Final Sci-Fi Blog Post :(

 

     Dear Dr. Forman, 

I've had a great time in this class. I thought that talking about androids as much as we did was really fascinating. It related to our daily lives, with the invention of Siri and other devices that are smart enough to run and organize ones daily life. I wish we spent a little more time on talking about time travel and life on other planets. These things fascinate me immensely and it would of been cool to be able to read about time travel, not just read books that took place in the future. Sci-Fi as a genre at first, I was a little hesitant about, and since I never considered The Hunger Games and Divergent as Science Fiction, I wasn't really sure what to expect. But once we started, I really liked Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and I was excited to continue. Personally, I think Sci-Fi is more than a genre, because it encapsulates our society, the issues, the technology and in a way it foreshadows what is to come. I really enjoyed this semester and I can't wait for Sports Literature!

Thank you! 

Progress

Today in class I got a lot of progress done when working on my story. I decided I was going to write about a futuristic world where the government uproots everyone from earth and puts them on a new planet. The government controls everyone by forcing them to take a pill that allows the government to see inside their thoughts and control them. More to come.....

Fahrenheit 451: Conclusion

Bradbury and Roth both question conformity and rule following in society and the need to leave an implacable mark. Without Guy realizing the importance of books, he would not have revolted and as a result, become his own person. Similarly, Tris needs to find her own voice and speak up for those who cannot. Mass media suppresses rights given in the Bill of Rights is an ideology that neither Tris nor Guy allow, but rather vow to fight and stop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sutgWjz10sM

 

Body Paragraph 2

            The need to make a mark on the world is an idea that permeates throughout Fahrenheit 451 and Divergent. Both Tris and Guy adapt to the idea that they need to make a mark on the world, as well as a change in society in order to make a difference.  “Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there” (62). Montag conveys his need to leave a mark and change something in a society that he believes is corrupt. By stating that everyone “must leave something behind,” Montag further exemplifies his fear of not being remembered. Similarly, in Divergent, Tris is torn between choosing her family and her faction. “It’s my choice now, no matter what the test says.  Abnegation.  Dauntless.  Erudite.  Divergent.” (26) Tris declaring that it is “her choice” as to what faction she chooses further demonstrates that she will not conform to society’s rules and expectations. Both Tris and Guy view a lack of education as ignorance, leading to need to revolt and become ones own person before society corrupts and destroys them. “If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you'll never learn” (56). Montag depicts that ignorance is necessary to improve oneself and that it is the way to enlightenment. Tris and Guy both view the lack of knowledge as an ability to learn and improve oneself before society becomes so accustomed with following rules that as one it conforms into extensions of the government.

Fahrenheit 451: Body Paragraph 1

The tension between self-identity and conformity is what eventually separates Guy Montag from a rapidly changing and subdued society. Guy Montag earns a living by destroying books as well as all the possessions of those who own books. However, deep down, Guy understands that he is unhappy, and that his relationship with his wife, Mildred, is not fulfilling. "It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed. With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spouting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of an amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters of history” (3). Montag’s need to burn books is instilled within him from the orders of society.  Montag believes his life is perfect and that he is fulfilled. Clarisse, however, is the catalyst for Montag’s change, and brings questions into his mind that he never considers doubting. Montag begins to stop and look at the world around him differently, pausing to observe the beauty in nature that surrounds him. This turning point marks the beginning of Montag’s change and quest to find self-identity, and to deflect from society. Following Montag’s realization that the government does not want him to read books, he realizes that books give him information that is not mindless and empty. Montag finds curiosity and language within books, further prompting him to save them. “The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us” (53). Beatty reveals to Montag that as the society around them grows shallower and intellectually vapid, their society stops reading books centered on instant thrill and gratification. In this culture, books become shorter while magazine and newspaper articles become easier to read. Television becomes more prevalent, and entertainment takes the place of intellectual debate and conversation. Guy Montag and Tris are linked through the desire to find themselves within the capricious and obedient society in which they live. Tris realizes the danger in choosing a different faction and how society views them as a threat, “divergence is extremely dangerous” (23). Tris’ inability to identify with a faction immediately makes her a threat to society, further conveying the need to be in line with society’s orders. Divergent and Fahrenheit 451 both exemplify the need to distinguish oneself from a rapidly conforming society.

