What images particularly struck you as compelling from the readings we have done so far? Did any of the authors paint a picture that made you believe, if even briefly, in the possibilities of utopia?
The way More began describing his utopia really struck me as compelling. How protected it was because of the treacherous rocks under the water and the garrison on the large rock made me think of how different the times have changed. More’s utopia was protected from intruders when no one else in the class really thought it necessary to build barricades around our utopias. We all talked about how we only wanted our closest family and friends but did not feel the it necessary to shelter or protect them from the outside world. Even if one reached More’s utopia, the individual cities were surrounded by huge walls and moats.
The second thing that moved me in More’s reading was how alike the cities were. He talked about how they were the same size approximately the same distance from each other and set up with the same structures. This I felt was kind of awkward because if you some how ended up in another city how were you to find your way home. This task would become impossible if one was under the influence. This also brought along the question that if they are so much alike in customs and language then why could they not be intertwined and have one huge city.
I also found it interesting about how More talked about the efficiency of the workers. Nowadays I think every sane person that I know has absolutely no obligations in their utopias. I guess this is impossible because if no one was working then we would need someone to take care of us. This just made me think that if everyone in the world shared the same responsibility it would get rid of many conflicts. If some how everyone could look at situations from the same point of view, our world could be a utopia. Social classes would mostly disappear and everyone would kind of be helping each other along.
I really enjoyed More’s utopia because in a lot of ways it was much like the utopias described in class by all of us. Everyone was seen as equals and there were no hardships. After reading More’s utopia, if anything, it has inspired me to add many things to my own utopia. A few secret tunnels and hideout spots would help protect my utopia if it were threatened which probably would not happen because a force field would be installed much like the one in the Simpson’s movie.
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I agree I believe that the responsibilities within the society should be shared equally no matter the gender. It would be considered unfair for someone to dictate whether a women is not qualified to perform a males job, especially when God created all in equality.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I liked about this journal was the reference to the Simpsons movie regarding the precautionary safety measures taken to the utopia. Ron is notorious for these references in class, and I love trying to implement them into my writing. Looking back at my own journal I cannot believe I didn’t compare the wall surrounding the island, to the wall Mr. Liu-Kim builds to keep child molesters out of South Park. Responding to these journals can be tiresome at times, and I enjoy reading journals that have some humor and personality in them. I found it interesting how at the end of your journal you said More inspired you to add new things. My thoughts on my utopia were similarly altered after reading the thought provoking ideas More brings to the table.
ReplyDeleteAdam is right about my notorious love of the Simpsons and South Park. Your comment about the similarity of the cities made me think about the cookie-cutter suburbs that have arisen in the last twenty years - you've identified an interesting connection between More's time and our own, one that I think you'll see later in Fight Club and Virgin Suicides.
ReplyDeleteJeff, you have several important points here, and they are closely related. None of us really thought of it, but many of us mentioned some type of luxury-filled utopia, which requires money. Having money often creates social status. The fear of losing this status/wealth creates a sense of insecurity: you recognize that what you have could be lost and needs protection. More undercuts this process in Utopia by more-or-less leveling social class (though it did have slaves). Furthermore, everyone is part of the same two cultures (agriculture and city-dwelling) because they regularly switch to avoid burn-out. Throughout history, the rich and powerful have created ways of protecting themselves that have often made life dystopic for the poor and powerless. The fact that both More and Gilman’s worlds have physical barriers to protect them (a volcano erupted early in Herland’s history and created a huge rock ledge) suggests that utopic writers knew that the “perfect society” would have to be hidden (or universal) for it to be safe from outside influence.
ReplyDeleteJeff,
ReplyDeleteYour journal brought something to my attention. In your journal you pointed out that nobody in class protected their Utopia. I never thought about how Gilman and More both protected their Utopia’s, and I forgot to protect mine. :( I wonder what that says about me. I like how you show your humor in your journals. I also think it would be terribly difficult to find your way home when under the influence. I also question why he made all the cities the same. Although I know some of our classmates liked the simplicity I would find it horribly boring. Personally to see the same city over and over, again even when you travel to another area would be torture. For me going to new places is fun because it’s something new, different, and it allows you to see their culture. If all of the cities in the world were identical what the hell would be the point of traveling.
Okay everyone last comment was me.. it wouldn't let me post from my name. :)
ReplyDelete~Jamie
I agree Jeff, More made a valid point about defending the utopias resources. Defending these resources was very important because the possible invasion of their utopia would lead to destruction of the utopia in all. I agree it is important to create this utopia on an island secluded from the rest of the corrupted world, even though it would be harder to defend.
ReplyDelete