We're products of this generation, emphasis on PRODUCTS.

Of course, many parallels were drawn between the video posted by Mr. Dominguez and our novel Brave New World. What I did not expect as much were the same parallels and unexpected truths about our modern society and how schools operate.

For me, the most significant part I remember from the video was the part where Robinson drew the students coming out of the machine in batches. They were grouped according to age, thne further split into different areas of subjects, like math science, etc. Basically, "schools are organized on factory lines; ringing bells, separate facilities" and etc. It is very similar to what they at the Hatchery, "rack-full of test-tubes [entered] a large metal box, another rack-full was emerging" (6). How the citizens of this new industrialization period is almost exactly the same as how schools, in a way, manufacture their students. This modern society is creating a group of "Epsilons, Gammas, Alphas" and whatever name they would like to group humans into just by grouping kids into the same age groups. This is based on the comparison of our society now and in the text. Our society assumes that just because we're all the same age, we learn and function all the same way. With the actuals groups of people from the text, they Hatchery workers modify the newborns to different conditions that class them into their hierarchy.

Another significant parallel I drew was the part from the video where the doctor was giving an "anaesthetic" injection to a student. "Anaesthetics shut your senses off and deaden yourself to what is happening." This line draws a complete parallel to the concept of a "soma" in Brave New World. In the video it mentions that we are given these anaesthetics in order to keep focused on our schoolwork, rather than the bigger picture going on in reality. Well, the "soma" creates that same sense but based for work instead of schooling. The drug allows them to get their fix in a way where they can be more productful.  

Brave New World.

First off, I hated the whole back and forth thing at the end of chapter 3. Just kind of got confusing as to who was talking after awhile, considering that I am somewhat confused on the craziness of this whole society itself. Not really, I just hated the back and forth thing.

According to the readings of chapter 3 in Brave New World, the family and whole system of their being good(faithful, loving, etc.) relationships is undermined. As Mustapha Mond was talking to the children that were receiving a tour, he told them that a home had " no air, no space; an understerilized prison; darkness, disease, and smells" (37). He created an image where the life they were living right now was superior. In the sense that the whole family system was a trap, encasing individuals to lives that were dreadful. With this chapter, Mond goes into detail about his views, and in turn, everybody's views of the "old" world.

And with the passages about Lenina getting ready and talking to her friend, Fanny, it also shed light on the whole not being monogamous in a relationship concept.Doing so, I think it emphasized the corruption of relationships. You are seen as an outcast in a sense if you are devoted to one man or woman. According to Fanny, its not only disapproving in the eyes of the D.H.C. but its "bad form to go on and on like [that] with one man" (41).

Now going back to the whole situation with Mond, when he explains the idea of a home, he speaks about homes and the value of a family as being to tight and "recking with emotion" (37). He basically is saying that the parents suffocated the children with to much love or too much emotional feelings that, in turn, ruined the child for life. So the society itself tried to eliminate all the pleasurable emotions like love, thinking that they created a life where it is perfect and there are no feelings to get in the way of productivity. With the manipulation of life and all the important aspects being eliminated, the value system of life is ruined, and it becomes a life about work and progress, rather than living the moment.

If you didn't notice I did what this chapter did, sort of, with the whole going back and forth thing. Clever right? Just kidding!

Too Many Interpretations.

Warning: I was not in the best of moods while writing this & I'm exhausted. I had a major brain fart. Its just one of those days. So, if this blog seems kind of, ehh, not meaningful in a way I guess, sorry in advance!

In dealing with The Tempest, we have read many articles, had many discussions, and found new ways and also took the interpretations that have been established to explore deeper into the meaning of this play. In George Will's case, he thinks it best to read The Tempest with only one interpretation in mind, while Greenblatt found that it might be more meaningful and realistic that the play had several different interpretations to it. Upon agreeing with Greenblatt, one can see that The Tempest was written to appeal to certain types of audiences at the time, but it can be seen as if Shakespeare was siding with the colonists. Although the central theme of this play seems to be colonialism, the play digs into the deeper meaning between those who are coined the term "savages" and those who come thinking they are the rightful land owner. The article we have read, Cultural Studies: Postcolonialism, African-American Criticism, And Queer Theory somewhat goes into depth on this. Caliban is silenced, like how every minority race is, and Prospero (the colonist) comes and thinks that teaching him the "moral" ways will appeal to Caliban and make him grateful. Just as "the others" would be portrayed, Caliban is the typical image of a savage native. This article also presents the minority writers and thinkers who have thought of new views and many interpretations of one issue. Aime's A Tempest presents the more easy to understand version of what might have occurred between Prospero and Caliban. In her version of the text, she reveals the true feelings of Ariel and Caliban. Both are longing for freedom but both go about in two different ways. This presents more of an understanding that natives are human and not just a different race of people. For me, it sort of presents the idea of the anger and great patience it takes in serving someone that decides to rule over you and treat you like an animal. Taking the different aspects of colonialism into account, most of the articles or texts we have read reveals some corruption within their system. 

I know there are more things than colonialism going on, but all I can think about is the colonial part right now.