http://www.68k.org/~spraints/comics/20050417/
The argument revolves around the idea that the technologies we rely on everyday hinder our ability to communicate with each other and ultimately distance us from reality, rather than keep us connected to it.
The character in this comic spends her whole day on the phone, to the point that she is engaging in actions mindlessly, such as putting on her jacket and finally arriving at her guitar lesson. She has no idea how she ended up there because she was so involved in her phone conversation. This is obviously an exaggerated situation but it is a very relevant and valid argument in my opinion. The character spent time communicating with someone while on the phone, but did not pay attention to the person she was face-to-face with, which I can assume is her mother. The comic is playing on the idea that we only talk to people who are out of reach, and this is somehow more meaningful than a conversation in person.
I will explore other techniques used in the comic, such as the layout, color, shading, arrangement, intended audience, cultural significance, and tone. I will look into the author and see if this adds to my argument. This comic strip successfully appeals directly to a young as well as old audience. An older audience would definitely find the humor in this situation probably having experienced something similar. A younger audience can laugh at themselves and realize that they have probably done something similar to this.
I'm interested in knowing if I'm on track with my argument!
Thanks for reading
I think this is a great comic! It is definitely a commentary of the nature of our generation! Often we spend more time communicating via technology/social media that we neglect our time spent with actual people. This is seen everyday on the bus, walking around campus, or at while sitting at a restaurant. I feel like it also highlights the obliviousness of those engaged with the technology! The girl is depicted as a young child/zombie where the mom has to do everything for her, even pull her up off of the bed!
ReplyDeleteHi Jackie.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Marissa, this is a great comic and gives you tons of room to analyze. Some things I would focus on are: the characters (would this be a different message, less strong, if it weren't a female?), the method of communication (would the message be the same or as contemporary if she were texting rather than talking on the phone?). I think you'll have a really strong paper as this comic is one that can be said so much about. Good luck!
I think you're off to a great start. I would like you to consider the age of the person who is seemingly ignoring reality. Is the cartoonist suggesting that this only happens to young people? Or is it easiest to convey the argument by using a young person?
ReplyDeleteI really like this comic and I think it is extremely relevant to the society we live in today. I'm sure we can all relate to having a situation similar to this happen to us at one point or another! One thing I might focus on is the fact that the comic is focused on a teenage girl. Is there gender stereotyping at work? And would this comic be as effective if the focus was a teenage boy?
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