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  1. asanchez92

    Final Project Paper!

    by
    The Circle’s Technology, and What the People Really Think

                We’ve done a lot in a semester for English Studies in the Digital Age. We’ve explored the issues with social media and privacy, copyrights, how to tell a digital story, and, overall, the effects of technology on our everyday lives. We’ve read articles that challenged us, and made is think, especially about the future impact digital technology will have on the way we think and learn in the future. With all the readings we’ve done this semester, nothing stood out to me more than Dave Eggers The Circle.

                The Circle tells the story of Mae Holland, a young college graduate that lands a job in the most powerful technological company to exist. The novel tells of her rise in the company, from a mere customer service employee, to one of the most public faces of the corporation.

    As she rose, however, her relationships outside (and a few within) the company began to deteriorate, especially as her use of the technology that The Circle offers begins to grow. She begins to lose grip on the person she was before the Circle came so intimately into her life, her way of being. She willingly gave into the sweet nothings that the company spouts, all the perks and pretty wrappings on silver platters.  We watch as she becomes less of an individual, and more of a cog in the corporation machine.

    Aside from the story of Mae, one of the most important components of this story is that of the technology that The Circle offers. The audience gets to take a look at many of the products that The Circle created or was in the process of making in order to offer to the general public. I would be lying if I said that none of these products were worth taking a look at.Products like TruYou, where all an individual needs is one account, password, payment system, identity for everything, or PastPerfect, where one can look as far as possible into their family lineage does seem, on the surface of the idea, very cool. Much of these products however, weren’t as great as they were made out to be.

    In my opinion, many of the products that were offered in the book were invasive and downright scary in their own nature. With many (if not all) the products listed, there was no such thing as privacy, no such thing as separation of your online and offline life.  People were forced to know everything, to be known at all times. They were forced to be something that wasn’t completely them, despite Bailey’s claim that people were being their “true” self. By the end of the book, many of the characters of The Circle weren’t even human anymore. They were a mob, listening to a single voice, a single mission.

    To think that society would be ready to use such technologies if they were to exist is even more horrific, especially when one considers the outcome if any of these products (used in the same way the book did) would have.  I understand that we may want to learn what is happening behind the closed doors of our political leaders, but there is danger in knowing what everything that they do. There is danger in having everything, out in the open for all to see. What was worse was how cult-like everyone turned out to be. If anyone were to go against the mob, the mob would destroy them utterly and completely. We saw this with Mercer, and to a smaller extent, Ty.

    Despite all this, and, as I had mentioned before, the book really forced me to think: What about our society? The society in the book is one thing, and quite a fictitious thing at that, but what about the society I live in? What about my peers? Would they be so accepting of the technologies, of the Circle itself? The answer is probably an obvious one to you or me, but there are some people out there that you as an individual have to worry and wonder about. This is especially true, as much as this pains me to say this, of the people of my generation, and the generation after me. We are the last to be born before the boom of the technological age took the world by storm. We are the last to remember what it was like before all these computers, tablets, iPods and smaller phones, much more delicate phones (I still remember the brick ones and the very first Nokia). We knew the only way to tell someone about your day was by a telephone call, in person, or if you had one, email.  Or, if one was feeling particularly fancy, they’d write a letter. Sure, you were still limited, but not by a 140 characters.

    With these thoughts in mind, my final project began to form. I had decided, since I wanted so badly to know what my peers would think about these products, I’d just ask them. I chose to interview five to ten people on the tech of the Circle. It was a fairly simple, sweet, and to the point: to find out how much we’d been corrupted –for lack of a better word – by the digital age.

    I made up the questions describing various tech from the book, chose my interviewees, and, when they weren’t as busy, had a talk with them.  The most important part of doing this interview was that it had to be people that had not yet read the book. It, of course, would have been an unfair advantage. Thankfully, The Circle hasn’t been out long enough, and kind of ensured that it wasn’t that well read yet.

