Another Earth

            While watching Another Earth with my class, many people, including myself, could not help but to point out the fact that the Earth seemed to keep increasing in size. Because nothing was mentioned in the movie about “Earth Two,” or the other planet identical to Earth in the plot line, getting closer at all, I believe that this effect was largely symbolic. For instance, we first see Earth Two as if it were a somewhat large star, while it is mentioned on the main character Rhoda’s radio that Earth 2 has just been discovered. However, as time goes on, and people start finding out more about Earth Two, the size keeps increasing.

 By the time Rhoda wins the ticket for travelling to Earth Two, it is quite huge, and if I recall correctly, it was as big or bigger than the moon, symbolizing that Earth Two is now closer than anyone had ever imagined. This is also interesting because still, probably nobody else has really travelled to the moon yet since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did so. Perhaps this symbolizes that people are now just way past the moon, or just far more interested in Earth Two for it probably is saying that people are much more concerned with trying to find themselves or change their pasts somehow, and do a lot of things differently. By the time Rhoda’s “twin” makes it to Earth (One), Earth Two is huge, probably symbolizing that a full connection has finally been made.

One lingering question I have after watching the movie is: how it is possible that when people on both Earths saw each other, that the simultaneity was broken? Of course, if I had realized there does exist another “me” out there, I would also start questioning what kind of life decisions the other me has made, and start looking extra carefully at every single movement I make from that point on. However, assuming that the other me had gone through the exact same experiences and thoughts as me up to that point, psychologically, shouldn’t the other me be thinking the exact same things still? Therefore, I personally believe that the simultaneity should have been broken right at the moment at which both of the same person meet together.

Bridesicle by Will McIntosh

“…through life and revival, to have and hold…”

“’What’s that I’m hearing? Is that a marriage ceremony?’ Mira asked."

            In Will McIntosh’s “Bridesicle,” technology has advanced so far that people can now be cryogenically frozen after they die, and older dead people can “hitch” onto the lives of people still alive to live vicariously through the “hitchee’s” body. Specifically in the case of the cryogenically frozen people, it appears that many, if not all, of the females end up one way or another in what is called a “Bridesicle.” There, men come and partially “revive” them for short periods of time to see if any of the women there are willing to marry them, in which case they fully revive the woman by paying a fee. The main character, Mira, is such a woman who is currently still very much “dead” and frozen and inside the Bridesicle, but she happens to be gay

            I feel like the above quote from a marriage vow (as well as from the short story) really sums up a lot of the challenges and themes in the story. For one, it seems as if the humans in the future have really interpreted that phrase quite literally, for the brides are literally given “life and revival.” And, that is what Mira had been missing when she took her own life (and subsequently ended up in a bridesicle). Her lover, Jeanette, had died, and her mother, who was hitching on her, had not been so approving of the union. In a way, perhaps McIntosh is saying that even though we sometimes want people to see what we see, it is a big risk to do so, especially if it’s all the time. And besides, you will never see, or “have and hold” the hitchers ever again. On the other hand, McIntosh also showed us a success story of the hitchers through Lycan and his grandson.

            However, even though the bridesicles absolutely seem to violate the rights of a woman (why are they put into a bridesicle after they die? And why are there no “groomsicles” then?), it did really allow for true life and revival between Mira and Jeanette. Allowing themselves to be frozen allowed them to transcend a time where they could not be together, and therefore their love happened to be revived as well.

Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang pg. 1-15

Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life”, pages 1-15, seemed very different from all the previous science fiction novels and short stories that I have read. It seemed to be more in tune with actual reality than what I normally find science fiction to be like. This probably lends itself to the fact that the story alternates between the normal, familiar moments to human beings every day, about growing up, and then living in the alien world. The story starts off in a world that seems very normal to me, in a way that I did not even guess what kind of science fiction tidbits were in store for me. The story talks about how the narrator wants to tell her child how she was born, as well as the narrator’s reflections on her child growing up. It also is the story of how the narrator is sent to help decode an alien language, the language of the “Heptapods,” and how the narrator meets the child’s father through this. However, in the beginning, we know of the child’s start and end, for the narrator says “I’d love to tell you the story of this evening, the night you’re conceived, but the right time to do that would be when you’re ready to have children of your own, and we’ll never get that chance” (117). The fact that we know of the child’s birth as well as death definitely helps set up the rest of the story—what happens in between that time. However, the alien story seems to go in chronological order while the story of the narrator’s daughter growing up is rather nonlinear. Since I have not yet finished the story at this point, I cannot say for sure what I think this implies, but for some reason it evokes to me a sense that perhaps the mother, or narrator, will start to view her career in translating the alien language as ever more so important than child rearing, for she is so organized in her approach towards telling the story of the aliens. Or, if the memories are simply recollections as she thinks through her story, then perhaps this theory is not so.

