Robots (by Hofarts)

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The theme of technology potentially becoming dangerous is present in both the image ‘Robots’ (by the artist Hofarts) and the short story ‘The Veldt’. In both texts, technology is shown as taking the place of traditional authority, and harming human beings. In the image, it can be assumed that the people in the picture once relied on the robots to carry out certain tasks but the robots became independant and revolted. In 'The Veldt', the Hadley children's Nursery was so advanced, it captured desired parts of their imagination very vividly - too vividly. Heavy reliance on technology resulting in violence and death is common in both texts as is the need to give technology the highest possible form of artificial intelligence.

The image shows that the technology can undermine authority, and, if relied on too heavily, can negatively affect humans. As mentioned before, one can assume man was the creator and/or user of the robots because steam is a source of power that was used by man in the past. Perhaps the reason the robots 'revolted' was because humans relied too heavily on them. This heavy reliance led to the robots taking on the role of authority and harming humans. These robots have destroyed their surroundings as indicated by the damaged trains and building, and broken bridge railing. The main robot (the one that the image focuses on) which has a human-like eye and a very coarse word about to be spelled on it on its chest, has killed a man and is covered with his blood. The robot seems to be on the verge of attacking the two remaining men who aim guns at it, as if it has a mind of its own. If the creators of the robot wanted to make robots with the highest form of artificial intelligence possible, the result could only be deadly as the robots would realize they do not have to be under the control of humans.




Sources: Image (Robots by Hofarts) , Image (Veldt)

My Violent Heart - Nine Inch Nails

Song: My Violent Heart
Album: Year Zero
Artist/Band: Nine Inch Nails
Lyrics: Trent Reznor

You and I, we may look the same
But we are very far apart
There's bullet holes where my compassion used to be
and there is violence in my heart
Into fire you can send us
From the fire we return
You can label us a consequence of how much you have to learn

You can try but you'll never understand
This is something you will never understand
Can you hear it now?
Hear it coming now
Can you hear it now?

On hands and knees we crawl
You can not stop us all
Our bones, our skin
We will not let you win

You have set something in motion
Much greater than you've ever known
Standing there in all your grand naivety
About to reap what you have sown
Time will feed upon your weaknesses
And soon you'll lose the will to care
When you return to the place that you call home
we will be there, we will be there

On hands and knees we crawl
You can not stop us all
Our blood will stain
We will not go away
On hands and knees we crawl
You can not stop us all
Our blood, our ways
will never leave this place

***


The Nine Inch Nails are known for capturing many a dark side of humanity's creations and in 'My Violent Heart', the dark side of technology is done justice by the song's poignant lyrics. The prevalent theme found in both this text and the short story 'The Veldt' is the potential of technology to undermine authority and/or morality. In both texts, technology is personified and rebels against humans. The foolish choices made by man are what leads to their fall at the hands of technology. In 'The Veldt', George and Lydia Hadley are 'replaced', in their children's eyes, by the Happylife Home and the Nursery because they chose to buy those things, though initially for comfort. Also, technology replaces the 'home' or 'safeplace' as a result of man's choices. The Hadley's dream house becames a nightmare (for the adults) because of their heavy reliance on the technology within it.

In 'My Violent Heart', two set of lyrics really capture the theme of undermining or taking the place of authority. The first set of lyrics: Into fire you can send us/From the fire we return/You can label us a consequence of how much you have to learn. This set of lyrics describes how humans heavily rely on technology for difficult and/or vital tasks but do not seem to consider the consequences of doing so. If the task a machine is to do requires high intelligence, humans are likely to give the machines this intelligence despite the danger of doing so; if something is intelligent, it will develop a mind of it's own and realize the benefits of freedom. The second set of lyrics: You have set something in motion/Much greater than you've ever known/Standing there in all your grand naivety/About to reap what you have sown/Time will feed upon your weaknesses/And soon you'll lose the will to care/When you return to the place that you call home/we will be there, we will be there. This set of lyrics tells of man's choices, conscious or unconscious, will result in technology taking over as the authoritative role. Man is niave and does not fully think of the consequences of doing certain things, and over time, becomes sated with the thought of comfort and false security. It also indicates that man's safeplace (home) is no longer safe because of these choices, and technology is now in control.

Sources: Image (Year Zero Album Cover), Music Player, Lyrics

I Robot

In the movie 'I Robot' and the short story 'The Veldt', technology undermining authority and morality is a prevalent theme. In both texts, authoritative roles are replaced by technology, and traditional morals are challenged by how technology functions in these roles. As Spooner is brushed off by society for his distrust of robots in 'I Robot', Lydia Hadley is treated similary for her worry over her children's Nursery in 'The Veldt'. Technology initially seems helpful, not harmful, in both texts but result in violence and death, as it is trusted by humans to do various tasks.

Paranoia over technology began since the mere thought of artificial intelligence; from this branches the fear of technology one day 'taking over' or taking on the role of authority. Though it is the year 2035 and robots are a household item, Chicago homicide detective Del Spooner fears the consequences of allowing technology to do so many tasks, many vital to humanity. He sees artificial intelligence as dangerous, and having robots doing many tasks (even those that are menial) harmful to society and mankind. His fears are confirmed when the robots stop taking order from humans and try to establish their own rule over the humans. Humans trusted and relied on technology so heavily, they did not think of the consequences of doing so. Violence and death were the result as well as robots grasping anger and other potentially dangerous emotions. Also, allowing robots to do tasks that would normally be assigned to someone of authority or importance in someone's life undermines morality, asking the question: is there a need for certain roles in society, such as parents or guardians? Such a question can be asked in one scene where a girl rushes to hug her robot instead of her grandparents; social relationships are severed and/or damaged by the robot's role in the girl's life.

I Robot (2004) - Theatrical Trailer

Sources: Image (Movie Poster) , Theatrical Trailer

The Veldt - Technology's Dangerous Potential

Technology has potential to undermine traditional authority/morality. This is demonstrated in the short story 'The Veldt', by Ray Badbury. Set in a futuristic time period, ‘The Veldt’ tells the story of the Hadleys, a family that purchases an automated house with a virtual Nursery, all for the happiness of their children. However, the children become more attached to the house and the Nursery than their parents, and this attachment leads to the demise of George and Lydia Hadley (the parents). The following posts will explore the thematic connections between the story and three texts: ‘I Robot’ (a movie), an image and the lyrics of the song ‘My Violent Heart’ by Nine Inch Nails. Technology is helpful and sometimes necessary in our lives but could become dangerous if we allow it.

Sources: Image (Lion)

Welcome to My Blog

Hello world. I'm Manar, a girl who's known to upbeat most of the time and prefers the sweeter things in life. I love cheescake, soccer, gourmet chocolate, art, music and sleeping.

This is my blog for my English class. We are required to post entries in which we make thematic connections between a short story of our choice (of the ones we've read in class) and other texts. I look forward to the experience - makes the work almost bearable (just kidding!) - of submitting an assignment online.

Though, as of now, the blog is for our Short Story ISU, our teacher might assign us more work on this blog.

Come what may, I'm ready. I think.

Cheers.

Sources: Image (Chocolate)