Sunday, November 21, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Oryx and Crake Response 2
Character Development
Snowman, or Jimmy is described as a character who takes great interest in online streaming, video games and literature. During post-apocolypse, their are various occasions where Snowman uses arcane (or figurative speech), which the Crakers do not understand, making Snowman upset.The greater part of this novel is focused on and seen through Snowman's thoughts and flashbacks. Margret Atwood essentially depicts the other characters' personalities through Snowman's perspective and judgements. And we discover more as we read about his many thoughts and how things were in the past. As the reader, we are already knowledgable of Snowman's personality, surroundings, family, friend(s) and interests; however, regarding Oryx and Crake, there are still many things unknown to us. Furthermore, everything is from Snowman's perspective, so we only get to see things as Snowman does. Crake is a character who has always been witty and not quite as loquacious as Jimmy, his character is a mystery to us because although we know some minor details about him; his motives, his thoughts and his reasonings remain unknown. The novel seems to be set up in a way, so that the further you read on, the more secrets are uncovered. The pieces start falling into place and there are some answers to the questions we had in the beginning, such as what are pigoons? rakunks? Why were they invented? Why aren't Crake and Snowman friends now? Although there is still a lot to question, Snowman will presumably answer them eventually.
Oryx, who is possibly the third most mentioned character in the novel, is very mysterious. Through Snowman's flashback, we know of her past as a child but no more than that. She is very corrupted, even to the point where she has no realization that her situation is moral outrage. Besides this, Oryx is only been brought up when Snowman daydreams about her. There is yet to discover more connections between her and Crake.
Eye
I chose this photo because I think it represents the Crakers (as they are characters too), because almost everything about them has been modified, whether it is eyes, hair, figure, etc. it has been "fixed". Nevertheless, whenever I have thought of a future, more sophisticated human being, they have always been more complex and able to do much more. However, in this case, Crakers are much more simple than humans. They do not feel lust, they are able to feed themselves with "herbage" that is self-produced, and they have simple minds and simple speech. Despite this, when the words "modified being" comes into mind, I still can't help but think of something more complicated, than something simpler.
Snowman, or Jimmy is described as a character who takes great interest in online streaming, video games and literature. During post-apocolypse, their are various occasions where Snowman uses arcane (or figurative speech), which the Crakers do not understand, making Snowman upset.The greater part of this novel is focused on and seen through Snowman's thoughts and flashbacks. Margret Atwood essentially depicts the other characters' personalities through Snowman's perspective and judgements. And we discover more as we read about his many thoughts and how things were in the past. As the reader, we are already knowledgable of Snowman's personality, surroundings, family, friend(s) and interests; however, regarding Oryx and Crake, there are still many things unknown to us. Furthermore, everything is from Snowman's perspective, so we only get to see things as Snowman does. Crake is a character who has always been witty and not quite as loquacious as Jimmy, his character is a mystery to us because although we know some minor details about him; his motives, his thoughts and his reasonings remain unknown. The novel seems to be set up in a way, so that the further you read on, the more secrets are uncovered. The pieces start falling into place and there are some answers to the questions we had in the beginning, such as what are pigoons? rakunks? Why were they invented? Why aren't Crake and Snowman friends now? Although there is still a lot to question, Snowman will presumably answer them eventually.
Oryx, who is possibly the third most mentioned character in the novel, is very mysterious. Through Snowman's flashback, we know of her past as a child but no more than that. She is very corrupted, even to the point where she has no realization that her situation is moral outrage. Besides this, Oryx is only been brought up when Snowman daydreams about her. There is yet to discover more connections between her and Crake.
Eye
I chose this photo because I think it represents the Crakers (as they are characters too), because almost everything about them has been modified, whether it is eyes, hair, figure, etc. it has been "fixed". Nevertheless, whenever I have thought of a future, more sophisticated human being, they have always been more complex and able to do much more. However, in this case, Crakers are much more simple than humans. They do not feel lust, they are able to feed themselves with "herbage" that is self-produced, and they have simple minds and simple speech. Despite this, when the words "modified being" comes into mind, I still can't help but think of something more complicated, than something simpler.
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Value of Science Socratic Seminar
Response:
Richard Freyman stresses the fact that science cannot always solve social issues, as they are unbiased and do not take sides. He also mentions the problem with science is that you never know if it is a solid fact. Science is always neutral, the way it is used determines its "moral value", "To every man is given the key to heaven; the same key opens the gates of hell". Freyman later adds on that it is a scientist's responsibility to discover the unknown and research and explore the mysteries of life. He states that although scientists develop breakthroughs in technology, life, health and so on, all of these discoveries do not come with instructions. We utilize these innovations and inventions in whatever way we choose, therefore science and scientists do not influence whether things are good or evil.
I disagree with the thought that science is not influenced by good or evil, because I believe that they often have direct relations to each other. For there must be purposes for why some things are made or researched (that can influence the values of society). For example, contrasting "discovering a cure for cancer" with "weapons for made for destruction". Nevertheless, there are definitely occasions where things are discovered without any intentions, but then are used in a bad/good way.
Vocabulary:
Dispel- make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear
Negate- nullify; make ineffective
Sobriety- the state of being sober
Questions:
Freyman states that all scientists have a lot of experience with doubt, uncertainty and ignorance. He suggests that whatever the result will be to a problem, the scientist will always have either, if not all three. Do you agree with this? If so, is it then safe to say that scientific facts may possibly be false?
Freyman states that although most of humanity longs for a peaceful world, he ponders if a perfect world will result in boredom which then leads to something similar to a dystopian society. To what extent do you agree?
