Assignment # 2.2

“Separate Kingdoms”

In the story “Separate Kingdoms by Valerie Laken, there is a family who struggles with trying to understand each other after the father, Colt, loses his thumbs due to a machine at work. Laken has arranged her story so that simultaneous action will take place between the two separate columns, as she tells the story of the family. The simultaneous action takes place through the eyes of the father, Colt, and the son, Jack. It is interesting to note how we never really think about more than one thing happening at a time. I like how Laken made us aware of how more than one thing can take place at the same time. Even though many events in the story are in two different places, there are times in the text where they come together. At about mid-point in the story the parents are arguing and the son can hear every word. The story collides when the father says “Take it! Take the goddamn money you and little drummer boy and drive yourselves straight to paradise set yourselves up! I’m fine right here. (Laken11)”, and this takes place between the mom and dad as they argue and Jack over hears everything. This quote is also a god example of how the family collides. It has become more difficult for t hem to get along ever since the accident. With the fathers suffering and lose of his thumbs the family stays on thin ice and arguments are likely to happen (between mom and dad). Ultimately a lack of human connections and prevent us from understanding the suffering of others. Therefore Laken wants the reader to take from this story to not allow issues rip your family apart.
When first reading Laken’s text column by column you do not realize that both events in the son’s and father’s life are happening at the same time. So once reading the story page by page I got a sense of what the author was trying to do. You get a visual or image when reading the story, like when Jack, the son, is drumming. Laken writes out every time he hits the drum “Duh. Guh. Duh. Guh…duh guh duh guh (Laken6)”, and you can just picture the boy beating the drums. The boy beating the drum also goes across a couple lines in the two columns which shows simultaneous action joining together the son and fathers lives at this moment. Laken wants us to be able to see two distinctive different perspectives, and be able to relate with the father and son. Many issues take place in the family because the son and mother do not quite know how to relate to the dad. I feel that they want to help and be able to understand, so at the end of the story (through the son’s perspective) they want to know how it feels to operate without thumbs. Navigating a task is difficult to do without thumbs and so Cheri (mom) and Jack,
“go to the kitchen and find some masking tape in the drawer by the garbage can. We each tape our left hands by ourselves, putting the thumb across our palms diagonally toward our pinkies. And then she tapes my right hand bandaged up. There’s a lot of snickering. We smell like Band-Aids. My fingers are stiff and awkward. (Laken18).”
They try to make cookies without thumbs, and after experiencing how difficult it was, I feel that they then better understood the fathers suffering.
The loss of the fathers two thumbs are a key issue in “Separate Kingdoms” but it is not the only one. A more broad issue hides between the lines and the simultaneous actions. It is the way that the father lost his thumbs that make it unique. Colt fell into a dream where he was back working during the accident technology was the cause of the loss of the father’s thumbs, and for “nine years on the night shift (11)” Colt worked with machines, and on this night things went south. At the same time where the father is having a horrible dream of his accident due to technology Jack, the son, is making a connection with technology with a little girl from school, in the basement. Jack is a little nervous with the girl but she invites him to listen to the iPod with her, “Come here,” she says, so I lay down next to her and she hands me one ear bud so I have one ear and she has the other and the music rumbles through both our brains, making us together (Laken11).” The two kids share an iPod and this represents a connection of technology, instead of separation from technology like the father experienced. Technology controls everyone in the family throughout the text like with Cheri (mom) and her Tae-bo, Jack (son) and his X-box, and Colt (dad) and his Animal channel. Cheri is so caught up on the thrill of her Tae-bo video that no real bonding time is done with her husband and son. Jack’s mind is so glued to killing zombies on his X-box that he cringes at his mom’s idea to go upstairs to bond with his father. Colt’s fantasy of Animal shows, makes him rather stay separated from his son, and instead understanding “what separates us from animals…Opposable thumbs (Laken12)”. With the loss of Colt’s thumbs there is nothing separating him from the animals now. The simultaneous action of all the family bringing in their own world is common when they are wrapped up in their technology. Technology can clog are brains and make us forget about the importance of the simplest things, even family. Much like our previous story “Shame and Forgetting in the Information Age” by Charles Baxter, technology has taken control of us.
Many issues in life can cause us to live in “Separate Kingdoms”, but we all must realize that family is the most important. Laken is a creative writer and her story line was unique the simultaneous actions of the story was a strategy that is not often used but it is interesting enough to keep the attention of the audience. Colt and his family struggled to communicate and come to an understanding. The family in the story biggest issue was adjusting to this new way of life with the father being separated due to his loss of his thumbs. By the ending of the story the mother and son realize what is keeping them separate from Colt. The arguments may continue to go on, but I think their understanding has become more real. Laken wants the readers to be aware of this issue and to be able to make sense of it. What I get from this text is that families have issues for whatever reason, but it should never keep us separate.

