Monthly Archives: November 2012

Dr.Seuss

Posted on by
2

During one of our discussions regarding Carson’s Silent Spring, it was brought to our attention that beloved Dr. Seuss played part in such biochemical warfare. I noticed my classmate’s reaction to this information was that of disbelief. Our generation grew up reading Seuss’s tales of environmental kindness and consciousness, stories such as The Lorax have touched and inspired many. In fact, just recently The Lorax was adapted as a film, and even here around the University of Oregon, a highly environmentally conscious community, there is a co-op named The Lorax. My initial thought was along the lines of the following: what does this mean if the creator of these fantastical tales is a fraud? Continue reading →

Anthropomorphism in Environmental Films

Posted on by
Reply

Over the weekend I decided to watch the environmental documentary, African Cats. The film was released last year on Earth Day, what better timing for a new documentary film devoted to wildlife. African Cats captivates the audience as you follow a year in the life of a group of lions and cheetahs through Kenya. The films emphasis was on female cats that are the heroes. The audience is first introduced to Layla, an aging lioness struggling to keep up with her pride for the survival of her daughter, Mara. Then introduced to Sita, a single mother cheetah of three who lacks a pride for protection and food.

Samuel L. Jackson over dramatic narration emphasizes the anthropomorphism throughout the film. African Cats tumbles into anthropomorphic cuteness and applies human motivations to animal behavior. Throughout the film the audience can’t help but have sympathy through the suspense as the feline moms struggle for survival against hyenas, crocodiles, male lions, and cheetahs. The film anthropomorphizing of the cat with human emotions and motivations make the story emotional and are effectively done. The audience gets to know these wild cats enough to invest their sympathy through dangers and losses. The losses are balanced by triumphs and comic relief to teach children about life and death, without traumatizing them. Continue reading →

Differences in Culture: My Depiction

Posted on by
2

Helen Viramontes

Helen Viramontes presents several interesting aspects of literary creativity that I would like to discuss. Her book gave me insight, honestly, into a new cultural perspective. Now, I understand her book is fiction, but all the same, it provides a different cultural perspective.
I grew up with a Mother, Father, and one Sister. More or less, this is a traditional family in the United States. My Father works in the production sector, and my mother works in business and both have worked hard to provide incomes that support my sister and myself. We have not lived in either the wealthy class, nor the under the poverty line, but rather right in the middle, comfortably enjoying the life that has been bestowed upon us.

Continue reading →

Organic Pesticides

Posted on by
Reply

After taking about the controversy initiated by Rachel Carson over the exploitation of DDT and other synthetic insecticides, I became curious about current pesticide use in farming. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) released a document showing both the US and world market for all pesticide use for 2006 and 2007. The cumulative amount of money spent world wide for both years was $75,257,000,000 with the US contributing 33%. Agriculture is the main use for pesticides and total pounds of pesticide use for agriculture decreased approximately 7% from 2000 to 2007. Having said that, 877 million pounds of pesticides are still being used in agricultural practices.

It is important to discern between different types of pesticides as they have varying levels of toxicity. Organophosphates are particularly dangerous as they act as a neurotoxin and effect brain function. These types of pesticides are also on the decline, however, 33 million pounds are still being used annually and levels of organophosphates are still detected in food and the bodies of most humans.

Continue reading →

Environment and politics

Posted on by
8

As the presidential election approaches and I read a little about both Obama and Romney – trying to stay neutral while gathering information – I wondered how important environmental issues are in this election. So I went back on both Obama’s and Romney’s websites and looked for what they had to say about the environment. I was very surprised when I realized that environment protection takes so little space on their websites. Of course, they discuss energy, but they are both mostly interested in how to make the United States independent when it comes to energy, how to cut the need of other countries for oil, how new energy technologies will create jobs and boost the economy. For such a large country, I thought protecting the environment, protecting nature, would be a bigger issue.

Continue reading →

Darwin’s Population Limits

Posted on by
3

One of the key arguments that Darwin makes in his On the Origin of Species concerns the Struggle for Existence. Individuals are constantly locked in competition, whether with other members of the same species, different species that may occupy the same or similar ecological niche, or environmental factors. Those organisms that survive then reproduce and pass their traits onto the next generation. Those that do not win out die, and if this concept is applied to entire species, it may result in extinction due to a failure to adapt to changing conditions.

