Month: January 2017

Upon reading the early chapters of A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court, I was first drawn to Twain’s description of the characters, particularly his descriptions of the knights and Hank’s fellow prisoners. He describes the prisoners at “white indians” with “animal training” (21), where as the knights were “dressed in such various and splendid color that it hurt one’s eye to look at them” (20). The prisoners are dressed in rags and unkempt while the knights wear lavish clothing and eat a feast with music playing. Twain’s description reveals the contrast in society between rich and poor and the corruption of the court. He juxtaposes the glamorous elite with the dingy poor and prisoners to highlight the greed and poor distribution of wealthy that was so prevalent in the 6th and 18th century. Twain fought in the civil war and lived in the post-war era of segregation. His discrepancy between the common folk and the knights at the round table  highlights the lack of equal treatment present at the time in the United States and still present today due to slavery and racial tensions. Since African Americans were still treated poorly in 18th century United States, Twain uses this novel to highlight social issues in America.

In addition, the knight’s stories of their adventures and courageous acts are filled with hyperbole and over exaggeration. In addition, these “courageous acts” don’t really have any meaning or passion behind them: there isn’t a fierce war going on nor was any family blood drawn. The knights are merely starting fights with random strangers and other knights just to boast about their conquests amongst their fellow friends. In essence, the knights at their basic level are corrupt, wealthy males who gain honor, glory, and money through winning petty fights. There power is based on  false justifications with little validation, and the knights merit to be in power is minimal except for being able to tell a good story and look classy in fancy clothes. Thus, the power distinction is flawed and ensures that only a small few will be able to enjoy the joys of the court. In a similar way in Twain’s life, the white males had little to no authority to enslave the African Americans other than the color of their skin. Slavery, the Civil War, and the subsequent segregation all stemmed from racial prejudice, hate and familial status, not intellectual merit or past achievements. Twain displays these social issues and themes in King Arthur’s court to highlight the same social issues currently ailing the time he is writing in.

As Hank travels back to the 6th century, he acknowledges the rapid decline of technology and hygiene. Hank comments that 6th century has “no soap, no matches, no looking-glass—except a metal one, about as powerful as a pail of water” (45). Such a drastic increase in technology has already occurred from the time of Twain’s writing to modern day; thus, the difference in technology when transitioning from the 18th to the 6th century must be a wake-up call.  He highlights the social norms of society in both time periods, noting that as technology developed, a higher standard of living and hygiene was expected and most often met. In class, the Gatling Gun was mentioned as a new innovation that led to extremely high death tolls during the Civil War. The immersion of Hank into this less-sophisticated society could be a warning of Twain to quit relying so heavily on technology. In our modern society today, the emergence of new technology has led to more powerful and deadly methods to harm others, greater abilities for hackers to access personal and confidential information, and an increasing suspicion from some of the public towards the use of technology. And while technology certainly does make certain aspects of our everyday lives easier, the negative consequences of social media addiction and general addiction to technological devices have separated us from one another while also connecting us. Particularly in the latest Presidential election, the emergence of social media played a large role in both campaigning for certain parties as well as causing to turmoil amongst groups of different viewpoints. Twain’s novel at least highlights society’s dependence on technology and serves to warn the public of putting too much faith into innovation and progress.

In our class discussions this week we were challenged to think deeply on how our world has changed, and the means through which it has changed. For example, we discussed largely on technology and its impacts on society as a whole in how it got us to where we are today. My generation is so used to our cell phones, laptops, iPad, and other devices that we sometimes forget that there was once life before all of these devices. When having to think of a time period to go back in time and experience, I realized that I am unsure if I would be as “well-off” as others in that time period if I experienced it through all the knowledge I have today. For example, If I went back to the 1920’s, there would be no cell phones, no MacBook’s, not a lot of television, and no Netflix. So much of what I am used to every day was never a thing in the 1920’s. I live in such a technologically advanced society now in which our lives revolve around our devices that I do not think myself or anyone for that matter could thrive if thrown into an environment that did not use those devices. It is scary but exciting to think what the future holds in terms of more technological advances that will be made when we already have come so far.

This week we also began to read a book titled A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court by Mark Twain. The story of the Yankee is exactly like the activity in which we had to go back in time. The Yankee went back to the time of King Arthur in which he was himself, a northern man dressed in his clothes from his time period. While reading the first few chapters of the book I realized that the characters all were startled by each other’s appearances because they were different than the norm that they felt was socially acceptable. The Yankee was startled when seeing naked children who had no clothing and the children were startled by the Yankees clothing. This made me realize that we immediately judge a person by their outward appearance. As times have changed, so has fashion and even the human bodies appearance in its entirety. Our bodies have evolved and so has our fashion sense. The interesting thing about this is our sense of fashion or what we wear automatically depicts the type of person we are, where we come from, what period of time we come from, and much more. First judgements are based on appearance and clothing, and often times we as human beings will flock towards the people who dress most like us because we figure that they are most like us. Regardless of technological advances such as cell phones that have changed the way our society works, I realized that the biggest changes of all is what we determine is socially acceptable to look like and dress during a certain time. For example, when women began exchanging their aprons in for work suits, that changed society completely. The idea of the working mom and not just the housewife has been a growing phenomenon that started with women feeling the need to throw out the apron and to become professionals. It is striking to me how much clothing and appearances has influenced the changes that we see in society, and I look forward to keeping that in mind as we continue on this semester.