    I have to admit, in doing this project, I was a little worried. I was worried that a good portion of the people I asked would be for many of the products I would tell them about, considering I was just describing the product to them, and they wouldn’t have the context I did concerning it. I know that people are entitled to their opinion, but it’s still worrying if these product, (at least the more extreme ones) seem appealing. It does make you wonder, if the future that Eggers predicts is much accurate that fiction thought it would be.

    That in itself is an interesting thought, considering that many of the critics and reviewers of The Circle consider Egger’s portrayal of the internet and technology not really accurate, and are quick to point out that Egger’s himself has no real interest in technology. Yet, in reading the novel, people choose to focus on what he had to say about it, and not the underlying themes surrounding it.  As said by Jen Doll in the article “Dave Eggers Deserves a ‘Smile’ for Getting the Internet Wrong in “The Circle”:

    The danger of writing a book about the Internet is that you’re writing a book about the Internet, thereby invoking the myriad voices and possible opinions contained within this giant, amorphous collective — whether they agree with you or not…In Eggers's bleakly amusing depiction of the lead-up to an authoritarian digital society, what many have chosen to focus on is not the thematic but the explicit and literal.

                    In a way, I guess I am like one of those critics, focusing on the “explicit and literal”. But can I be blamed, when the explicit and literal is so alarming? I at least know that the themes exist, but what is said about society has a stronger initial pull than the theme did, and in turn, this is what I focused my project on.


    I realize that I could have done practically anything for this project. I could have had my friends reenact one of my short stories, I could have done some project based on the article “You are what you Read” and had a little journey of sorts through Barnes & Noble.  I also realize that in many ways this project could have been the critical paper: ten pages worth of my thoughts on what society is turning into. As much as I would have loved to do either, this felt right to me. Going outside of the community of our classroom and getting the opinions of others, who don’t get the joy of experiencing our class, felt much more important to me. I can only hope that my efforts in this paper and the interview video connected to it prove my words true.

  2. asanchez92

    Final Project

    by
    Here is my final project. The final paper is in the post right under this one.If the audio isn't that great, please turn on Close Captioning (if it isn't already on) and choose the English option!Enjoy!
  3. asanchez92

    Daily Create: Write Up Fantasmic Excuse

    by
    Okay, listen, I know that I’m incredibly late and I know that you’re really mad, but you've got to hear me out at let me tell you why!
    So I’m waiting for the 7 at Junction, minding my own business listening to some Kanye, because you know I was in the mood. So I’m bumping and I’m waiting and I feel this gust of wind so I turn to see if the train is coming and there’s this tall guy just materialized out of nowhere and is standing next to me looking for the train. Now I was just about to go back minding my business when I catch the side of his face and he looks really familiar. He turns my way, I guess to see how the trains on the other line was doing and you will never guess who I was staring at.
    Guess! No! Who the hell cares about Steve the Skeeve? So what if he has a six-pack now? Once a creepo, always a creepo.
    Ugh, I’ll just tell you.
    James Franco. James Green Goblin, Pineapple Express, Gorgeous Lazy ass smile Franco.
    I swear to you my heart just stopped. I nearly keeled over into the track!
    But he’s standing next to me and I’m just standing there, freaking out, wondering if should make a move, you know get an autograph? You know, something to commemorate the moment where all the stars aligned and I met the fourth man on my potential baby celebrity-daddy list.
    What? Whose first? Ch- that doesn’t matter right now!!!
    So I finally work up the nerve to tap him on the shoulder when all of a sudden this snowball comes flying out of nowhere and clips it him in the head.
    Yes I said snowball.
    Yes I know it’s the middle of summer.
    I turn around to see the cleanest looking hobo you will ever see in New York with a mini-cooler in tow with another snowball armed and ready. The guy screams something at Franco in what I swear was Tibetan-
    I mean I took two years of it in college, so I think I’d know it if I heard it. Let me finish!
    So Franco is like, enough is enough and screaming all this stuff and pulls out one of those deluxe Nerf Water Guns and starts shooting, at him, and our whole platform erupts! The platform on the other side is screaming like it’s a WWE Match on our side and telling Franco “finish him!” Then the train finally comes in and the fight moves onto there, delaying it as the conductor guy tries to break it up.
    I swear it must have been one of those prank TV show things. I wouldn’t know though, I booked it as fast as I could and ended up taking the long way here.
    What? Galifianakis? … It could have been…
    What? No, I didn’t fall asleep on the train!