The most important aspect of the struggle involves the environmental limits that all organisms must face. These restrictions, which encompasses resources such as food, predator and parasite interactions, and climate, drive natural selection. Without these forces at work, Darwin’s theory would not stand. Since abundance reduces conflict while scarcity leads to competition, nature provides the pressure that fuels the engine of evolution.

Continue reading →

The War to Exist

Posted on by
2

Out of many of the metaphors that Charles Darwin uses, one that sticks out greatly is that nature is a war. This metaphor can be seen in very many places–even those where he relates nature to something completely different like a web or a tree. No matter what it is, evolution in general comes down to the survival of the fittest. While all the metaphors are valid, the war is a reality that we all have to live with–one of the reasons we can never truly be at peace…because

Continue reading →

Darwin

Posted on by
2

Upon reading the introduction of the Origin of Species my perception of this type of literature has completely changed. I was expecting dry scientific language, and was pleasantly surprised because this is such an incredibly beautiful subject that deserves to be presented as such.I find it fascinating that Charles Darwin was able to present his ideas in such a clear and beautiful manner; I have read countless textbooks that do not treat the material in this way, and it comes across as very boring and difficult to process. Treating a topic as complex and grand as Natural Selection with literary artisism, allows the ideologies to become tangible. Explaining genetics in terms of numbers, chemical equations, or large words is not as impactful as equating it to something that resonates with the spirit of humanity. Darwin balances his scientific ideas with perfectly beautiful metaphors that truly capture the essence of his ideas. This reflects the idea that nature is the driving and supporting force for not only art, but science as well and that the two can and must coexist. Darwin’s masterful use of language shines a beautiful light on science and allows someone like me (who is not scientifically inclined but still enjoys and appreciates the field immensely) to understand these concepts. The Origin of Species did not read like 1850’s scientific research, but instead it was poetic and more beautiful that I had ever imagined it could be. It is also outstanding that all of this research was done without the use of genetic testing; leaving all observing and data collecting to the eye. The fact that Darwin was able to construct such an incredible theory through observation is incredible, and proves that the natural world has much to teach us if only we open our eyes. This is something that is often overlooked in today’s society, even the observation of people can prove informational. I do, however, wonder what man might have been able to figure out on his own without technology and modern day science? Is observation enough to understand the world that we live in? One problem many people had and continue to have with Darwin is that he was uncovering things many thought to be better left unknown; while this is a completely valid point that still rings true today, it is also engrained in mans nature to be curious and question the universe.

Carson’s Imagery

Posted on by
3

There are two landscapes depicted in the opening chapter of Rachel Carson’s, Silent Spring: “A Fable for Tomorrow.”(Carson 1) the idealized, but typical “town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings” and the diseased version of that same town after an “evil spell had settled on the community” (Carson 2). Carson uses idyllic, fairytale type imagery to get the reader invested in the town’s welfare, setting the scene as one of peaceful tranquility. Through the use of a mysterious antagonist she encourages curiosity in origin of the negative outcome of that same town, while imposing a feeling of adversity. When we discover, in the second to last paragraph of this chapter, that this is only a possible future, we are meant to feel a need to prevent the described dystopia from occurring. Continue reading →

Charles Darwin in the History of Video Games

Posted on by
5

Charles Darwin has become a very influential literary and scientific figure with his environmental text On the Origin of Species. I have a great love for playing video games as well as learning more about how video games have changed since I was a child. From my observations, I have found that Darwin’s theory of the evolution of species also applies to the evolution of video games. The process of natural selection and the struggle for existence from Darwin can be applied to the evolution of video games.

Today, there is a huge “Console War” between three major video game companies: Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. These companies have been battling each other for the past decade in their efforts of staying alive and profiting in the home video game market. They have developed new games in order for their games’ elements to be passed on to the next generation of games. This is compared to Darwin’s theory of the struggle for existence where species must survive in order to pass on their traits to the next generation. These game companies are competing for their dominance of the home console market and their ability to develop new consoles and games for consumers to play. They are constantly battling in order to survive and pass on traits of their games to the next generation of gaming. Game companies’ success in the market allows for Darwin’s theory of natural selection to take effect.

Continue reading →