There was a revolution after all. I think I feel a little fulfilled after all that reading.
Honestly, this book was a dream come true. Science fiction intermixed with the history of modern China. I guess the whole message is that regardless of how society changes, human behavior remains the same perhaps. I mean we have a futuristic China being exploited by a powerful West. Then we have a rebellion against that power. Awesome.
Now as it relates to class. There are many ideas that connect to what we’ve covered. The drummers as a form of collective intelligence really stuck out. Dr. X connects Hackworth with these other people to combine their various thinking abilities to create new technologies. This collective intelligence brings about the creation of things that we’re not thought entirely feasible.
In addition to these drummers, there is also the concept of the turing machine. Turing machines are apparently ” extremely basic abstract symbol-manipulating devices which, despite their simplicity, can be adapted to simulate the logic of any computer that could possibly be constructed.” Nell is constantly able to overcome these machines and therefore surpass the logic and intricacies of a system. Her human reasoning is able to beat anything that an artificial intelligence can throw at her. I thought this was an interesting little bit. Despite the overload of technology, Nell is still able to surpass the problems presented to her by a machine.
Hmm… I guess we should also discuss the climax to Nell’s interaction with the Primer. The Primer has become integral to who Nell is. However, she has realized that it was the human connection that helped her, not solely the computer. The love she felt for the book was directed toward Miranda, and not toward the technology. Nell immersed herself into the technology, but felt a connection for the women on the other end. In the end, that was one of her main goals. She had to liberate Miranda from the drummers. Nell had become a strong and independent girl with an amazing tolerance for pain. She suffers rape and torture by the Fists, but is able to maintain a clear head. The relationship and the lessons she learned from the Primer were definitely responsible for this.
She becomes the leader of a new phyle, and no longer needs to fit the mold of another group. She is a Princess in her own right. Her fantasy became real. Is this the virtual as potential? She has realized the Primer was a tool and used to better herself. Rather than lose herself within this false reality, she uses it as a means to defining her real self. Not only does she become a strong women, but she becomes a leader. That’s one hell of a Primer.
No Comments Yet
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