    You don’t believe me? Dude, this is New York! Where else could crazy shit like this happen?
  4. asanchez92

    Final Project Ideas (or Idea…)

    by
    So, it's finally coming to the wire, so you know what that means: Final Project!I choose to take the creative route and see where it will take me. There are, however, so many options to choose from, so many topics to explore! But what to choose, what t...
  5. asanchez92

    The Circle: A Review

    by
    I would actually like to keep this review of The Circle as general short, sweet, simple and painless as possible, because if I do talk about it in length, it will only turn into an angry rant that would do nothing for the integrity of the book.So in ge...
  6. asanchez92

    The Circle: A look at a Character

    by
    There are just so many characters I want to talk about: Mae, Kalden, creepy Francis...But there is one I actually want to focus on for the sake of this response: Mercer.Mercer is the ex-boyfriend of protagonist Mae Holland. They really don't seem to ge...
  7. asanchez92

    The Circle: Aphorisms

    by
    ALL THAT HAPPENS MUST BE KNOWNIt is one of the earlier aphorisms we see in The Circle, probably, as the story goes on, one of the least... unsettling (surprising, I know). It is here we start to get a feel of what The Circle (as a company) entails. The...
  8. asanchez92

    Daily Create: Argument Time

    by
    So, today's daily create involved reading an article about social media and writing your stance on it's argument about the subject.I chose this article which asks the question of whether or not Youtube is is a bad influence on society.While the ar...
  9. asanchez92

    Daily Create: Lucky 7s

    by
    It’s like time slows down and your life flashes before your eyes.

    All the things, big and little that brought you to where you are right now in that moment goes by in little spurts: Past jobs, past purchases, past decisions, the most recent of them being to spontaneously come to the casino and blow your last two hundred dollars. Who cares about rent? Or getting a plane ride back home? Why not let loose? Got to live in the moment right?

    Live in the moment. The mantra for half the stupid crap you've done, particularly the stuff that caused you to end up in the hospital with a broken limb. The mantra that got you to ask out that one girl at that one bar at that one time, along with four shots of tequila for an extra boost of confidence. God help you if you actually remembered her name now. The mantra that reverberated through your mind as you lost dollar after dollar, whether it be to drinks, craps, or blackjack. You decide to spend your last bit on cheap beer and the slots, the only thing you could afford after the beer.


    You wondered, as the world went back to normal speed, the past going back to being to the past, and the last red seven slid in to place, black line running through it and its brothers, how many more times you’d utter live in the moment, with a moment as bright and golden as this coming in to focus, into reality, before it all became more moments to flash by. 
  10. asanchez92

    Daily Create: What Matters Least?

    by
    Reality Television

    “Did you see what she did on last night’s episode of…”
    I sigh, turning on the volume to a level that could probably deafen me, but I still hear them. It’s “this celebrity did this or this one fought with that one and this one called the other a no good ratchet…, well you get the idea.

    This is totally not what I come to work to talk about.  Like really, what is the point to watching one woman pull the weave out of another woman’s head? Or see one washed-up rapper’s ex become another’s baby mama. Like really? What makes reality TV so interesting? Where’s the substance? Where’s the role models?

    What’s so wrong with watching a good scripted TV show? What’s wrong with watching fiction? Why should the good shows be canceled to make room for another show about America’s next whatever?
    “Oh and I don’t know how she thought she could stay when she…”
    Ugh. Time to turn the volume up louder. Hopefully my ears can take it.

