Chris’s
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(group member since Apr 03, 2013)
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Hi Kirstie,That sounds like a good plan. Plenty to discuss there. I've also been thinking of parallels with the other books we've read, and also back to themes on the edcmooc course, so those questions fit that nicely.
Chris
Just sharing this interesting article about research done on the difference between reading a book, and reading things online. In essence, it says reading books is a form of "Deep reading...it is an experience, not a chance to record ideas in our brain for later use". The action of reading a book increases people's empathy, understanding, and emotional intelligence. I certainly find from my experience that is a more calming experience than flitting to and from website to website online! But each has their benefits of course. Anyway, here is the article for reference:http://criticalmargins.com/2013/06/07...
Chris
Thanks for the excellent summary PingLW! All the questions look good to me. I was wondering about the same things when reading too. I kept also thinking what was EM Forster's motive for writing? ie how much was a reaction to current affairs of his time, or how much just a story & a meditation.
Also, the notion of the people in the story worshipping the machine, and accepting everything it does, but not knowing how to detect a fault or fix it if it goes wrong was interesting. Are we like this with our technology now?
Will have another read before tonight. I spotted a TV adoption of it from 1966 on YouTube too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvrGUn...
I'm also about a third of the way through, and also enjoying the book. I especially liked how the Houses of Parliament is now a storehouse for cabbages, turnips, and dung! Overall, there is plenty to mull over in the society it describes - as compared to our own - and plenty to pick holes in and disagree with. The imaginative leap it takes is refreshing though, and just to imagine a London, Glasgow, Manchester, or anywhere else, as a totally different place, and to think of how we live now as a forgotten memory is pretty comforting and inspiring. I wonder what Morris would have written now? And is the craft movement coming back in to our lives? Either because of "needs must" in the recession, or just because we want to change the way we live?