 

Fahrenheit 451: Working Thesis, Example, and Working Title

Title: Dare to be Different

Thesis: The struggle for self-identity as a motif flows throughout Fahrenheit 451 as Bradbury illustrates through Guy’s decision to revolt, not conform, and ultimately break free.

Quotes: 
"It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed. With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spouting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of an amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters of history” (3).

“The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us” (53).

“Divergence is extremely dangerous” (23). 

Intro Paragraph: Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury’s, Fahrenheit 451, published in 1951, is a dystopian novel that takes place in a futuristic American society. Throughout Fahrenheit 451, there is a reoccurring question of conformity as opposed to individuality. The need to find self-identity without becoming an outlaw within society is also depicted. Unlike traditional firemen, who are expected to save burning houses, Guy Montag is employed to burn books as well as the possessions of those who read them. Bradbury constantly calls into question devotion to society and how much the citizens are willing to alter their own beliefs in order to conform. Guy Montag, however, does not conform, but rather he stands firmly by his belief of performing traditional firemen duties. This re-emphasizes the question of how devoted to certain rules one must be before they become their own person and as a result, revolt. Much like in Veronica Roth’s novel, Divergent, the main character, Tris, has uncertainties regarding the faction in which she will join. The struggle for self-identity as a motif flows throughout Fahrenheit 451 as Bradbury illustrates through Guy’s decision to revolt, not conform, and ultimately break free.

Quarter 1 Reflective Paragraph

Hi Dr.Forman!

This quarter for me was mostly about developing my ideas and finding a way to verbalize and write them down in a way that is equal to a college level class. At first, when we started the I,Robot essay, I took ideas that we spoke about in class and advanced them into more complex ideas. My thesis however was a little lengthy and my analysis for the quotes wasn’t meaty and in depth enough. As we went on and discussed in class I began to form my own ideas based off of what was said. The class discussions and group circles really helped me vocalize my ideas and be able to fully complete and form them. Then when we got to the Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep essay I was much more confident in my ideas, and without a prompt I was able to take what spoke to me most throughout the novel and form my own topic. I really wanted to be able to take advanced ideas and relate them to questions that not only pertained to the book but also to real life, and that's where alot of my main points for the Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep essay came from. Also having an out of class reading book was a way to escape from the books we read in class but still read something that we enjoyed. I liked being able to connect The Hunger Games to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep because it gave me a way to connect my selected reading book and find similarities among it and relate the ideas within it back to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.

In my Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep essay, I definitely needed to spell check more carefully!! I think I would re-read it over and over to the point that my brain was numb to the small careless errors and more focused on my main points. I think I did a good job with the ideas and advancing them all while still keeping them in line with what my prompt was. I spent a lot of time trying to find really good quotes and finding ways to relate them all back together without being repetitive. I also liked how you had us span this essay out over a couple of weeks which gave me the opportunity to keep re-reading my work and finding little ways to make it better every time.

When we started this class I didn't really know what to expect. I had never had you as a teacher before, but this class has come to be one of my favorite classes throughout my whole Buckley experience, and you have become one of my favorite teachers. I really like that you conduct the class in a way to prepare us not only for college but you teach us how to take a novel and just from that be able to form complex ideas and essays that are at a college level. I normally hate speaking in front of the class but when we have group circles I feel comfortable sharing my ideas and I think that is because you created a class where it is frowned upon not to share your ideas. I like that you don’t assign busy work like many of my other teachers, but meatier and more advanced ideas. Everything I am learning in this class I know I will use next year in college and even past that later in life.

Thank you for being a great teacher and pushing us further and holding us to a higher standard that we didn’t necessarily know we were capable of achieving!

