So I found myself on YouTube, surfing poetry slams that may spark a great discussion. Then I came upon this one.
Gerald Jackson, the poet above that slammed about the "Digital Age" hit it right on the head when it comes to explain how we as the Digital Age have changed due to video games. It is as if we can learn all about life by viewing what is on the television screen, from history, to use of weapons, all the way to how to deal with a love life. According to Jackson's slam, "We are all children of the same system which where the mother is screen and the father is reality: absent. In May of 1998 Sony Computer Entertainment of America released a dual shock analogue controller. In January 2009, I'm still Dual Shock analogue controlled, reaching for a reset button."
What does it mean? Have we found ourselves stuck in a digital world where we live life constantly connected? to the laptop, phone, television, Facebook, video game...
Gerald Jackson seems to view this idea in a negative light. What do you think?
I like the lyric-ness of Jackson's poem and the way he conveys his message using emblematic examples that the audience can easily identify with. I tend to agree with his message, though I don't think our interconnected-ness is quite that bad. I agree that something is very very wrong with the way we do things when we can't unplug from the digital world and see what is real and what is not. However, I can also see the merits of technology and how it is useful and productive in our everyday lives. Its a difficult question to respond to.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jackson mostly. I do think that digital technology has a powerful influence over children in the digital age
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome. Mostly because I love slam poetry and I think this guy hits the message right on the head. If you want to check out other awesome poets, check out Rudy Francisco.
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