Hijab Scenes #7 Body Paragraph

            The poem manages to show that even though so many people assume that she has no freedom or will not speak out, the narrator is a strong, confident Muslim American woman with independence, and a voice willing to fight back. Kahf shows this through the lines “Yes, I speak English; Yes, I carry explosives; They’re called words; And if you don’t get up; Off your assumptions, They’re going to blow you away.” In contrast to the beginning of the poem, where many lines questioning her American identity started off with the word “No,” a “Yes” is given for the part that makes her more American, for speaking English. She shows that she has been tired of people assuming that she is not an American citizen, and that she is not willing to just stand by and let others draw conclusions about her without her even getting a voice in the matter of determining who herself is. Therefore, she describes her “explosives” as being “words.” The part “explosives” also implies that she has been bottling up these feelings for awhile, letting some assumptions about her slide, even though she herself knows that she is American, just like those asking her the questions. Therefore, “blow away” not only implies that the ignorance of people will lead to their downfall, but also that the knowledge of the language, used to fight back, will be an eye-opener for certain people.

The Lathe of Heaven II

In Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven, one of the alternate realities Haber makes George dream up has aliens in it. There is supposed to be “peace on Earth,” but instead there is an alien invasion on the moon which unites all the “earthlings” together against the alien threat. Regarding this topic, I found the following quote by Haber quite interesting:

            “It’s been over six years now since their first landing on the Moon, and they still haven’t made it to Earth. By now, our missile defense systems are completely efficient. There’s no reason to think they’ll break through now, if they haven’t yet” (87).

            Here, I’d like to point to things that have happened in reality. I believe that Le Guin is trying to say something along the lines that we always over prepare, overreact to every threat that we are faced with. The novel was indeed written in the Cold War Era, in which an arms race was about to happen (no Reagan yet though, which makes this novel seem like a precursor!). There was also a space race as well, which perhaps inspired the bit about the moon. Even today, America is equipped by nukes to the brim, more than we’ll ever possibly need, as a threat. However, we still have terrorists and etc. coming by, and now we’ve pretty much made the Middle East very angry at us. I think Le Guin is saying that no amount of deterrents will really protect us—I think perhaps, she thinks it would be better to talk things out instead (perhaps using diplomatic means to solve problems instead of using our fists).

The Lathe of Heaven I

            In Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven, the main character, George Orr, has the power to change the world through his dreams. His ability scares him, and makes him afraid of dreaming, which is how Orr ends up having to see the therapist Haber. Haber, however, is compared to a mad scientist at points, using George to try controlling the world to how Haber wants it. However, George still thinks that “He’s not…not an evil man. He means well. What I object to is his using me as an instrument, a means—even if his ends are good. I can’t judge him—my own dreams had immoral effects…that’s why…I got into this mess” (48).

            I find it interesting how George thinks that he is the immoral one when he has no control over what he is doing. It is also interesting how Haber thinks that he is the one benefitting the world, and that he is the good person for he is helping everyone in his own way. I feel like perhaps he is inspired by Hitler or some other dictator/leader, for this book was written after World War II as well. Perhaps Haber is a combination between Hitler and Victor Frankenstein. Perhaps it is something like, “What would Frankenstein have done if he really liked his creation?”

            I also find it strange how George seems to be panicked by the fact that Haber wants to change reality. This implies that George actually likes this world in a way. Even though the world has a lot wrong with it (protein deficiency, war, etc.), George still wants to be a part of it. Therefore, I think Ursula K. Le Guin is trying to get at themes of perhaps conservation at this part of the novel.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick pt. 2

From page 163 to 165 of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick, the lines between humans and androids are extremely blurred. The passage really provokes the question of, to what extent the humans being humans and the androids being androids? I am also intrigued by all John Isidore says during this passage, for his words remind me of Aye, and Gomorrah in particular.

            It is so fascinating that the androids are able to find some common ground with Isidore, perhaps in a way that relates to empathy. For one, Irmgard notes that “They[Society] don’t[doesn’t] treat him[Isidore] very well either” (164). Isidore is a “special,” and so neither he nor the androids are really accepted by the rest of society. It implies that Isidore and the androids could really become “friends” in a way and appreciate each other. It also makes the androids seem more empathetic than human beings in a way. For one, the androids seem to be accepting Isidore a lot better than the society treats and accepts Isidore. Instead of just pushing Isidore off to the side, the androids are actually willing to enlist Isidore’s help. Also, Irmgard and Pris both have deiced to call Isidore “special” but in a good way.