-Olivia 

DADOES Intro+Body+Conclustion

Question: In Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, what role does empathy play when comparing a human and an android?

Philip Dick's novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, takes place in a post apocalyptic world in 2021. Throughout Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, there is a reoccurring questioning of whether a human is an android and vise versa. By using the Voigt-Kampff test, Rick can determine whether a human does not have enough empathy, making it an android, or confirming that someone is human by checking their empathy levels.  Rick begins to question his own humanity and empathy while androids begin to question their artificiality. Within Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, there is a constant question of what it means to be human, what is actual and fake, and what blurs the lines between real and artificial. If supposedly the only thing that differentiates humans and androids are their empathy levels, then what level of empathy should an android have until it is considered equal to a human? Dick creates doubt throughout the novel regarding what levels of empathy are needed to be considered a human; however when in contact with certain androids, Rick discovers that some do have emotional empathy, further questioning what level of empathy should androids be allowed to have before they cross over into a human.

Empathy within Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is what separates a human from an android. Empathy is conveyed in a number of different ways and is a major distinction when considering someone’s humanity. In the beginning of the novel, Rick and Iran are discussing their plans for the day, however Iran’s desire to partake in the self-accusatory depression creates conflict between her and Rick. ‘My schedule for today lists a six hour self-accusatory depression,’ Iran said. ‘What? Why did you schedule that?’ It defeated the whole purpose of the mood organ...’my first reaction consisted of being grateful we could afford a Penfield mood organ. But then I realized how unhealthy it was, sensing the absence of life, not just in this building but everywhere, and not reacting-do you see?" (5). Rick and Iran both use mood organs, a machine that stimulates human feelings, allowing a human to feel whatever they please, whenever. However, Irans wanting to do the self-accusatory depression shows her desire to feel something imperfect and human, not feelings generated by a machine. Most members of the post World-War Terminus world view the mood organ as a normal and reasonable way to feel and live. Ironically, by humans using the mood organ to generate feelings and in turn make themselves more efficient, they allow themselves to become more paralleled to the characteristics and personalities of an android. As humans, they should have the ability to react to a certain situation naturally, but with the absence of spontaneity and genuine feeling they are creating a world where humans and androids both have an absence of life. Isidore, while not considered a human, but rather a “chicken head” shows human traits that aren’t similar to most of Dick’s characters. “D-Doesn't y-y-your insurance cover this’... ‘I don’t think Isidore can tell the difference’ Milt said mildly. ‘To him they’re all alive’... ‘Yes,’ Isidore admitted” (77) Isidore thinks that a real cat was an electric one, and Isidore’s inability to tell the difference between the electric cat and the real one further displays his human traits, something that “real-humans” don’t possess. Isidores stuttering further conveys his emotional sadness when referring to the dead cat. If compassion and empathy are what differentiate androids and humans, then Isidore is more of a human then another normal character. Isidore’s ability to feel compassion for something whether it is electric or real makes Isidore more human, while no one else in society posses these traits.

Ricks outlook on androids completely changes towards the end of the book. Rick, being a bounty hunter and retiring androids for a living, clearly had no moral issue with “retiring” androids. However, towards the end of the novel Rick’s pre-conceived views on androids changes dramatically. “What a job to have to do, Rick thought. I'm a scourge, like famine or plague. Where I go the ancient curse follows. As Mercer said, I am required to do wrong. Everything I've done has been wrong from the start" (225-226) Rick develops empathy for androids when he realizes that they have human similarities. Prior to the end of the novel Rick has no concept of what genuine empathy is. However, after Rick retires the Andys, he comes to the realization that he has done wrong, and in turn he develops a more full sense of empathy. Similarly, Rachael is an android with human like feelings. Although Rachael is technically an android she shows human like traits. "'It's so awful. So needless."(225) After Rachael kills Rick’s goat, she illustrates her further sense of humanity through her remorse. Ironically, Rick does not realize why Rachael believes the killing of the goat was needless, and goes on to believe that Rachael solely thought that due to her android thinking and reasoning. The crossover between Rachael as an android and Rick as a human’s empathy levels further blurs the lines between what constitutes being a human versus an android.

