Globalization is a reoccurring theme in “ Pattern Recognition”.  Cayce Pollard . the main character of  the book , is especially keen on recognizing the mass globalization that has occurred throughout the world.   Gibson uses the characterization of Cayce in order to comment on how mass globalization has become evident in virtually every country. The novel includes many big name companies that can be easily recognized by anyone such as the Michelin Man and Starbucks.   Gibson comments on the effects globalizations have had on cultures and societies. Societies are experiencing a “ monoculture” effect due to globalization creating a singular culture.  Every country, even those that are industrialized such as Japan and England, has become victim of globalization.  Furthermore this globalization has led to the demise of many local traditional cultures.  This is evident when Cayce goes to Boone Chu’s friend’s apartment in Japan. Cayce is amazed at the beauty of the apartment but finds that it is one of the last of its kind.

            Throughout "Pattern Recognition" evidence of a post-9/11 civilization are evident.  Gibson’s novel seems to comment on how society has changed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.   Throughout the text, Cayce Pollard flashbacks to 9/11, not only because her father went missing on that day, but because Gibson seems to be commenting on the way society has changed after 9/11.   Gibson comments on how our society has since drastically changed since the 9/11 attacks.  Since the attacks, the United States has been on a slow decline and in a constant state of ambiguity.  This uncertainly arises from the fact that the United States, the leading country of the world, was attacked by a small group of terrorist. This attack  knocked off the balance that was already set in place by the United States.   Before the attack, the US had not experienced any major homeland security threat. The novel seems to comment on how post-9/11 societies are now experiencing more discrimination, censorship, and suspicion. Never before had there been an attack on the U.S of this much stature.  As a result of the attacks, societies and cultures have changed.  

" A Rose For Emily"

                If “ A Rose for Emily” were written in a different point of view, then many aspects of the story would change.  For example, if the point of view were told from the perspective of Tobe, the servant for Emily, then the story would focus more on Ms. Emily’s life rather then opinions of what the town people believed her life to be.    A first person singular point of view from Tobe would expand the reader’s knowledge towards the mysterious life of Emily. The reader would have a better understanding of certain events in Emily’s life such as her connections with Colonel Sartoris or why she killed Homer. The change to a singular point of view would also change the structure of the story. Instead of the reader having to figure out and interpret the story like a mystery, the ending would be expected.  However, the point of view of Tobe could also create a storyline similar to the original.  Tobe, like the rest of the town’s citizens, may have been just as uninformed and curious as to who Emily really is. He may simply be a worker, whose feelings may be just as ambiguous towards Emily as others in the town. 

It is also possible that Tobe’s point of view may simply have just told the reader about his own personal struggles of being an African American during the Old South.  The story would follow his life and Emily’s ordeals may just be a small part of it. The shift in point of view would also create some minor changes to the story. Tobe, being an African American living in the South during a time where racism was evident, wouldn’t use the same slang and derogative terms that the white citizens of the town did. Tobe’s perspective of the white citizens of the town would also impact the storyline.  The poems themes may of shifted towards different ones such as racism or hate.

" All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace."

           

Richard Brautigan’s poem “ All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace,” shows how technology has doomed our society.   The poem discusses how technology has negatively impacted our daily lives by interfering with nature’s already occurring processes.  Brautigan comments on how functions of nature, such as the mammals and trees, have been disrupted by the presence of a “ cybernetic” technology.  The word cybernetic, meaning the structure or regulation of a system, conveys the image that our modern technology has taken over or surpassed the already set systems of nature.  Within the third stanza, the words “ cybernetic ecology” are placed together emphasizing that are whole ecology is cybernetic.  The beginning of every stanza begins with the same repetitive line “ I like to think.”  This emphasizes that that the poet would like to think of  “deer strolling peacefully past computers,” but realizes that this is not the case in our modern world.  

Brautigan’s poem also can be interpreted as a case for pro-technology.   Brautigan envisions a time where technology has made possible “ cybernetic meadows where mammals and computers live together in harmony.”  The poem implies that instead of fearing technology’s powers, we should embrace it and rather use it as a way to connect nature with it.  Within the poem, nature is put side to side with technology, “ pines and electronics” or “ deer and computers.” This illustrates that rather then nature being separate from technology; they are side-by-side and of equal importance in our world. Although this almost symbiotic relationship that Brautigan envisions hasn’t yet occurred, the mood of the poem conveys optimism that these events will occur.   This optimism is seen within each stanza in parentheses, “ ( and sooner the better) ,( right now please!), and ( it has to be !),” showing the poets desire and hope for technology to fuse alongside with nature. 

In the context of the poem, pro-technology seems to be the better interpretation of what Brautigan is trying to illustrate.  The poem never mentions how technology has created an over powerful machine that destroys the natural world. Rather in every instance of the poem, technology and nature are equally incorporated as a pair.  Brautigan shows that the two are equally important aspects of this world.