Assignment # 1.3 cont...

Introduction Revision

In Charles Baxter's essay Shame and Forgetting the Information Age, he covers a wide range of people and how technology, forgetting, memory, print, and shame ties into one. Throughout the text he talks about his brother Tom (at the beginning) and then ventures off into mentioning others and how they react to the information age. He also includes text from others writers like Walter Benjamin, who wrote "The Storytellers" (1936)to help explain his concept on the information age. Shame and Forgetting the Information Age really goes in depth about the whole concept of memory and technology, and how they can fall into both negative and positive aspects. Another factor in Baxter's writing, I feel, is to show the two different kinds of memory people can have, the first being personal memory and the second one being information memory. When it comes to the part in the essay about forgetting or shame Baxter's thought is that we should not be shameful, if something is forgotten. Even though his brother Tom had a learning disability he did not want him to be shame if he could not remember things of the information age well, because his memory of experience (or personal) was excellent. For many of those who grew up in the age of print this new era of technology is more difficult for them. Memorizing information was a bit more complicated and challenging. Now in today's world you have all the computers and technology that is accessible to help you with all sorts of things even memorizing. In the epigraph there is a quote from Neil Postman who states, "We have transformed information into a form of garbage" (141), what I get from this quote is that we have taken the power that we have in technology and over used that power. Technology is no longer just used for business but for pleasure as well. Both memory and technology can be “forms of garbage”, you as an individual just need to understand when and when not to apply the two.

Assignment # 1.3

Current controlling purpose: Shame and Forgetting the Information Age really goes in depth about the whole concept of memory and technology. Baxter's main purpose I feel, in writing this essay is to show how forgetting is shameful.

Revised controlling purpose: Shame and Forgetting the Information Age really goes in depth about the whole concept of memory and technology, and how they can fall into both negative and positive aspects. Another factor in Baxter's writing I feel is to show the two different kinds of memory people can have; the first being personal memory and the second being information memmory.

Assignmet 1.2

In Charles Baxter's essay Shame and Forgetting the Information Age, he covers a wide range of people and how technology, forgetting, memory, print, and shame ties into one. Throughout the text he talks about his brother Tom (at the beginning) and then ventures off into mentioning others and how they react to the information age. He also includes text from others writers like Walter Benjamin, who wrote "The Storytellers" (1936). Shame and Forgetting the Information Age really goes in depth about the whole concept of memory and technology. Baxter's main purpose, I feel, in writing this essay is to show the two different kinds of memory people can have the first being personal memory and the second one being information memory. Many people feel shame in not memorizing something. Baxter's thought on forgetting is that we should not be shameful, if something is forgotten. Even though his brother Tom had a learning disability he did not want him to be shame if he could not remember things of the information age well, because his memory of experience (or personal) was excellent. For many of those who grew up in the age of print this new era of technology is more difficult for them. Memorizing information was a bit more complicated and challenging. Now in today's world you have all the computers and technology in the world to help you with all sorts of things even memorizing. People tend to reflect more on the negative things in life verse the good, just as now where people rely more on technology then themselves. Neil Postman states, "We have transformed information into a form of garbage" (141), what I get from this quote is that we have taken the power that we have in technology and over used that power. We now use technology for wasteful things; it is no longer used for information only but for play as well. We take for granted the technology we have and rely too heavily on it.