Dick creates crossroads between the inanimate and animate. There is irony between androids and humans levels of empathy and how while an android can have more empathy then a human, it is still not equated to a human. The lines become blurred as to what constitutes a human and what constitutes an android and where the distinction is made. As the novel progresses, Rick in turn progresses and becomes more human and less robotic. The irony in Rick developing more feelings towards androids after spending more time with them shows that whether you are grouped as an android or a human does not make you one, but the empathy and human characteristics are what distinguishes you in society.

DADOES 2 Body Paragraphs

Question: In Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, what role does empathy play when comparing a human and an android?

Philip Dick's novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, takes place in a post apocalyptic world in 2021. Throughout Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, there is a reoccurring questioning of whether a human is an android and vise versa. By using the Voigt-Kampff test, Rick can determine whether a human does not have enough empathy, making it an android, or confirming that someone is human by checking their empathy levels.  Rick begins to question his own humanity and empathy while androids begin to question their artificiality. Within Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, there is a constant question of what it means to be human, what is actual and fake, and what blurs the lines between real and artificial. If supposedly the only thing that differentiates humans and androids are their empathy levels, then what level of empathy should an android have until it is considered equal to a human? Dick creates doubt throughout the novel regarding what levels of empathy are needed to be considered a human; however when in contact with certain androids, Rick discovers that some do have emotional empathy, further questioning what level of empathy should androids be allowed to have before they cross over into a human.

Empathy within Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is what separates a human from an android. Empathy is conveyed in a number of different ways and is a major distinction when considering someone’s humanity. In the beginning of the novel, Rick and Iran are discussing their plans for the day, however Iran’s desire to partake in the self-accusatory depression creates conflict between her and Rick. ‘My schedule for today lists a six hour self-accusatory depression,’ Iran said. ‘What? Why did you schedule that?’ It defeated the whole purpose of the mood organ...’my first reaction consisted of being grateful we could afford a Penfield mood organ. But then I realized how unhealthy it was, sensing the absence of life, not just in this building but everywhere, and not reacting-do you see?" (5). Rick and Iran both use mood organs, a machine that stimulates human feelings, allowing a human to feel whatever they please, whenever. However, Irans wanting to do the self-accusatory depression shows her desire to feel something imperfect and human, not feelings generated by a machine. Most members of the post World-War Terminus world view the mood organ as a normal and reasonable way to feel and live. Ironically, by humans using the mood organ to generate feelings and in turn make themselves more efficient, they allow themselves to become more paralleled to the characteristics and personalities of an android. As humans, they should have the ability to react to a certain situation naturally, but with the absence of spontaneity and genuine feeling they are creating a world where humans and androids both have an absence of life. Isidore, while not considered a human, but rather a “chicken head” shows human traits that aren’t similar to most of Dick’s characters. “D-Doesn't y-y-your insurance cover this’... ‘I don’t think Isidore can tell the difference’ Milt said mildly. ‘To him they’re all alive’... ‘Yes,’ Isidore admitted” (77) Isidore thinks that a real cat was an electric one, and Isidore’s inability to tell the difference between the electric cat and the real one further displays his human traits, something that “real-humans” don’t possess. Isidores stuttering further conveys his emotional sadness when referring to the dead cat. If compassion and empathy are what differentiate androids and humans, then Isidore is more of a human then another normal character. Isidore’s ability to feel compassion for something whether it is electric or real makes Isidore more human, while no one else in society posses these traits.

