Blog 3

Part of the requirements for this class was to read the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. While many believe that his book was about government censorship, Bradbury says that isn't the case. Bradbury says that his meaning behind the book was about the results that modern technology would have on our ability to read and use critical thinking. In a 2007 interview with LA Weekly, Bradbury said that the book is "…a story about how television destroys interest in reading literature". * I think that at this day and age, TV is the least of our technology problems that keep people from reading and using critical thinking skills.

While I really didn't enjoy this book at all, I can see where Bradbury's concerns have merit. I myself am a book worm and enjoy reading just about anything, but I can definitely say that that isn't the case with most people I know and work with. In today's world, if a person wants information, they simply log-on to the internet or turn on the TV. When asked why the most common answer is that it's easier and faster, which to a point I can agree with, but does doing something the easy way or the fast way help your ability to think critically? I don't know. I agree with the use of technology, but I also think that people should be challenged to use their brains to think about something and not have all of their information handed to them and taken at face value.

My other concern with technology is how it can affect our youth. I am always amazed at how dependent today's young people are on technology. When I was younger the world was coming to end when I lost my one hour of TV time for not getting my homework done or whatever, but now it's kids losing their cell phone or computer usage that causes the world to stop for our youth. It's a rare thing nowadays to see a young person reading a book for the joy of reading; they are seemingly too caught up using modern technology.

Being the book worm that I am, I hope we don't ever reach a time when authorities burn books and say that it is for our own good. Reading, whether it is books, comics, or newspapers gives us the ability to think for ourselves and escape from all of the technology around us.

 

*Resources

www.laweekly.com/.../ray-bradbury-fahrenheit-451-misinterpreted/

Ray Bradbury