            Isidore also seems to have a rather large mental capacity, which makes me question whether the test to find one’s a special was legitimate or not. It makes me think of Aye, and Gomorroh, perhaps there is a performance after each one.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick, Part 1 of 2

With all the talk about empathy in Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, I find it interesting the way the humans in the novel treat that term. When Rick Deckard thinks to himself that “Empathy, evidently, existed only within the human community...,” I can’t help but start to draw parallels to the idea of the “White Man’s Burden” back in the day (30). I start to feel the sense that the humans think that their capability to feel empathy must make them superior to other species, just like the Europeans felt that they were superior themselves. The humans in the novel as well as the Europeans both seem to think that they are the ones who should be passing down the judgment on the world, in that sense.

        However, though the humans think that they are the world’s empathetic beings and act based on that assumption, various cases in the text seem to point out that this maybe is not true. For one, Rick seems to feel no emotional connection to his wife, especially judging by the fact that he relies on his mood organ so much to even feel the different emotions. He also doesn’t seem to really understand what empathy even is. The humans seem to think that simply owning an animal shows that a person has empathy. However, in reality, instead of feeling the emotions of the animals using empathy, the humans pretty much treat them as expensive commodities (such as a car or a house). They retain full ownership of each animal, and the animals basically have no freedom under the ownership of the humans. Rick also seems to be more preoccupied with the fact that he has no real animal than the satisfaction he would get from owning a real one. He therefore seems to be more concerned about keeping up his image as an “empathic person” than actually caring for the animals suffering due to the nuclear fallout. It is as if the animals are the luxury items, and are mean more for showing off than to actually feel for. Therefore, it raises the question of if humans really think they are empathic beings, and whether they really are.

Aye, and Gomorrah by Samuel R. Delany

After reading the short story Aye, and Gomorrah by Samuel R. Delany, two things in particular stuck out in my mind—the world the story takes place in, and the following passage:

“What will you give me? I want something,” I said. “That’s why I came. I’m lonely. Maybe I want to find out how far it goes. I don’t know yet” (132).

While this quote is still fresh in your mind, I will go ahead and say that these words were uttered by the narrator a “spacer” in the story. A spacer is any human who’s secondary sex organs as well as glands used for puberty are removed, so that they become androgynous, pretty much sexless “creatures” to the average person in this world (for they are not very accepted). This was supposed to be so that their reproductive systems couldn’t fail in space due to radiation and whatnot. However, spacers are not “creatures” to the people called “frelks.” A frelk is someone who is very attracted to spacers, to the point where they would pay to have sex with them. In the story, the spacers capitalize on this fact, travelling around, looking for frelk customers.

I find it very interesting that the story takes place in a world in which gay activity is completely accepted, yet the police like to crack down on spacers, like when the narrator and his group of spacers walk in on a few gay men engaged in sexual activity together, not very well hidden. I think it is somewhat accurate of what gay rights will be like in the near future, for since the 60’s, the gay community has become more and more accepted. However, this story significantly raises the question of what comes next, after the gay community has been accepted. Would it be that people have become more open to new ideas, or would it just be that the battle for gay rights gone on so long that people have become desensitized to the issue? In the first scenario, another group of sexual “deviants” would survive, but not necessarily so in the second scenario. Therefore, some day I’d further like to explore, what exactly happens after gay rights are achieved?

I also am intrigued by the way that people, or spacers seem to easily travel around this Alternative World (!). The phrase “And went up. And came down in [location]” is frequently used, indicating that the spacers are travelling quickly, as well as very often. It makes them seem like transients, not bound to the Earth in any way, yet at the same time they must not have any kind of place to call a permanent home. Perhaps then, this is one of the reasons that the narrator (the main spacer), states that “I want something” and “I’m lonely.” Perhaps the narrator would like a home. Or, the narrator seems to want companionship, even if the narrator has no sexual attraction to anybody.

I personally think that Delany is getting at the idea that even if a person has no sexual attraction or no ability to be sexually attracted to others, he or she still needs and can benefit from companionship. Studies do keep saying that humans are supposed to be social creatures, and the narrator still follows the mold in a way. He finds himself lonely, and perhaps the “something” he wants is just a friend, a companion, for an emotional connection. Perhaps then, Delany is also trying to argue for gay rights at the time by saying that those who are gay also love who they love because of an emotional connection. I think he wants to show that gay people are the same as straight people in that aspect.

C.L. Moore's No Woman Born

"In times before her, other actresses had been lovely and adulated, but never before Deirdre’s day had
the entire world been able to take one woman so wholly to its heart.So few outside the capitals had ever
seen Bernhardt or the fabulous Jersey Lily. And the beauties of the movie screen had had to limit their
audiences to those who could reach the theaters. But Deirdre’s image had once moved glowingly across
the television screens of every home in the civilized world. And in many outside the bounds of civilization.
Her soft, husky songs had sounded in the depths ofjungles, her lovely, languorous body had woven its
patterns of rhythm in desert tents and polar huts. The whole worldknew every smooth motion of her
body and every cadence of her voice, and the way a subtle radiance had seemed to go on behind her
features when she smiled."

