Writing essay -01
total word count: 300
Electronics and digital media are a big part of our society, economy, and lifestyles in the Anthropocene. They are a cause and indicator of the Anthropocene. For most of us, they play a huge role mediating reality to us—what they mediate is our experience of reality. How we experience technology, screens, and so on is, in part, our experience of the Anthropocene. Perhaps oxymoronically, this advanced labor is a day of rest.
To help make yourself aware of the technology around you, go a full day, 24+ hours, from waking in the morning to sleeping at night without using any digital media or devices: no TV, no computer, no phone, no radio, no social media, no internet, etc. No clever workarounds either, or exceptions for academic work—follow the spirit of disconnecting from technology for the purpose of a day of rest. This may be quite inconvenient and take some planning ahead. If you use your phone as an alarm clock, find a different means. If you need to make a call, use a landline. You can do it!
Write 1-2 pages describing this experience. How did it feel? Did the experience offer you any insights about life in the Anthropocene or the goal of seeking a more sustainable society?
Solution Preview
Impact of Electronic Media on People
I never knew how I relied on electronic media until the time I went for a whole day without using my cell phone, watching the television, or browsing on the internet. Before undertaking the experience, I always believed that I could be comfortable without electronic media. The experience taught me that I needed the internet and my smartphone to have a fulfilling life. This is because I was extremely bored on that day as I had no one to talk the whole day.
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