11/20/08
In her novel Veronica, Gaitskill does an excellent job portraying the characters humanity. In the novel Alison is in her fifties, but she constantly reflects on her early life as a model. Although Gaitskill uses the flashbacks a way to describe Alison's relationship with Veronica, I cannot help but think she makes a great point about people. People often romanticize and embellsih their past and make it seem better than their present. Despite the fact that Alison was taken advantage of as a model in Paris, she constantly thinks about her life there and wishes she could go back. This is especially apparent when she sees her colleague on the cover of a magazine and wishes it was her. It seems to me that Alison does what most people do, including myself. Even if their life is going smoothly, they long for good times they had in the past. It is not until the present becomes the past that they can really appreciate their lives.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Veronica
11/13/08
In the novel Veronica, Gaitskill appears to focus less on an actual plot but instead on the friendship between the main character Alison and her now deceased friend Veronica. Although I have only read a few chapters into the book I realize that Alison and Veronica were good friends, but I question the nature of their friendship. Alison talks a lot about how she is no longer a model and has Hepatitis and a lousy arm, but says she is thankful that she does not have a young, attractive friend who says she just needs to love herself. Now that Alison is no longer so focused on herself as being a model and has health problems, she undoubtedly feels bad for patronising Veronica during her struggle with AIDS. It seems to me that Gaitskill portrays Alison doing what seems typical of attractive, egotistical people; having friends around who are ugly or have problems so that they can make themselves feel less shallow. Unfortunately, most people, attractive or not, have a habit of keeping people around who have in their minds "problems" so that they can feel better about themselves. The reason Alison thinks about Veronica so much is that she is now in Veronica's shoes and probably wishes she would have been a better friend.
In the novel Veronica, Gaitskill appears to focus less on an actual plot but instead on the friendship between the main character Alison and her now deceased friend Veronica. Although I have only read a few chapters into the book I realize that Alison and Veronica were good friends, but I question the nature of their friendship. Alison talks a lot about how she is no longer a model and has Hepatitis and a lousy arm, but says she is thankful that she does not have a young, attractive friend who says she just needs to love herself. Now that Alison is no longer so focused on herself as being a model and has health problems, she undoubtedly feels bad for patronising Veronica during her struggle with AIDS. It seems to me that Gaitskill portrays Alison doing what seems typical of attractive, egotistical people; having friends around who are ugly or have problems so that they can make themselves feel less shallow. Unfortunately, most people, attractive or not, have a habit of keeping people around who have in their minds "problems" so that they can feel better about themselves. The reason Alison thinks about Veronica so much is that she is now in Veronica's shoes and probably wishes she would have been a better friend.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Is it all Cyborgs?
11/6/08
Neuromancer
In Neuromancer, portrays a world almost entirely dependent on technology. In this world humans like Molly are turned into cyborgs with advancements to increase their speed, agility, and strength. Although Gibson shows us a world of characters more machine than man, it seems that his world still remains so human. Despite technological advances people like Case continue to abuse substances, prostitutes or "puppets" continue earning a living through selling themselves, and people continue to go out and party. Although technology has evolved prostitution so the "puppets" do not remember anything, human lust has apparently not changed. Gibson's novel demonstrates that although technology is supposed to make our lives better, that does not always happen; obviously demonstrated by Gubson' gray sky. The main point is that even with advances in technology, human nature remains the same, good or bad.
Neuromancer
In Neuromancer, portrays a world almost entirely dependent on technology. In this world humans like Molly are turned into cyborgs with advancements to increase their speed, agility, and strength. Although Gibson shows us a world of characters more machine than man, it seems that his world still remains so human. Despite technological advances people like Case continue to abuse substances, prostitutes or "puppets" continue earning a living through selling themselves, and people continue to go out and party. Although technology has evolved prostitution so the "puppets" do not remember anything, human lust has apparently not changed. Gibson's novel demonstrates that although technology is supposed to make our lives better, that does not always happen; obviously demonstrated by Gubson' gray sky. The main point is that even with advances in technology, human nature remains the same, good or bad.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)