Opening Task
Technology: We think there will be any regulations that might say what things can be done with technology because of the overexploitation that humans cause.
Society: It will be more superficial because of the innovation of social media.
Humans Interactions: Will be all virtual like now with COVID but with more efficient ways to do it.
Problems: The overuse of technology, new diseases as COVID because of human greed.
Life is different: It will be super different as we said before all will be virtual and the people won't play around or go for a ride at the park, or other open spaces. Everything will be at their houses.
It will be super difficult because there is always new social problems, and humans mostly likely will carry on existent ones like discrimination and inflation, these should be problems in the future. Climate change will be a complex subject also.
Video notes
In 2050 the humans will change because of technology and they will become “cyborgs” according to different scientists.
People are becoming dumber because of social media, as it’s damaging the human brain.
Scientists say humans will keep evolving, creating a new kind of human. It might be that humans divide in two types, the ones that evolve with technology and the ones who don't. Knowing that humans can now change the code of living, they don't follow the Darwin theory .
Questions
What happens in the story?
R/ A man named Leonard Mead lives in the year 2053. He likes to go on night walks even though no one else does that anymore. He’s used to it and has never encountered someone else. The single police car left finds him wandering on the streets and starts to interrogate him. The police affirms he is a strange man and takes him to a Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies.
Who is the main character? What do we know about him?
R/ Leonard Mead, he is a writer in a world that no longer values the written word. He is also single, enjoys going on walks, which is considered an unusual activity and doesn’t own a television like everyone else does.
Why does he go on a walk? What does it suggest about him?
R/ He claims he likes to go on walks because he gets to see the world, breath fresh air and just “walk”. In our opinion it suggests he is a man who doesn't belong in his time, his unusual actions are considered “suspicious” yet before, they were totally normal. We consider him as an independent person, who does as he pleases no matter if he is considered weird, but instead his actions make him unique.
Why is he arrested and sent to the Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies? What is meant by ‘regressive tendencies’?
R/ In a society where individuality is not allowed and everyone must act as a whole, the police find Leonard unusual. While everyone else enjoys the tv inside their homes Leonard is wandering on the streets, which is considered out of line.
The term “Regressive tendencies” points out the fact that before, a man walking at night in the streets was completely normal, yet in this new society is abnormal. The officer sees this as a threat coming from Leonard that must be examined.
What is the atmosphere like at the start of the story? Use evidence from the text to back up your answers.
R/ We believe it is a dark and gloomy atmosphere, also alone and quiet. “To enter out into that silence that was the city at eight o'clock of a misty evening in November to put your feet upon that buckling concrete walk, to step over grassy seams and make your way, hands in pockets, through the silences”
Describe the setting that is introduced to us in the first paragraph.
R/ A misty November evening, 8 oclock at night, and a city silenced. Streets with barely any sidewalks and a lot of roads.
What do you think the purpose of the text is?
R/ For the reader to realize how threatening technology is compared to individuality.
Describe the society in which Leonard Mead lives. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
A totalitarian society where individuality is not allowed and people’s actions can’t be abnormal. This city was full of people who only watched tv. "Hello, in there," he whispered to every house on every side as he moved. "What's up tonight on Channel 4, Channel 7, Channel 9? Where are the cowboys rushing, and do I see the United States Cavalry over the next hill to the rescue?"
Explain the possible reasons that Leonard Mead does not fit into this society.
R/ He doesn’t really care about that society, and modern technology.
Why does he keep all of his lights on?
R/ So it’s warm and inviting when he gets back home from his walks.
Bradbury uses repetition of words and images to establish the tone or mood of the story. What is the tone? What specific words or images does Bradbury repeat to help establish the tone of the story? Identify at least three words or images.
R/ Bradbury describes things as gray and misty. He constantly repeats the words gray, phantoms and shadows. The tone in the story is lonely, and dark.
Write down the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution of the story. Use one quotation for each point to back up your answers.
R/ Exposition: The character and setting is portrayed, a man called Leonard Mead, alone in the streets. “The city at eight o'clock of a misty evening in November, to put your feet upon that buckling concrete walk, to step over grassy seams and make your way, hands in pockets, through the silences, that was what Mr. Leonard Mead most dearly loved to do.”
Rising Action: Leonard takes a walk at night and notices that he is the only one on the streets, as he observes other people in their houses watching television. A police car stops him and starts asking questions. "Stand still. Stay where you are! Don't move!"
"Your name?" said the police car in a metallic whisper. He couldn't see the men in it for the bright light in his eyes. "Leonard Mead," he said. "Speak up!" "Leonard Mead!" "Business or profession?" "I guess you'd call me a writer." ….
Climax: The police tells him to get in the car and tells him he’s going to a psychiatric center. “The back door of the police car sprang wide. Get in." , "To the Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies."
Resolution: He’s in the car on his way to the center. “The car moved down the empty river-bed streets and off away, leaving the empty streets with the empty side-walks, and no sound and no motion all the rest of the chill November night.”
Essay
Society changes every single day. As little or crazy as it seems, every action, every decision, every choice you make today, will not only impact your future but everyone's elses as well. If today you decide to throw a plastic bottle on a river, in the near future your bottle will join the thousands of others laying around because someone else thought the same as you “It is only one bottle, how much damage can it cause!”.
Thinking like this is essentially what brought us here today. Especifically that word, “only”. We believe the biggest advances, and the biggest retreats of all time, have had something to do with that word. Picture this, World War II started because Germany thought the settlement from World War I was unfair since it “only” had duties and requirements that had to be achieved. On the other hand, most technological advances started from conviction because society “only” had so little and wanted so much more.
As you can see, to talk about the future we must rewind to the past, because what we are today, and could possibly be tomorrow, is a compilation of our past. Yet the future for us humans is so appealing, phrases like “tomorrow is another day” or “tomorrow will be a fresh start” are always said, it’s always about tomorrow.
What is funny is that although tomorrow seems so close, it is never certain. So we must treasure today, we believe Leonard Mead did so, because in a society full of tomorrows, he chose to admire his present and the little things that were no longer valuable for the rest. A simple walk, just disconnecting from the world and technology, it is about merely living and ejoying the present moment.
Activity by: Carlos Guerra and
María Camila Montes, Step 11
