it till about age seven. Since she didn't have it since birth she knows how to think without the feed and think for herself which is important because she can still apply that even if she doesn't have the feed. Violey says a lot of people don't know about a lot going on in society because they are born with the feed and are basically robots. They never were able to think for their self because their brain was always controlled.

This makes me think A LOT! why? because if technology keeps increasing and taking over our lives now, our society may actually end up this way. I personally do not want to have a computer inside my head that controls my thoughts constantly. It makes you a robot! Nobody wants to be a robot. I like speaking to others and making my own decisions. Our society has to stop letting technology take over our lives now before it is too late!

The idea of the "Feed" just keeps getting worse and worse.  The more of an impact I see the more I cringe and hope society NEVER ends up this way! 

“The place was a mess. Everything had words on it.”(pg 135)

This is a description of Violets home. Titus is not used to seeing words and seeing a home like this because he was raised differently and has had the feed his whole life! The idea of the words all over the wall makes Titus feel uncomfortable because nobody communicates normally anymore. Communication is all done through the feed. Even if you want to talk to someone!

As a society we do not want technology to take over to the point powerful people can control us through a device. We do not want to end up to the point of no communication, no being able to think for ourselves, and never being able to shut the feed off. It is sad that society can end up this way and it just might because powerful people like to be in control and the biggest control of our lives is the idea of technology.

Force "Feed"ing information is not where we want to be.

By:Madison Wronko

Let Me Feed Your Mind

What a wonderful society we have created since the internet was invented. You agree, right? I mean we do derive a majority of our academic research and pondering questions from it. The answer you have been looking for is right in front of you with no doubt in your mind that it is inaccurate. My question is… isn’t a lot of different sources on the internet just people's inputs on that topic? Are they always accurate? A huge issue regarding the internet is that it is our largest source used around the world that is constantly spreading false information everyday. It is used by millions of people and they feel it can help them get by because of all the “useful” information it provides. Physical interactions are beginning to become less of a social norm because chatting on social media is found easier. We are taking each other less seriously by not always talking face-to-face. In person conversations create more meaning behind your words vs. explaining them online. To be honest, I am starting to get a little tired of my friends sitting on their phones completely ignoring me while I’m trying to have a decent conversation with them. This makes me worry that eventually everybody will only feel the need to talk to others through technology.

A book I have been reading lately called Feed has really opened my mind more to this topic. This book is seriously incredible, considering the author created it back in the early 2000s before smartphones were even created (considering they are the most used device to communicate). He formed a story based on his perspective of what the future may turn out to be. So what exactly is the Feed? It is a chip implanted in a newborn's brain at birth which allows them to search the internet and provide them news stories/items to purchase based on their interests. It is clearly the most controversial issue in the book, since there are some people who absolutely adore it while others are protesting on the streets how it is harmful to their society. Then there are the main characters in the book who like to mess with the feed such as: Titus and Violet.

Titus comes from a wealthy family and was given the privilege of being provided a feed at birth by his parents (not to mention he also discovers most of his facial traits were created by the picture of an actor, DelGlacey Murdoch, and only a few from his parents). At first, this character is very fond of the feed and finds it completely beneficial to his life. He finds nothing wrong with the life he is living, and explains a few times throughout the book that he believes the world is in the best condition it’s ever been. For example, the corporations own everything from the Schools™ to the Clouds™. Now schools teach his peers “how the world can be used, like mainly how to use our feeds” (pg. 109). A prime example of how important the feed is and how it prevents them from the outside world. Titus’s opinions begin to change when he meets Violet, a girl who shares her negative thoughts about the disadvantages the Feed provides. He becomes interested in the fact she doesn’t follow cultural norms.

Violet is presented as an old-fashioned, young woman with a bright personality. She is very intelligent (but found ignorant by others) based on all the knowledge her father has provided her while growing up. This is because he is an old school professor who teaches dead languages. Violet despises the Feed more than anything. She believes it is “raising a nation of idiots” because it is making everybody so close-minded and not aware of their surroundings   (pg. 113). Violet gets a sense of satisfaction when she causes difficulty with the Feed. To mess with the system a bit, she takes Titus to the mall and has them both pretend to have interest in items that their gender or liking wouldn’t normally view. This causes a disruption in their Feed, but makes them feel superior. We learn that Violet was given the Feed a few years after being born, because it was not affordable and her parents were doubtful about its offerings. She sometimes feels discomfort from her feedware because the chip was placed in her brain at a more developed stage. This can cause her to malfunction or even worse, shut down her whole body.

Why is Violet’s self-being slowly disintegrating in the book? Why is her father such a smart man who receives a low income? Questions I sadly can’t answer due to not finishing the book yet. Now my pondering question regarding the novel is: Is the Feed trying to get rid of the intelligent who is a threat to the system?

Priscilla Z.