One of the many things I looked up after reading C.L. Moore's No Woman Born was the history of cinema and television in the forties. What I found was incredibly interesting-I found that apparently, during the Second World War, people still went for entertainment. Specifically, going to the cinemas was very popular, which I think set up a basis for the passage above from C.L. Moore's short story.

The story mentions that Deirdre, in the height of her career, had reached successes that no other actresses had ever been able to dream of, particularly because Deirdre was able to be known by every person in the civilized world through the invention of television. This brings me to an interesting discovery-television was not commercially introduced until 1947 while this story was published in 1944. However, the television had been introduced at the 1939 World Fair many years earlier, but the war had stopped it from further development. Perhaps then, C.L. Moore had known about the television from the World Fair and predicted just how widespread it would become. Perhaps this fact was the basis or inspiration for this part of the story, as well as the meaning of how it is just one's image that carries on through the minds of others. In this case, it would specifically be Deirdre's image because television can be likened to a series of images.

Part of the reason C.L. Moore, if the World Fair had been the basis, was able to predict the success of the television was because Cinema was already very big at the time. Apparently, since World War 2 was going on, many people needed entertainment to help relax and take their minds off of things. Cinema was naturally a great option, and many actors and actresses started getting famous like people had been in the radio's past.   Perhaps that is why C.L. Moore chose for Deirdre to only have sight and sound-just what you need to understand a television. This opens up all the questions like if we actually need the other senses to be considered human or able to experience the human experience.

However, my guess is that because the television only emulates sight and sound, it is the same for Deirdre's career. In fact, it seems that Maltzer was quite minimalist with Deirdre's design, giving her only the tools of her image and sound, the only things she would need for being on television. It makes you think that many people in the past watching television would only be able to remember the image and voice of a person, the only things carried by a television. People in the radio era probably only remembered voices. Therefore, for Deirdre, it is quite sad that her image has been shattered, for people must have remembered her image well-not her personality or anything, but simply it had been her images that had captivated the audiences.

Sources:
http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade40.html
http://www.forties.net/entertainment.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_type_of_entertainment_was_popular_during_World_War_2

No Woman B.orn by C.L Moore (pg. 21-41)

            “I believe there’s an affinity between men and the machines they make. They make them out of their own brains, really, a sort of mental conception and gestation, and the result responds to the minds that created them and to all human minds that understand and manipulate them. (32) ”

            When Deirdre says this while reflecting on her body, it seems as if she is not truly her own self anymore.  Of course, it seems that she has the power to think whatever she chooses to, judging by the fact that her brain is intact and she spends this time talking about her feelings over the matter.  However, when she describes the “affinity between men and the machines they make,” it is almost as if it is implying that machines must be owned, and the creator is always the closest person to his or her machines.  Therefore, it seems as though the creator is being a good parent, yet it also seems that is implied that such a relationship is stifling for whatever or whoever is on the receiving end of the attention, in this case Deidre.  Therefore, although it seems that Deirdre is her own self, she seems to belong to someone else and her freedom is almost as artificial as her body.  Would she really be able to live knowing that her physical being practically belonged to someone else? She already was not given a choice when it came to whether or not to preserve her brain and try to rebuild her.  It is almost as if keeping her alive was definitely a mistake, for it was a first breach of her right to her freedom before she was even conscious again.
            Therefore, although the feat of rebuilding Deirdre is a huge leap for science, it seems like a huge step backwards for human rights and liberties in general.  Of course, it would be understandable to anyone that the scientist who has worked long and hard to be protective of his work, and will go to many lengths to protect the experiment as a success.  However, I feel that if some scientists indeed were to be so attached to their work, they would reach out the the rest of society to become more accepting of the work they do. Perhaps then, the bridge between alternate life forms and human beings could be linked.

            Therefore, it seems that freedom will remain a big issue in the rest of the short story to come, and the morality of the entire situation seems like it will have to come to a clash soon.

Introduction!

"The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life" - william Faulkner

            My name is Shelley Wang, and not too long ago, my friend sent me this quote. Not only do I think it perfectly describes what I feel art to be, but reminds me of how literature seems to capture the aspects of the world around it, and show a snapshot of time, to all who read. I always seem to become absorbed by the new life these books can create.

            On another note, I am a Chinese American girl from California, and I have always had a huge passion for all kinds of art and my Asian background! Therefore, I’m not yet sure if I will be joining, but I do love Chinese Culture). There is just something about being able to create something from scratch and getting so lost into your work that you are creating. With science fiction writers, I feel as if they have the most fun writing because they are creating completely different worlds. I think I would really enjoy it.

            My goal this year is definitely to learn how to enjoy blogging and to become better at written communication!  Everything Hopefully, I can therefore quickly get my points across, and as early-on as possible.

           

Shelley