Unity

"Can't judge a book by its cover"

Much of the unity reading reminded me of this clichéd phrase. Not only does this quote tell us to reach past our stereotypes but it also suggests that there is more to the world than what meets the eye. There are mysteries, romances, discoveries, and inventions inside paper covers.

Similarly, if we view our environment as unconnected occurrences and ideas, or book covers, the world becomes “a world of objects, or nothing [. . .]” (917). Just as we failed to see the meaning behind the cover, we fail to see the connections among the objects.

“Dance of the Opposites” by Sridhar V Ramasami

I liked how the readings reiterated that all the objects are interconnected—that “no figure is ever perceived except in relation to a background” (913). Even opposites and seeming contradictions exist in relation to each other. And, as in the painting above, opposites seem to show the real beauty and connections of the world. However, not everyone notices the similarities behind differences. Thus, discovering and pointing out the differences is a creative act which is greatly prized in writing. A thesis, for example, should address issues from a new perspective and change the way readers look at an issue. Finding the coherence among disconnectedness demonstrates creative writing.

Paradoxes come to mind when discussing connectedness among disconnectedness. They are usually clever and short but highlight a truth. Indeed, some of the most renowned writers write in opposites: Dicken’s writes the entire introduction of A Tale of Two Cities as a series of contrasting ideas.

Finding the overall unity of the world, I think, also resonates with many religions. Christians profess that we are all children of God and Hindus believe certain animals are sacred since they were created just as we were (I believe). The idea of a circle of life and, as Hopkins phrases, that “each mortal thing does one thing and the same” (906) seems to point to a higher power which connects all.

If everything is connected in the real world, what about these connections in a pseudo-real online world like Second Life? As we have discussed in other discussion boards, internet and technology does indeed further connect people. An online world appears to be the next step in this connectedness. Physical online objects, people, and locations are the visual images of these connections while messaging and instant messaging are the social connections.

I also wonder if Second Life draws people away from the real world as many video games do. I know many a boy here at UT and at home that get sucked into the virtual reality of video games—ignoring real people in favor of the electronic world. I myself think many video games are fun and that most people know how to balance virtual world time with real world time. However, there are the notorious video game “nerds” that seem to be swallowed in the fake world. Indeed, I noticed that Second Life players are referred to as residents because “many don’t like to see SL as ‘just a game’”(938). Maybe technology does too good a job of emulating the connections of the real world!

Speaking of technology and people viewing it as the real world, check out the personified version of a mac and pc! I do not necessarily agree with the last statement of this clip, but I know all of us have felt fed up with computers at some point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id_kGL3M5Cg&mode=related&search=