David Guterson, the author
of the essay Enclosed. Encyclopedia.
Endured: The Mall of America, goes through a process to prove that the
great Mall of America, is a prime example of a dystopian society. David starts
out by showing how people are addicted to coming to the mall, and how the “media
have comported themselves as if the new mall were a place of light and promise,
full of hope and possibilities (Guterson 168).” He walks us through his trip at
the mall and shows how the mall is full of lies. Like how “the Mall of America claims
to recycle up to 80 percent of its [trash] (Guterson 170).” When it actually “recycles
only a third of the mall tenants waste (Guterson 170).”Or even how the
integrated pest management was just a secret late night pesticide spraying.
On the other hand, while reading is America Falling Apart, by Anthony
Burgess, I noticed that he takes a different approach to the situation. He
explains to the readers his experiences with asceticism. He writes how he “elected
deprivation” of “an automobile (Burgess 236).” After this he switches gears a little bit and
talks about the inevitable self-inflicted destruction of America. He talked about
a lot of different issues, everything from smog in LA to material items being
cheaper to replace than repair. He gives many examples from other countries and
states “that the whole marvelous fabric of American life is coming apart at its
seams (Burgess 236).” At first glance these essays look completely different,
but looking closely I can see many similarities.
Bibliography:
Guterson, David “Enclosed Encyclopedia Endured
Mall
of America “The Norton Reader” ED.
Linda
Peterson,
ETK. 13th ed. New York Norton,
2012.
161- 172. Print
Burgess, Anthony. “Is America Falling Apart?”
The Norton Reader. Ed. Joseph Bieap.
John Brereton, Ane
Fernald, Melissa beld,
And Linda
Peterson. 13th ed.
New York Norton, 2012. 235-239. Print.
New York Norton, 2012. 235-239. Print.
I agree with Mr. Pattinson that there is a similarity between these two essays. They both argued that America , like the Mall of America, has become an dystopian society. In David Guterson's "Mall of America" you are presented with quotes from citizen that have come to find the Mall to be a community. They are brain washed to feel the need to buy and consume. This is also apparent in America society in all products and consumption aspects.
ReplyDeleteI disagree, while Guterson believes that mega malls are spoiling America, Burgess believes that America is headed to a good place in the future. Burgess spoke of the decline of England, "Twenty-six years after [Shakespeare's] death there was a bloody civil war . . . followed by a calm respite in which the seeds of a revolution were sown. England survived. America will survive" (290). Burgess is saying that America will pull through the slump that it's in and become greater than ever, preferably through socialism.
ReplyDeleteIn the Mall of America, Gutterson states his opinion a being very hopeful in a dystopian society. He makes it apparent that we are all just wishing for something more in just the actual thing itself. In my opinion this is where he is saying how all citizens are wondering when they are going to get the bigger picture in a situation. Just like Timothy says the stories were presented in a different way but they all correlated to be the same concepts. They agreed in the situation but don't exhibit nyphilism
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is similarity between the two essays. As stated in the essay we Americans are very materialistic and self centered, and that lays a role in the destruction of America. We are so self centered and addicted to merchandise that even in the face of danger we are still willing to shop for useless things, such as the two girls who returned to the mall to shop after a shooting had just occurred (166). I think this is a prime example that there is an obvious problem, that can grow and ultimately lead to our " destruction".
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that they are similar, because from my perspective the idea of a dystopian society can be found in both texts. In Enclosed. Encyclopedic. Endured: The Mall of America, the mall is basically a place in which it has consumer’s wants but they are controlled. They have stores to shop in, food courts, an amusement park, and even the outdoors is inside. However, all of these things are controlled through money and regulations. The cameras are set to oversee whatever happens inside. They claim to recycle to put out a good image, and basically try to provide the excitement consumers go seeking. (Guterson) This can be seen as a metaphoric dystopian society where the “citizens” are expected to follow the rules of the ones who “govern” the place. In return for their cooperation, they are rewarded with materialistic items, and a sense of excitement. If they are to not cooperate, they can be removed from the society. As for Is America Falling Apart? Anthony Burgess says, “I come to America as to a country more stimulating than depressing…vast, dramatic, almost apocalyptic.” When I read the quote I felt it pretty much explained how the text described America. It is a society falling into a dystopian society which is governed by money.
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