Based on what we know about the context of the novel through our savvy internet research discuss how Androids is a reflection of the historical moment in time. How is the novel influenced by environmentalism (particularly the seminal novel Silent Spring published by Rachel Carson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Spring), the public perception of corporations, the Vietnam war, or the growing fears surrounding the cold war?
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there should be a comma after "research"
ReplyDeleteWell since Goldieberg was the blogger, i believe i still have the first comment! =P
ReplyDeleteAnyway, to adress this topic, this novel is greatly influenced by war, the environment, and the corporations. Firstly, the Cold War, especially with the Cuban Missle Crisis, was about the NUKES. In the book, the desolate planet, Earth, that they live on is due to the nuclear war in this world known as World War Terminus. Due to the use of nuclear weapons, a layer of toxic dust covers the world, leading to #2, the environment.
In this world, radiation has wiped out most of the animals on the planet, from what i had read, is almost the same picture dipicted in Silent Spring, as animals and insects are dying because of pesticides and other poisons. Showing how the continuation of neglecting our environment will result in an apocalyptic Earth will death surrounding us.
Thirdly, Dick, the author shows a distaste towards corps. In the book, the Rosen Corporation is only working for their self interest as they keep making androids better so they can SELL a better product, that can nullify the voight-kampf test, and cause problems on Earth as they have killed a few bounty hunters and even took a shot at
Rick. Bottomline, corps just want to make money and they dont care about the consequences.
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ReplyDelete(,,,)(>_<)(,,,) ♫RAWR RAWR RAWR♪
ReplyDeleteHello again Goldbergian Society of AGL English Superstars,
ReplyDeleteLast semester in grad school I took a class on the history of ecology and environmentalism, and we talked for at least two classes about the period of time described above. So, again, I haven't read the book, but I'll provide some thoughts on the historical context.
Post WWII/Early Cold War America saw an influx of scientific ideas that both celebrated the advent of new techniques and reacted against these same ideas. Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, wrote about the potential negative side effects of the use of DDT and other pesticides on other players in the environment. This book received national attention and was one of the first bridges between science and the public, garnering public interest in "their own backyard". (Scientists today still talk about how to reach that level of audience) She was chastised by many agricultural interest groups, and eventually President Kennedy passed a bill banning DDT's use. However, a little mentioned excerpt from Silent Spring shows that Carson was not completely against pesticide use, but rather argued for responsible testing prior to use so that side effects could be measured and analyzed. However, the public outcry overshadowed this idea, and DDT was demonized as the bringer of an environmental apocalypse (sounds like your book took that side...)So just like many political moves (think Saddam Hussein maybe?), one bad thing was attacked completely due to public opinion, while many other equally bad or worse things (other pesticides) were developed to replace DDT which were still legal to use. Unintended consequence, eh?
As far as nuclear testing went - many scientist spoke out against the possibility of fallout and hesitated to get involved in these projects. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (http://www.thebulletin.org/) was founded in 1945 for the purpose of warning the public of the possible disastrous effects of nuclear weapons.
Okay, that's all for now! Have a good week off.
Ms. Heskel
Also of interest (from the NYTimes)
ReplyDeleteArts, Briefly
Novel by Philip K. Dick Gets an Ending
Compiled by BEN SISARIO
Published: February 16, 2009
Philip K. Dick’s last wife has reworked the novel he was working on when he died in 1982 and is publishing the book herself, The Guardian reported. Tessa Dick, the fifth wife of the science-fiction legend, told Self-Publishing Review, an online magazine (selfpublishingreview.com), that her version of “The Owl in Daylight” seeks to express “the spirit” of the proposed book, about which little is known. Ms. Dick said that a letter from her husband to his editor and agent revealed plans to “have a great scientist design and build a computer system and then get trapped in its virtual reality,” and added: “The computer would be so advanced that it developed humanlike intelligence and rebelled against its frivolous purpose of managing a theme park.” The letter also mentioned Dante’s “Inferno” and the Faust legend, she said. “I hope that I have captured the spirit of ‘The Owl’ as Phil would have written it,” Ms. Dick added, “if his life had not been cut short by a massive stroke.” She has published the book through CreateSpace, an on-demand publishing service owned by Amazon.com, because she could not find a publisher, she said.
I absolutely agree with Wakeelur that this novel is very influenced by the environment, especially because of the radioactive dust that exists. Depending on whether a person is "regular" or "regular" or "special", a theory that is brought up by Dick would be that they may have been affected by the dust which may have had certain affects on their brain. so, you see, the dust has a very powerful affect on the living organisms in this society.
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