Ricks outlook on androids completely changes towards the end of the book. Rick, being a bounty hunter and retiring androids for a living, clearly had no moral is

sue with “retiring” androids. However, towards the end of the novel Rick’s pre-conceived views on androids changes dramatically. “What a job to have to do, Rick thought. I'm a scourge, like famine or plague. Where I go the ancient curse follows. As Mercer said, I am required to do wrong. Everything I've done has been wrong from the start" (225-226) Rick develops empathy for androids when he realizes that they have human similarities. Prior to the end of the novel Rick has no concept of what genuine empathy is. However, after Rick retires the andys, he comes to the realization that he has done wrong, and in turn he develops a more full sense of empathy. Similarly, Rachael is an android with human like feelings. Although Rachael is technically an android she shows human like traits. "'It's so awful. So needless."(225) After Rachael kills Rick’s goat, she illustrates her further sense of humanity through her remorse. Ironically, Rick does not realize why Rachael believes the killing of the goat was needless, and goes on to believe that Rachael solely thought that due to her android thinking and reasoning. The crossover between Rachael as an android and Rick as a human’s empathy levels further blurs the lines between what constitutes being a human versus an android.

Intro Paragraph: DADOES

           Philip Dick's novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, takes place in a post apocalyptic world in 2021. Throughout Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, there is a reoccurring questioning of whether a human is an android and vise versa. By using the Voigt-Kampff test, Rick can determine whether a human does not have enough empathy, making it an android, or confirming that someone is human by checking their empathy levels.  Rick begins to question his own humanity and empathy while androids begin to question their artificiality. Within Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, there is a constant question of what it means to be human, what is actual and fake, and what blurs the lines between real and artificial. If supposedly the only thing that differentiates humans and androids are their empathy levels, then what level of empathy should an android have until it is considered equal to a human? Dick creates doubt throughout the novel regarding what levels of empathy are needed to be considered a human; however when in contact with certain androids, Rick discovers that some do have emotional empathy, further questioning what level of empathy should androids be allowed to have before they cross over into a human.

Do Androids Dream Outline

Question: In Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, what role does empathy play when comparing a human and an android?

Topic: Throughout Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, there is a reoccurring questioning of whether a human is an android and vise versa. By using the Voigt-Kampff test, Rick can determine whether a human does not have enough empathy, making it an android, or confirming that someone is human by checking their empathy levels.  Rick begin question his own humanity and empathy while androids begin to question their artificiality.

Thesis:  Dick creates doubt throughout the novel regarding what levels of empathy are needed to be considered a human; however when in contact with certain androids, Rick discovers that some do have emotional empathy, further questioning what level of empathy should androids be allowed to have before they cross over into a human.

Within Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, there is a constant question of what it means to be human, what is actual and fake, and what blurs the lines between real and artificial.

If supposedly the only thing that differentiates humans and androids are their empathy levels, then what level of empathy should an android have until it is considered equal to a human?

Paragraph 1: Empathy Test showing different responses and how Iran and Ricks emotions and empathy grow throughout the novel

Paragraph 2: Showing Androids Levels of empathy compared to human's levels of empathy and comparing them.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

                                             Olivia Drago and Stella Lo Balbo 

Possible Essay Idea: World War Terminus creates ripple effects that permeate through out the whole novel.

Technology, television, authenticity, health, animals, produce, dystopia, real vs. fake, higher power, social status, and evolution are all words we took from our word cluster.

Asimov vs. Dick

Question: In what way do Dick and Asimov differ in their ideas towards technology and robots?

Topic: Dick and Asimov both create a world in which technology and robots play a central role. Although Asimov has a more favorable view of robots and how they can best serve society, Dick uses deceit and creates something that can control humans rather then aid them.

Thesis: Both Dick and Asimov create a society where the use of technology is very pertinent; In Asimov’s world robots are created to assist humans and act as companions, where as in Dick’s dystopia, mood organs are the dominating factor in society.

First Body: Asimov

-Asimov creates a futuristic world in which robots will become an important part of society, having the ability to care for children and morph into the characteristics of a human.

Second Body: Dick

Dick uses an omniscience tone throughout, Do androids dream of electric sheep, conveying a society that is controlled by mood organs and conveys a pessimistic civilization where all aspects revolve around technology.

Third Body: Parallels 

Both Dick and Asimov’s story lines follow the function of technology within society and show a futuristic world where humans and life do not function as they were created to.