Writing Project #4
Easton Wilkins
Prof. Meehan
Literature & Composition
April 20, 2010
The Fall of. . .Us
The world in which we live is one that is constantly under scrutiny and developing through episodic change. This is quite clear when observing evolutions in communication, especially dealing with literary achievements in text up to today’s more modern electronic interface. While the gradual upbringing has (up to this point) proved beneficial in the end, we may have found a roadblock; a massive, digital, empty space. Yes, as tragic as it may seem, the common technologies we perceive to be beneficial due to simplicity may very well be black holes in disguise; swallowing the person and the place they inhabit within the world.
As The Gutenberg Elegies suggests; “. . .our overall American bewitchment with technology is based on the assumption that improvements in the material sphere are intrinsically good.” (222). While this assumption offers us a look into Birkerts mode of thinking, it also reinforces why the belief stands that so many people are swept up in the rush of technology. Accessibility is at a rate higher than ever; people no longer have landlines, the Internet is available through cell phones, and standard radios have almost been forgotten. Contained within Rob Wittig’s electronic text “The Fall of the Site of Marsha” is a clear-cut example of how our newer, more common technologies may be taking over. But is this stepping too far? Am I falling victim to exaggerating the effective direction of digital media, outweighing positive regard and use with completely negative connotation? Perhaps, though along with Birkerts I feel I am growing frightened of the charismatic guest or should I say, our newest installation(s) to life as we know it.
There is however, a theoretical motivation for the extensive use of more recently (say, since the 70’s) applied technologies. Birkerts cites Marshall McLuhan by calling certain circuit-driven tools “extensions of man”. He continues; “We embrace them because they seem a part of us, an enhancement. They don’t seem to challenge our power so much as add to it.” (221) Thusly, thanks to our adaptive nature as humans, we see our inventions and useful outlets as controlled, extended beings of ourselves; connected in someway by an invisible presence that gives us a sense of power and purpose. In “The Fall of the Site of Marsha” Marsha falls victim to the connective aura of the Internet; more specifically, the early workings of homepages in the late 90’s. Her homepage revolves around throne angels, a passion of high interest to her due to her claims (posted on the site) of her coming in contact with a throne angel. Soon after, her message board begins to fill up with threats from multiple throne angels, picking apart aspects of her life and revealing many secrets that ultimately drive Marsha into dismay, madness, and ruin. The clear problem here is access, which leads directly to Marsha’s vulnerability through the personal information she provides on her page. In perspective, this is absolutely terrifying given the amount of growth and modification the Internet has undergone the past decade, since Marsha’s tragic attempt at growth and connecting through her own simple interests.
Another example of the power of access that comes to mind is the infamous Facebook, a domain for individuals to advertise and plead with the other non-existents to recognize their existence; a paradox I realize, but there is ignorance afoot. Those sending information about themselves (or not) are giving the machine and anyone with certain access capabilities free reign on their personal database, and whatever it may contain. This was exactly the case with Marsha; by simply posting and sharing her experiences she allowed everyone and anyone who wanted to see them the ability to. In the end it proved to be the purpose of the story, showing how innocent, good-intentioned expressions can lead to dark and terrible things. While I realize that this may not always be the case, more times than none I would bet that altercations and problems are started because of something said/done electronically and not an actual physical altercation. And here is where the wallowing sense of disconnection is felt; who are you fighting or slandering over the internet? And besides that, how as a society have we grown from the Roaring 20’s where social interaction was booming and positive to nowadays where people would rather send a text message than even call and hear the other persons voice? Certainly numerous changes have occurred, but how many more do we need to make before we begin to feel nothing?
The problematic status of our newly “wired” generation pushes and pulls on both sides of itself; though accessibility and connection have increased efficiency in production and business and such, at what price have we utilized these simple expenditures? To draw a definitive line where soul meets body? Where we transfer our essence, everything we like, dislike, believe in, and anything else we wish into a plastic and metal box of invisible numbers? I fear we are now reliant on these ideas, just because of popularity. If you don’t have a cell phone, you are in the Stone Age. No facebook = no life. Our super ability to believe we are in high connection is simply fraud; a computer has no free will, nor does it judge what information we give it. It reminds us who we are; a lost cell like Marsha, swept out and drowning in a sea of code that stretches as far as the eyes could imagine.
“I pledge to have abided by the Washington College Honor Code.”
