1. Litt begins by saying that literature is not alien to technology in fact because literature is technology to begin with, so the relationship between technology and literature is that literature depends on technology. But the advancement of technology has led to a regression of literature. The connectivity of the Internet provides people all with the constant temptation of snippets, trivia, and distractions from writing. Previously, writers did not have these particular temptations. Therefore, Litt believes that writers will continue to happen, but technology and its trivia can take something away from the people and the writers. She believes that many writers write worse now because they can’t write classical prose which doesn’t even fit modern technology anymore, indicating a regression in literature.

2. I think technology has affected my perception of classical literature because it has given me certain ideas and thoughts about many things, so when I see or learn more about classical literature now, I compare it to what I see and learn now, and therefore it makes me not fully understand it. As technology advances, more literature is now presented in more science fiction or modern way, so I have relatively little access to classical literature unless it is in class or I get a chance to see it and become interested.

3. I think there is an advantage to technology to change the stories of today or the future. Technology has changed the way people view, interpret, and the way they write about stories. It has created the ability for people to write through the internet for example by commenting or rating things or people, which means that many people can now present their ideas, inspirations, techniques in any way they want on the internet that can be seen by different people or even by people in different countries, which facilitates different writers and others to learn different ways of creating and writing, which implies that they can better represent the various possibilities and ways of literature.

4. I think for me there is not a lot of impacts because reading on the screen is somewhat better, it is easy to read on the screen or through different interfaces and it does not take much time to find what you need to read or what is important. Using screen reading is probably better for many different types of specialized reading documents, and to a certain extent is more environmentally friendly because it does not require the use of paper.

We are living in a changing world where people must accept change without hesitation. In the article “The Way We Live Now:11-11-01; Lost and Found,” Colson Whitehead tries to express how your neighborhood changes and progress with you or without you. The author expresses change in NYC and how did it happen so fast. The places you loved are no longer there. Also,  the places you once loved and enjoyed throughout the years are no longer there. Lewis explains that in an ever-changing society people must understand and accept change. As we evolve we must accept the evolution of people and communities, and how we must change our mindset. The overlapping pieces in both stories are focused on sending a clear message that we must accept change in our neighborhoods, cities and states.   Places change and people change and so do communities and we must understand and accept that change is good for society and the people living in those communities..  Historically, Lewis has bared witness to prejudice, racism and injustice in America and he strongly advocated that we must not stop now that we must fight with all that we have. He was eager to relate the message about experiences in America especially as he states “When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st Century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression and war.” Lewis was proud of the people and their fight for survival. He sounded proud of his people and wanted to let them know although he is no longer there to witness change that we as a community must continue the fight. We as a generation go down in History as the generation that fought for social change. Similarly to Colson Whitehead, is also letting the reader know that change is ok and we must accept it because  we must remember that we were once “those new kids on the block, but let’s be patient and not judge too quickly.”

In many ways I can relate to both writers but mostly with Colson because change in the NYC I grew up has been inevitable. I live in a gentrified neighborhood where the people who are left are called the “has been.” The street I grew up in is no longer the same, the corner bodega is no longer there, and the neighborhood supermarket is a Whole Foods Supermarket. I related on so many levels as I read because my neighborhood has changed so much. Our neighborhood has been gentrified and we as a community did not see that coming. I can relate because every-time I take a walk in my neighborhood something has changed. The theater that my grand uncle once owned is now a high rise. The memories of my neighborhood and NYC will forever be there in what I consider my childhood memories because the NYC that I grew up in is no longer the same is a beautiful vivd memory of the “has beens.”

 

Both Authors are having conversations surrounding a community during a time of crisis but the two author approaches it in a different angle. Colson Whitehead uses a general and friendly tone in his approach. In the article “The Way We Live  Now:11-11-01; Lost and Found” Whitehead talks about how everyone has their own unique experience of New York City and how the city is always changing with or without us and even how we change through time. Whitehead gives many examples throughout his article one of the example is Over a lifetime, that adds up to a lot of neighborhoods, the motley construction material of your jerry-built metropolis. Your favorite newsstands, restaurants, movie theaters, subway stations and barbershops are replaced by your next neighborhood’s favorites. It gets to be quite a sum. Before you know it, you have your own personal skyline. Go back to your old haunts in your old neighborhoods and what do you find: they remain and have disappeared. The greasy spoon, the deli, the dry cleaner you scouted out when you first arrived and tried to make those new streets yours: they are gone. But look past the windows of the travel agency that replaced your pizza parlor. Beyond the desks and computers and promo posters for tropical adventures, you can still see Neapolitan slices cooling, the pizza cutter lying next to half a pie, the map of Sicily on the wall”. Whitehead shows that the city is always changing and that change is always bound to occur. Lewis on the other hand writes about his own life and his experiences. Lewis wrote about how he felt fighting through racism and injustice he states “I will never ever forget the moment when it became so clear that he could easily have been me. In those days, fear constrained us like an imaginary prison, and troubling thoughts of potential brutality committed for no understandable reason were the bars.” The imaginary prison is the society and their injustice towards African Americans and even though he had 2 loving parents and siblings their love could not protect them outside in the society. This article was very inspiring about how he fought through all the injustices and when he said “Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America” I also believe this and not only in voting ordinary people can affect a lot in helping out their society just by doing the right thing.

The two pieces talk about change and time. Lewis talks about his life experiences and how he wants the future generation to stand up for what we believe in and how nonviolence and the way of love is the more excellent way and whitehead talks about how we are slowly changing and to cherish what we have. The message i picked up from them is that to always cherish  what i have and to stand up for what i believe in and not what the community tells me to believe in.

I felt myself identify closer to is “The Way We Live Now” by Colson Whitehead i agree with how he says everyone has their own unique view  and that we always need to cherish what we have. Reading this reminded me of how i didn’t have the chance to say goodbye to my best friend who passed away 11 years ago and how much i regretted for taking what i had for granted.

Colson Whitehead says in his article that each individual experience of New York City is unique. Everyone has their own experiences. His attitude toward New York City is more sentimental, recalling a past era. “But look past the windows of the travel agency that has taken the place of your pizza parlor.” This line indicates that Whitehead looking back to a time where his favorite pizza parlor. Whitehead goes on to say that you don’t know New York until you see it for yourself, rather than hearing what others think. While John Lewis’s article explains the change in the community is the growth from the hardship of African Americans endures from the past to present. In the article, Lewis says, “Though I was surrounded by two loving parents, plenty of brothers, sisters, and cousins, their love could not protect me from the unholy oppression waiting just outside that family circle. Unchecked, unrestrained violence and government-sanctioned terror had the power to turn a simple stroll to the store for some Skittles or an innocent morning jog down a lonesome country road into a nightmare.” Lewis used an assertive tone to express his feelings about change. He wanted society to change for the better. Racism and discrimination are deeply rooted in this society. Lewis learned through firsthand experience how oppressive society was, coming to a realization at the age of 15. Both writers feel strongly about change especially within a community and outside of it. Both pieces’ themes overlapped in that they both explored horrific days that our culture would one day look back on as being in the past.

I feel closer to John Lewis’s article because as a black African American male there is always a target on our backs. African Americans don’t have good opportunities because our skin is constantly seen as a weapon. The system is designed to keep us down and because of that very few make it out. Society doesn’t accept us and no matter how loud we scream they will never hear us.