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LITR 4632: Literature of the Future  |
Final Exam Essays 2013 Sample answers
for Essay 1:
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Elizabeth L. Suffron
5 July 2013
Don’t Run With Scissors
Is progress for the sake of progress beneficial? If so, and progress is
continuous, where would decline fall? ...no pun intended...well, maybe a little.
You see, when diving into the world of Future Literature, we cannot help but ask
the “what if” questions. What if bears learned to make fire? Would machines rise
against humans, given the chance? Can aliens really come in peace? The projected
answers to such ideas often reveal sublime visions and scenarios because it
presents a multitude of possibilities, “allowing people to critically analyze
their own lives,” set within a current reality (Jenna Zucha). But within each
reality, there lies a lesson of caution. Stories, such as Parable of the Sower
and Stone Lives, cast a gruesome vision of a world already in turmoil, overrun
with progress, warning readers of technological-advancement consequences. Then
there are tales providing readers with views of possible losses with continuous
technology progress as in Drapes and Folds and The Onion and I. In such cases, a
sense of humanity dissolves into virtual power leaving behind shells of once
was...in other words, a shell of humanity. Mozart in Mirrorshades, case and
point, depict a young Amadeus, infatuated with his infamous compositions, slowly
succumbing to high tech reality leading to a complete loss of self. In the end,
we no longer see a musical genius, but a punk-like teenager bent on instant
gratification. How is this transformation possible? Can technology truly alter
society so radically? Gulliver’s Travels explains this breakdown of loss of self
beautifully. Basically, as language breaks down, identities blur, and long
before we know it, values of life are replaced with a need to survive. Values,
here, are the key. When one replaces values, one redefines the meaning of life.
Therefore, when it comes to scenarios of the future, the messages comprise a
singular motif: proceed with care!
As stated, the greatest warning given within a virtual scenario is loss
of self...possibly the most attractive plot in literature because it challenges
our convictions. Would we fight? Would we assimilate? What would we really do?
Going back to Drapes and Folds and The Onion and I,
readers see a world of high technology, whether by mutual consent or
force, painfully removing everything people once valued:
memories. In Drapes and Folds, Pearl tells us her story of loss. Having
suffered through the “Women’s Epidemic in 2022,” which took a single breast, she
finds comfort in her many fabrics from all over the world (VN, 126). Each piece
of cloth holds countless memories. It is the memories that give her sanity and a
sense of humanity. Adorning her house and self, the “drapes and folds” of fabric
paint a picture of a society full of warmth and intimate friendships. However,
over time, the NewSociety Power reinforces the removal of such common items of
the past and, in doing so, strips Pearl of unique representation of self. In a
similar fashion, the narrator’s father in The Onion and I, also experiences
separation of self and reality. This character of a once low tech world worked
as an onion farmer. Loving the smell of dirt, warmth of the sun, and texture of
the onions he grew, nothing said “man of the earth” more than this man.
Contrasting this personality is his wife, a computer addicted-cyber pioneer,
loving technology to the point of volunteering her family for “Cyberlife
experiments” (VN, 11). Removing all material possessions from their lives, the
family moves into a seamless, unreal world called Virtual town of Bidwell; a
place without disease, pollution, or depleted resources...a place where
everything is possible and nothing is real. However, so much displacement leads
to doubt, concern, and loss of self, as the narrator comes to find. The father,
the only anchor to memories before the virtual living, held the key to sanity.
Having preserved his onions, he provided a visual for the real world outside of
Bidwell. Breaking a jar, the smell and taste spoke to an existence of real food
and real people living off a real land. While each story possess a happy ending,
to a fashion, its message rings throughout the pages:
loss of self. You see, Pearl and the family in The Onion and I were both
victim and villain in the tales. By pursuing progress, each contributes to the
societal breakdown bringing about the decline of humanity. Pearl, advancing
style and production through her fabrics, and the mother leading her family into
a cold world free of purpose. Now, is this distopia solely their doing?
Absolutely not! However, contributing to technological advancements led to the
elimination of their precious memories. For without memories, one loses self.
The warning? Know what you’re doing. Understand the consequences. Proceed with
care!