While reading A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, I really was troubled with the idea of time travel. I have seen different shows and movies that involve time travel, but I never really thought about where I would go and the type of person I would. Would I use my knowledge of the developed world I came from and take advantage of people? When Hank Morgan traveled back to the time of King Arthur, he used his knowledge to manipulate the people into somewhat worshiping him. At this time, the people were very superstitious and believed in higher powers. He used this knowledge and purposely fooled the people, while also getting pretty lucky with a scientific phenomenon. While Hank was not intentionally harming people, his manipulation makes me question if anyone would be able to act ethically in the situation that Hank was dealt. It is so easy to get caught up in the world and people around you, that you sometimes might lose sight of the person you would want to be. In class we had to chose a time period that we would dread going back to. I would dread going back to the Holocaust, slavery and segregation. In thinking of the type of person I would be, I realized that it would be extremely hard to emulate this person if I actually had to live in that time. The ultimate reason why I would dread going back to these times is because I am scared that I would get caught up in the fears and assumptions of the time, and not speak up for those that were persecuted. As much as I would want to be the leader of the civil rights movement, would I actually have the courage at the time to be the first voice in a silent crowd.

In class today, we also talked about whether we think our society is pessimistic or optimistic. I agree with many of my classmates in the idea that the younger generation is optimistic in that we tend to believe there is nothing we can’t do. We are taught to “reach for the stars” and that education and technology will enlighten us. While these beliefs are powerful, they are also our downfall. We have become a society that can never live in the present and appreciate our current state. We constantly are looking for the next best thing, and trying to beat the next person in a brilliant discovery or invention. This attitude is not always bad, as it has helped us tremendously in our current technological advancements like communication, transportation, production, and medicine. I do however think that our advanced technology has made our society greedy and selfish as a whole. For example, there a medicines, treatments, and surgeries available that can preform miracles and saves so many lives everyday. However, these procedures are costing huge amounts of money; money that almost no one can afford. What is the point of having the technological advancements if not everyone has the capability of using it. And isn’t it even worse that as a society, we chose to not let these advancements reach people who might need them? No matter the time period you travel to, the value of life is of utmost importance. People do not want to see their loved ones go, and for the most part, people will do anything to survive. It is our human nature. I have noticed that is has become the trend that people are beginning to manipulate our value of life. For example lets think about someone who is in desperate need of a kidney. They only have one left and it is quickly failing. Medical advancements created a safe procedure where one person can donate one healthy kidney to someone in need. It just so happens that you are the one and only match for their kidney transplant. Would you give your kidney for free knowing that it would safe their life? How much do you think you could charge this family for the “donation” of this kidney? The answer is simple. Love and life trumps everything and the person who needs the kidney, along with their friends and family would give up everything for life. While I understand donating a kidney can be a life change, I also think that it should be a no brainer to give up something you need, to save a life. And if you take advantage of the medical advancements, and our value o of human life, then our society is in deep trouble. While this scenario is pretty dramatic, similar smaller scenarios are happening across the globe. Why are african children starving, when the United States grows more thane enough food to feed them and more? Why do millions of Indian babies die a year, if we have the medicine and means to help them live? If someone found the cure for cancer, would we all band together to help cure all cancer patients, or would we rob their bank accounts dry. Our advancements have become exclusive to the upper class of society. If you want to be a part of the advancements someone makes, you have to be prepared to give them something in return. I am totally an optimist in our capability as human beings to discover amazing things, but I am a pessimist on society’s willingness to share these advancements with EVERYONE.

In class and in the reading, the theme of time traveling to a less advanced society from an advanced society struck me as an interesting train of thought. After class I began to think more about what could actually result from this, especially the profound good it could result in.

In A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court Hank Morgan used his knowledge to implement positive change on the medieval society. He used his abilities to gain power within the kingdom, through the prestige that he gained he was then able to begin programs that an industrialized and sophisticated society would possess. Gradually and pragmatically he then was able to advance sectors little by little. He developed testing systems to see how the society would react to certain advancements. These included newspapers, telephones and telegraphs. More importantly, however, he foresaw the consequences that would result from such improvement. In doing so, he stayed ahead of the curve, for the most part.

For me, I would like to go back to before the recession. Ways in which I could help facilitate improvement in this time period would be by helping identify the warning signs of an economic crash. This would not only improve the livelihood of people during this time period, but it would also help strengthen our economic infrastructure for the future. Other events that could be prevented, if transported to other time periods include, but aren’t limited to slavery, the holocaust, 9/11, and some of the wars that countries have found themselves in.

The concept of time travel is interesting to contemplate, not only does it show were peoples morals may lie, but it also is a good medium to analyze history.

Throughout this week I began my reading of “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court” by Mark Twain. In the beginning I found it a bit challenging to get used to the way that Twain wrote and I found myself reading a whole page and having to go back and re read it to figure out what was really going on. As the book progresses though, I find that it is easier to read and keep up with.

I really found Thursday’s class to be very interesting. I enjoyed picking a time period in which I would like to live in and one in which I dreaded. For the time period that I dread, I chose the Holocaust. I chose that time mainly because it was a time of great distress and terrible things were happening while innocent lives were being taken.

When describing my role in that time period. I said that I would want to be a person who lives really far away from Germany during that time because I wanted nothing to do with what was going on in that country. At first I felt that I was being a little selfish and sheltered because I would just be avoiding the problem and watching like a bystander; although, as we opened up to discussion I felt differently. We talked about how this was a very narcissistic exercise. Most people wanted to go back in time and be in a position of power, or be a person that survived the terrible things and were able to come out on the other side stronger. It just got me to thinking that, in an ideal world, we all really want the same things mostly. We want to have power, and be safe and be free of the terrible things that are going on in the society at that time. Now there is nothing wrong with that, but I think its very telling of how humans and the human brain works.