Our memories are extremely valuable to us and we can take for granted the positions they hold. A strong point in Baxter’s essay is when he mentions strategic amnesia. Baxter states that “Strategic amnesia might be an appropriate phrase to describe how we are coping with information-glut” (145). With the two different kinds of memory that Baxter says we hold it becomes difficult to function with both kinds of memory. We tend to get confused and we may become frustrated on which type of memory to use. So Baxter says that we forget and this becomes amnesia. Strategic amnesia can destroy personal and/or historical memory. As I try to break down my understanding of the text I feel that everyone is in charge of their memory whether it being personal or information. There are times when we as individuals forget things important and non-important, and we may get a taste of amnesia, but we should be setting our own priorities. If we chose to focus more on the information that we pertain to then our own personal history then that would be the individual’s choice. Walter Benjamin states that, “Remembering data and remembering an experience are two very different activities. It is possible that the quantity of data we are supposed to remember has reduced our capacity to remember or even to have experiences…” (146).After reading that quote I can understand what Walter Benjamin is trying to say. Many times an individual can get lost in their jobs or work that they forget about life. Handling too many projects at once can get over-whelming and frustrating. As I stated above once before, it is all about priority, and jobs are at the top of the list but if you can ever use a break or not put on as much work then try not too because everyone needs time to keep themselves sane.
The information Age is an important one and is resourceful and valuable to all of us today. A while ago the age of print was more valuable but many of printed information can be all found on computers now. Technology has exceeded itself times a thousand and can be extremely advanced that sometimes it can get complicated for us. Technology has become so powerful that many things have taken the place of jobs that individuals once possessed. Information and experience ties in well together and it has come to a point where we have taken the information and experience we have in factories and on machines and found out a way to use technology to make things less hands on or controlled by man. This is a really huge step and achievement but it takes away from the people as far as employment. “Experience has fallen in value” (149) Walter Benjamin states, many interpretations can come out of this but following what I am speaking about my interpretation may be different. Since many jobs are taken due to technology and self working machines and robots, experience from individuals is non-important anymore because they are just not needed in the working field. The value of the working man has fallen and that can be seen as a bad thing for the economy.
Shame and Forgetting in the Information Age, covered many issues. My final thoughts on the essay are that overall it was a well thought out and well written essay. I enjoyed Baxter’s opinions on how the information age has changed us. I only feel that Baxter may have focused more on the negative things of the information age than some of the good that comes from it. The information age brought along with it easier ways to control and maintain informational and personal memory. The negative side of things is that the more technology that we have to improve the way we live the less vital jobs will be to our working class. Baxter’s strong point of views and the way he used other’s thoughts and information helped out with his understanding and mine of the information age.

Assignment #1.1

Introduction


In Charles Baxter's essay Shame and Forgetting the Information Age, he covers a wide range of people and how technology, forgetting, memory, print, and shame ties into one. Throughout the text he talks about his brother Tom( at the beginning ) then ventures off into mentioning others and how they react to the information age. He also includes textfrom others writng like Walter Benjamin, who wrote " The Storytellers" (1936) . Shame and Forgetting the Informantion Age realy goes in depth about the whole concept of memory and technology. Baxter's main purpose, I feel, in writing this essay isto show how forgetting can be shameful. Many people feel shame in not memorizing something. Baxter's thought on forgetting is that we should not be shameful, if something is forgotten. Evn though his brother Tom had a learnign disability he did not want him to be shame if he could not remeber things of the information age well, because his memory of experience was excellent. For many of those who grew up in the age of print this new era of technology is more difficult for them. Memorzing information was a bit more complicatee and challenging. Now in today's world you have all the computers and technology in the world to help you with all sorts of things even memorizng. People tend to reflect more on the negative things in life verse the good, just as now where people rely more on technology then themselves. Neil Postman states, "We have transformed infroamtion into a from of garbage" (141), what I get from ths quote is that we have taken the power that we have in technology and over used that power. We now use technology for wasteful things; it is no longer used for informatiom only but for plkay. We take for granted the technology we have and rely too heavily on it .

