Assignment: Please read the book, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. Complete the reading by our second class, Monday September 17.
1. Consider the following thoughts/questions/ issues during reading and be prepared to discuss:
• Overall, observe the trajectories of modernity (not to be confused with “modernism”) that are played out in the story. The modern project at large is about man’s ability to control and conquer nature through technological development. This is what is commonly called “progress.”
• To give one example of what I mean by this, consider illness. Illness is one way in which nature defeats the body. The development of vaccines allowed man to conquers nature. And of course this would be considered human progress because otherwise the “patient” would die.
• Another example closer to home is moveable type. Consider that moveable type was a communications technology that allowed vast numbers of people to read and consider the same thoughts and ideas. (Which in turn allowed them to develop even more technology, scientific knowledge, political thought and, most important, the idea that man was in control of his own destiny rather than subject to the fate of nature/God.)
2. With technological “advancement/progress” as an overarching theme observe the trajectories of change in the following realms today and how they have evolved in the story.
• Consumerism
• Entertainment
• Branding
3. What values and ideologies are reflected in the communities and the individual characters that reside in those communities?