Should science require instruction, as in the reason for its development (good or bad)? or as Freyman said, "morally neutral" (not taking any sides)?
Richard Freyman stresses the fact that science cannot always solve social issues, as they are unbiased and do not take sides. He also mentions the problem with science is that you never know if it is a solid fact. Science is always neutral, the way it is used determines its "moral value", "To every man is given the key to heaven; the same key opens the gates of hell". Freyman later adds on that it is a scientist's responsibility to discover the unknown and research and explore the mysteries of life. He states that although scientists develop breakthroughs in technology, life, health and so on, all of these discoveries do not come with instructions. We utilize these innovations and inventions in whatever way we choose, therefore science and scientists do not influence whether things are good or evil.
I disagree with the thought that science is not influenced by good or evil, because I believe that they often have direct relations to each other. For there must be purposes for why some things are made or researched (that can influence the values of society). For example, contrasting "discovering a cure for cancer" with "weapons for made for destruction". Nevertheless, there are definitely occasions where things are discovered without any intentions, but then are used in a bad/good way.
Vocabulary:
Dispel- make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear
Negate- nullify; make ineffective
Sobriety- the state of being sober
Questions:
Freyman states that all scientists have a lot of experience with doubt, uncertainty and ignorance. He suggests that whatever the result will be to a problem, the scientist will always have either, if not all three. Do you agree with this? If so, is it then safe to say that scientific facts may possibly be false?
Freyman states that although most of humanity longs for a peaceful world, he ponders if a perfect world will result in boredom which then leads to something similar to a dystopian society. To what extent do you agree?
Should science require instruction, as in the reason for its development (good or bad)? or as Freyman said, "morally neutral" (not taking any sides)?
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Oryx and Crake Response 1
Atwood puts the last couple pieces of the puzzle together in these sections by showing the reader a series of flashbacks of Jimmy's life. There is a lot of foreshadowing, letting the reader further understand the personalities of both Crake and Jimmy. She spends a great deal of time describing videos games and its objectives and what role Crake and Jimmy normally take in these games.
Glenn, now Crake, is competitive, witty and composed. Extinctathon is one of the many video games they play together after school. Here, Glenn gives himself and Jimmy their nicknames, Crake and Thickney. The Thickney is a defunct bird that hangs around in cemeteries; and although it was not done intentionally, this bird directly relates to the life of Jimmy. Being the only one left of his kind, while struggling to survive. On the contrary, Crake, the bird, was very numerous in its kind, much like how post-apolypse there are great populations of Crakers running around everywhere.
The author makes it clear that these boys were extremely close during their youth. Having this common history together, it is rather mysterious as to why they would have such distant and opposite ways of living now.
As I am reading on, there are thoughts about the difference (or similarities) of dystopia and utopia. Crake, I do not believe, is trying to construct a dystopian society, but the opposite. However, in the eyes of some, it is not a utopian society at all. Crake is making everybody equal, therefore making everything fair...but is it ethical? Nevertheless, like seen in history, this (more extreme) way of communism, does not always result in a positive outcome...
Glenn, now Crake, is competitive, witty and composed. Extinctathon is one of the many video games they play together after school. Here, Glenn gives himself and Jimmy their nicknames, Crake and Thickney. The Thickney is a defunct bird that hangs around in cemeteries; and although it was not done intentionally, this bird directly relates to the life of Jimmy. Being the only one left of his kind, while struggling to survive. On the contrary, Crake, the bird, was very numerous in its kind, much like how post-apolypse there are great populations of Crakers running around everywhere.
The author makes it clear that these boys were extremely close during their youth. Having this common history together, it is rather mysterious as to why they would have such distant and opposite ways of living now.
As I am reading on, there are thoughts about the difference (or similarities) of dystopia and utopia. Crake, I do not believe, is trying to construct a dystopian society, but the opposite. However, in the eyes of some, it is not a utopian society at all. Crake is making everybody equal, therefore making everything fair...but is it ethical? Nevertheless, like seen in history, this (more extreme) way of communism, does not always result in a positive outcome...
I chose this photo because i think it represents the clashing ideals between the people who want to live in Crake's world and the people who object it because it not morally or ethically correct.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Oryx and Crake Notes
Basic Plot
· “Snowman” is Jimmy in the future, his dad fostors human organs to transplant into other humans
· Crake is Jimmy’s friend from the compound
Family
· Not well knit family
· Jimmy’s Mom is strict and they have a distant relationship
· Jimmy likes seeing any sort of emotion from his Mom because she is unexpressive
· Mom does not support how the society is run, constantly argues with dad. Nothing is morally correct
Society
· Very organized, with different compounds everywhere. The Pleeblands however, are the complete oppostite
· Nobody is really united as one anymore
· Strange green eyed children
Government
· Large corporations
· There is no specific government
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Blog Response #4
Mullet Man 94
The description and analysis on both Vere's and Billy's reactions/expression during the situation seem completely parallel to what they would actually do (if written out by Melville). I also agree that Billy almost completely ignored the severity of his actions and punishment, but then again, it seems that Billy did not have any evidence of a guilty conscience for his conduct, therefore being so relaxed in that tense situation can be explained by his character.
The description and analysis on both Vere's and Billy's reactions/expression during the situation seem completely parallel to what they would actually do (if written out by Melville). I also agree that Billy almost completely ignored the severity of his actions and punishment, but then again, it seems that Billy did not have any evidence of a guilty conscience for his conduct, therefore being so relaxed in that tense situation can be explained by his character.
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