Quotes:

"Strategic Amnesia might be an appropriate phrase to describe how we are coping with information-glut..." (145)

"Remembering data and remembering an experince are two different activites. It is possible that the quantity of data we are supposed to remember has reduced our capacity to remember or even to have experiences..." (146)

"Experience, has fallen in value." (149)

"If memory stands against death, forgetting stands against data." (154)

"History is narratable as long as its events occur in sime logical way, but when trauma and shame are introduced into the mix, history is corrupted from the from the inside." (156)

Assignment #1

When reading Baxter's Shame in the Forgetting Age i was a bit confused at the beginning but as I read more I came to understand the piece a little bit better. After glancing through the rest of the text I saw quotes from other writter's and book's he gave refernce to. I think Baxter also wants us to understand the differnce between memory and undestanding information. Some people can do both understand and remenber well, but others may only poses one of those qualities. Baxter was showing us how some people (i.e his brother Tom) was only god in memorizing.


Each one of the 5 sections lets you know what Baxter will be addressing. In the first section In memeory of Tom, my brother, Baxter talks about how his brother did not do well with inforamtion but his memory was excellent. His brother was 59 when he passed and I could understand why it was easier for him to remeber. When he was growing up computer's and other easy learning tools as such were not out so everything you learned you had to learn it the hard way and you had to memorize the informantion and do things on your own. You did not have things like computers and calculator's to figure out the information for you.

In the second section Memory, shame and forgetting : An intoducton, Baxter gives you an insight on hiow computer's play such an important role in today's society. Computer's are used for numerous amounts of things today and are used in all types of fields. When using computers and other things often you tend to forget even the simpliest of things. "Is it forgetfulness or is it Alzheimer's ?" (145), is a good way to address the issue on how our brains can be so abosred in thechnolgy that we can forget things easily, such as the young woman who forgot the words to the Candian national anthem.

Section three On Information and memory:Walter Benjamin is about Walter Benjamin's book "The storyteller". Through out the third section Baxter talks about information and experience. Benjamin says "Experinece has fallen in value". In this section Baxter was addressing people in the work space. Many individuals jobs are to be surrounded by computers that they never get to experience anything but working with computers. Experince is lost in the many businesses becasue you are not living you are just stuck on computers.

The forth section Shame,innocence,and tbe memoir addresses how a key way for some to remeber things of the past is to write them in a memior. Memoirs are persoanl stories and experiences that someone wants to tell andfora way to remeber them down the likne before they forget.

The fifth and fianal section "Maybe erasure is neccassary ": The Literture of forgetting, shows us different pieces of literature that adress differernt literature that may help in understanding why others forgert. One piece in section five I like is when Baxter says "if memory stands agsinst death, forgetting stands against data. To me tihs is saying memory is as good to forgetting as death is to data. Onca an individual dies their memory is no long good same to data ,where when someone forgets the information it is no long good.

Baxter's piece on Shame and the Forgetting age was an intersting piece. By the end I felt that Baxter was trying to address that inforamtion and memory go hand in hand but when one is lost the other may be too.

Little about me

My name is Dalia Johnson. I live in Milwaukee I am 19 years old and I have a 5 month old daughter named Myla Imani. Besides taking care of my daughter I work at The Limited, and I enjoy hanging out with my frineds and having tons of fun.I am very fun and love to go out and kick it. I am a student here at UWM and I am sophmore. I plan on earning a degree in Business-Supply Chain Managment.I have fututre plans in becoming a buyer in retail because of my love for fashion...... So that's a little about me!