[Jennifer Joyce]

It’s not as cool as the program Dillon recommended, but I found an ap via a buzzfeed article called eyecare that sends you reminders every 20 minutes to look away from the computer screen. It’s a pop-up that opens in a new window with a little *ding* incase you’re working in word or some other application, you’ll hear it. My eye doctor recommends a 20-20-20 rule for working on computers: look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes of computer work. This ap has come in handy for reminding me to do that in the few hours I’ve had it! It’s a chrome extension (I have a mac but I think you can get chrome on PC’s, too?) and I would recommend it to anyone looking to take care of their eyes.

[Jennifer Joyce]

I agree with Emily that social media today is incredibly important in terms of paratext. I think in terms of giving voice to often unheard groups, this is huge today. Tweets are considered a source of news, and those experiencing an event and sharing it on twitter can be quoted in newspapers or on major networks. MLA also has a format for citing tweets, furthering the proof that anyone’s voice can be used to strengthen an author’s argument.

[Jennifer Joyce]

In the Bliss version, it begins “It is for us, the living, rather.” The Nicolay starts with “It is rather for us, the living.” Rearranging the words to appear as they do in the Bliss version changes the meaning to add more weight. It’s as if the “us” still includes the lives lost. The Bliss version seems hesitant to accept that the “us” no longer includes those who died fighting and their presence lingers a few words longer, making the coming words more touching and recent.

In terms of rhythm, the Bliss version moves faster and carries a stronger message about progress than the Nicolay version due to the absence of commas in the section, “that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion.” Not pausing on mentions of the past shows the sense that we will no longer dwell on the sacrifices and move on to build a better nation.

[Jennifer Joyce]

I find Kelly’s idea that Thoreau is encouraging of eco-friendly technology very interesting. Tying that to Catherine’s idea of iPhone and internet technology, I would what Thoreau would think of them? However, he may also be dissatisfied with the railroad and postoffice because those things make it easier to connect individuals while he’s desperately trying to escape society.

[Jennifer Joyce]

The ants aren’t the only animals in Nature that fight. If you were to consider this question from an evolutionary stand point, fighting for resources is something humans have done even before they became humans. This idea ties to Thoreau’s ideas in Higher Laws, that we all have a savage animal within us we need to quell. Culture, what sets us apart from beasts, would probably equate to overcoming war for peace, but war is certainly an engrained part of our culture.

[Jennifer Joyce]

Thoreau’s inclusion of preconceived notions are somewhat ironic. He is so eager to escape societal norms, yet he still lets these notions cloud his judgement of the Fields. I agree with Daisy that he is incredibly inconsiderate when acknowledging the family’s needs. Having no children of his own and only himself to care for, he has no right to tell them what they need to do without. He also should not be prejudice against them for being Irish immigrants. While Thoreau wishes to escape society, this passage shows how engrained societal norms are in our interactions and the opinions we have of others.

This question reminded me of when J.K. Rowling published Cuckoo’s Calling under a different name. Sales jumped ridiculously after the author was revealed. While an author’s name is enough to sell massive quantities of a book, Thoreau decides a person’s race is enough to dismiss their worth. Unfortunately, this attitude of elitism is still present in society, and running off into the woods will not fix the problems prejudice perpetrates.

[Jennifer Joyce]

I find Rebecca’s point to be very interesting. Even though we may write something seemingly mindless, it has the potential to disclose valuable information about ourselves, our culture, or generation. During our discussion, I thought about the value of letters. Are they literature? You can purchase collections of historical figure’s or author’s correspondences even though they were only intended for one person. They give a greater insight to their lives. No one cares about the letters my grandma and I exchange, but Benjamin Franklin’s are posted online (x), and I’m sure they’re studied intently by historians.

I also find Allison’s point very interesting, that everything has an argument. In my INTD we’re learning that every paper you write will have an argument, even if you agree with the original information! In my personal journaling experiences, I’m not writing to/for anyone but myself. Even that becomes modified, since I have siblings and now a roommate, I have potential readers. Instead of rambling my innermost thoughts, I may limit myself to more mundane details of my life.

[Jennifer Joyce]

Reading is so popular because it is a form of communication and entertainment. Websites such as Twitter and Buzzfeed are growing in popularity, and this is a benefit to us. We can quickly and easily access relevant information thanks to these platforms. Being able to access information is what is important about sharing texts, and the bite-sized pieces provided by modern technology only increases the sharing of ideas and information. I agree that traditional text is important and I doubt it will disappear. The internet is even helping to preserve these texts online! The close readings of texts can be encouraged and furthered through blogging. The technology many harass our generation for is actually helping develop book reading and the classic purpose of texts.

[Jennifer Joyce]

Works of fiction, such as “Catcher in the Rye,” as Maya mentioned, are stories intended for entertainment. While literature often contains the ability to be interpreted in an array of ways, I feel the author shouldn’t be held responsible for their readers interpretations and reactions. However, some stories are meant to redirect your values, like Aesop’s fables, and Thoreau’s Walden. Throughout history, religious texts have served as a backbone to commit terrible offenses. The perpetrators have misinterpreted the purpose of their sacred texts and are using it to justify atrocious actions, or vice versa, we’ll never know. This is an extreme but relevant example about varying interpretations of a text. In the Wake Up Now texts, I feel it is similar to the bent views. If someone has an idea, they will warp the text to fit that idea.

[Jennifer Joyce]

The podcast presented “Wake Up Now” as a complete mystery, even to members. At the convention, many couldn’t tell the reporters exactly what the program did. Prior to the convention, the reporter mentions searching the company and still finding it difficult to acquire adequate information. Speakers wouldn’t bring up honest statistics because they wouldn’t get the crowd riled. I’d agree with Daisy that they want to keep people ignorant to the reality of Wake Up Now. Members might seem too excited about what they were hearing to read and then they’d never discover the truth. Emotions can often throw off logic. Advertising never tells the complete truth if you think about photoshop alterations and tv commercials. Wake Up Now reminds me of a commercial for a pill. The people are happily skipping along a beach with a golden retriever while the narrator mumbles rapidly about how you could get a stroke and die if you take the medication. The information is there, but difficult to access. Patrons desires overwhelm considering any risks because they aren’t up front. They think they have nothing to loose. It’s very wrong, but it’s how this company works.

[Jennifer Joyce]

Despite the words of wisdom, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover,” it may be out of our control. Colors can influence our emotions, according to psychology, and therefore impact our perception of the work before we’ve even read the summary. It’s interesting to consider how often covers change when the book is made into a movie. If the original cover art didn’t attract us, maybe our favorite actor or actress will draw us in! I agree with Julia that the displays may also factor into what we choose to read. Seeing a product in a massive display may pressure us into picking it up, feeling that the countless copies mean EVERYONE is reading it. While the cover art can be a barrier to some for a potentially great read, it can also serve a deeper purpose to the novel. In Moretti’s ‘Reflections on Seven Thousand Titles,’ he mentions allusions in titles. The title, however, is not the only potential host for allusion. I would argue the cover designs are art, and art is historically full of allusions and symbols. While reading “The Great Gatsby,” one might not understand the connections of the cover art to the book’s summary, but upon reading it, the text and art are full of rich connections.

[Author]

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