    Reality TV, I really care not for thee. 
  11. asanchez92

    Daily Create: The Most Famous Novel No One Has Ever Heard of

    by
    The Sorcerer’s Touch


    Ella and Caleb made it through and back the Sea of Mirage by the skin of their teeth and the Jewel of Sight barely in their grasp, but their journey is still far from over. With tension and differing ideals growing between them, they now must come face to face with the Sorcerer of Melarn; one of the most powerful men in all of the Tales combined, and hopefully persuades him to join their cause. That’s if they can manage to pull together past their issues and pass his tests. It’s either that, or risk turning into extra ingredients for his spells, while simultaneously plunging all of Melarn into chaos.  Hey, who said getting back home was going to be easy?  

    Alana Watson’s fourth novel, The Sorcerer’s Touch, is a thrilling and suspenseful follow up to Voyage of Visions and their predecessor, The Diamond Force. Readers will enjoy the exciting and darker twists that have yet to be seen in the Tales Saga. 
  12. asanchez92

    Ye Olde Internet Routine

    by
                In doing this daily create, I realize that I sort of don’t do much (not as much as I used to) when I go on the internet. Back in simpler times, it was always check email, watch a few episodes or entire season(s) of a show, read stories, and write a bit. If someone messaged me on a social media site that I was connected to (most likely Facebook), then I’d go and write them back then sign off if they didn't answer back immediately. It may not seem a lot, but then you actually realize how much time you put into each task. And I put in a lot of time.

                Nowadays it is Tumblr (I realize and acknowledge my addiction... it's okay), email, homework (if there is any, and that usually takes up the most time) TV shows (if I can get off of Tumblr long enough) and… that’s about it. I do write and read from time to time, but not as much as I would like to. I have this constant nagging feeling that I’m wasting time by doing activities that I love instead of doing more constructive things like schoolwork (I can’t seem to hold this ideal when it comes to Tumblr though…). It’s funny, I used to be one of the people that questioned the existence of the website, and now I’m one of the ones that can’t get enough of it. It would definitely be… weird if didn't have it. I might even be more productive… but that thought pales in comparison to all the wonderfully creative artwork (be it visual or literary) and the more interesting theories surrounding the TV shows that I watch. I of course could and would do other things but it would still be… just a bit… sad…

                It’s actually pretty surprising that I didn't put this blog on Tumblr. Wonder if I could change that… 
    Sorry Blogger...
    Not really though...
  13. asanchez92

    You are What You Read

    by
    If the article by Lena Price, You are what you Read is anything to go by, I’d have to say that that I am a few things. 
    First, I’d have to say scholar in training, if that is a thing. But with all the articles and academia read in these four years of college, it is something that has to be acknowledged, even if the readings aren't my first choice.
     Now, stepping away from the educational side of reading, we've stepped into a whole other world. I like to spend my time as a member of the lands of fantasy, reading about all the beings and things that can only exist in the realm of the supernatural. Werewolves, demons and all the like. After all, we already live in reality, why read about it? I am also a romanticist at heart. Give me a good love story, where the love builds on an actual foundation, where the couple fights to keep this love for all the right reasons, despite all the naysayers against them, or were love comes not only from loving someone you’re attracted to, but what you’re willing to do for the people you’re related to. Definitely not some YA version about a relationship that’s borderline abusive (we all know which book I’m talking about). In short, I am a reader with taste for the imaginary and invented, always ready for a good tale to devour.

  14. asanchez92

    My Relationship with Technology

    by
    I would like to say that while I do use technology I’m not all that addictive to it… but I might be lying. Well, there is at least the possibility. I mean, I can go stretches without turning on the computer. I leave my phone everywhere I’m not, and I can have quiet moments pass without the need for my iPod. But, when I do plug myself in, it’s a... "moderated" addiction.  I have the habit of watching TV shows and movies that I can’t catch on actual television on my computer. I’m usually playing games on my iPod, or scrolling through Tumblr, my only social media addiction (Facebook has virtually no appeal to me). I also find myself turning more towards technology when I want to write. While I do like the traditional medium of pencil and paper, I find myself jotting down things more in an open word document or the notes app on my iPod. 

    In short, I’m addicted to technology, but not in the obsessive way.

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