Just as the removal of memories results in a loss of self, preservation
of those memories results in a redemption of self...another fictional plot in
which a vision of history within the future is played out, challenging man and
machine in a quest of survival. Serving as ever present reminders, memories of
“what was” teaches following generations of the many mishaps of their
predecessors. Chocco, dwelling place of the River People, embraces a concept of
low technology through the preservation of memories, ensuring the human race’s -
humanity - survival. Long before Chocco, a race of mankind known as the Machine
People destroyed and “polluted wide areas...caus[ing] much disease,” leaving
only a few survivors (FP, 196). Chocco, a “remote place” became the home of some
of those survivors and, to ensure they would never know this “maddness” again,
the art of memory keeping began (FP, 197). This art of “memory keeping” is not a
simple matter of the elderly sharing stories. Oh no! To obtain the role of
Memory Keeper one must possess exceptional retention, rich in detail, delivering
each memory “eloquent[ly] and convincing[ly]” (FP, 195). They must present
facts, not opinion, to protect society from going astray. They must understand
the importance of their role and respect the knowledge given for “knowledge goes
straight to the heart” (FP, 199). This knowledge is enlightenment. For the
people of Chocco, past realities proved fatal for many, enlightening the masses
and reinforcing values of life. So, in this tale, we see the power of memories
(low technology) reigning over machines (high technology). The challenge of
“what if” suggests history will always repeat itself and rejecting this truth
results in complete destruction of society. Once again, a clear message to the
readers: Know what you’re doing.
Understand the consequences. Proceed with care!
Even with the warnings of caution demonstrating what “can be” or “what
was,” there is another message found in Future Literature, which is accepting
“what is.” This vision of the future produces an adaptability response from its
readers through the presentation of a character simply accepting a world full of
progress as well as decline. However, this scenario, too, contains a lesson of
caution in which one must embrace reality in order to move forward, whatever the
circumstance. Two stories sharing this particular thread of caution come to
mind: House of Bones and The Time
Machine. Both embark on a journey of adapting through a mix of low and high
technology. The Time Machine projects the future of an extreme Darwinian society
while House of Bones projects an alternate history of mankind, each made
possible with the discovery of time travel. Unfortunately, time travel for our
main character, Gebraver, in House of Bones is only available through a “Zeller
Effect rainbow,” which malfunctions leaving him stranded in a prehistoric era.
Eventually, accepting reality, Gebraver adapts to this new, primitive living
even in the midst of uncertain trials. The Time Traveler in The Time Machine,
likewise, accepts his surroundings when trapped in the year 802,701 AD and
greeted by a child-like race of people. Observing with curiosity and wonder, he
formulates reasons for such progress and decline, as he proceeds to explore this
future. In both visions, knowledge, just as Chocco explains, is the key for
survival. Understanding this, neither traveler fights the technological
advantages or disadvantages, rather, they adapt through the power of knowledge.
So, as to the question of “what if,” readers see that an acceptance of reality
is needed in order to proceed in any given situation. Embracing truth,
understanding simple facts, and holding well to memories preserves self and, as
such, life. Message? Know what you’re doing. Understand the consequences.
Proceed with care!
Analyzing literature certainly produces a certain satisfaction, doesn’t it?! Challenging our heart and mind, each story touches something deep inside, solidifying convictions while creating a new awareness of self. Science Fiction, on the other hand, takes this enjoying past time to a whole new level! Presenting questions of “What if?,” we can explore an endless array of scenarios and visions. However, even within those countless ideas, we still find a shared thought of “if we do this we will reach here” (FP, Introduction). In other words, no matter the technology advancements/disadvantages, alien invasion, or living situations, “actions...lead to real and somewhat predictable consequences” (FP, Introduction). Studying the works mentioned in this essay reveal the true essence of Science Fiction, which is to prepare readers for a future...a future that reflects history. Conflict exists in each individual and, therefore, will continue to exist in the world. Accepting this reality aides in understanding and preserving values of life. For without values, life has no meaning...like meat...meat that can make machines...and sing...and dream. So, in order to survive the future, we must heed the warnings found within the pages: Know what you’re doing. Understand the consequences. Proceed with care! So, please, don’t run with scissors...they may overthrow mankind one day.
