One blog post in which I quoted from a primary source was blog post #4 in which I quoted from Gary Shteyngart’s Super Sad True Love Story. For this blog post I was discussing how it was disturbing that Lenny could access private information that should not be accessible to the public and used a quotation to give examples of information that Lenny was looking at such as cholesterol level and clothing preference. I stated: “I find it very disturbing that on page 38 Lenny can find out that Sally’s ‘LDL cholesterol was way beneath the norm’ and that ‘The Park sisters favored extra-small shirts in strict business patterns’ etc. These are not normal things that one should be able to find on the internet about another person.” I introduced the quotation by saying “Lenny can find out that…” and then inserted my quotations and created the sandwich by stating that these things that Lenny can find online should not be accessible to the public and how it is disturbing that the society runs in this fashion. Using a template on page 47, I could say: According to Lenny, Sally’s “LDL cholesterol was way beneath the norm” and that “The Park sisters favored extra- small shirts in strict business patterns” and in making this information accessible to Lenny, Shteyngart’s point is that the public has too much access to private information. 

One blog in which I quoted from a secondary source was blog post #6 where I quoted Jessica Hale’s article “Constructing Connectedness: Gender, Sexuality and Race in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.” I stated that “Hale continues this argument by explaining the ‘homosocial relationship’ and demonstrating how throughout the novel, the intimate relationship between two men is more desired than an intimate relationship between a man and a woman (marriage is a ‘second-best alternative to the intimate male homosocial relationship’) (Hale 13).” I think I introduced the first part, but the part in parentheses could be better worded. Instead of parentheses I could have said in a new sentence: Hale states that in this novel, marriage is a “second- best alternative to the intimate male homosocial relationship” and thus Hale’s point is that Shelley argues that women are thought to be beneath the men in the social hierarchy of this time period.

For Blog Post #5, I quoted scenes from Gary Shteyngart’s novel, Super Sad True Love Story, which is considered my “primary source” for my final paper. I made references to specific parts of the novel, such as the credit poles on pages 54-55, internet stalking on pages 37-39, and the Staten Island bar scene on pages 90-92. I used these quotations to extend my arguments about surveillance in our current society after introducing the relevance of the novel itself to the topic. I included brief explanations of each scene and how they related to the position I was arguing. Rephrasing these quotations from Super Sad True Love Story is difficult using the templates on pages 46-47 of They Say, I Say, as those appear to be primarily for gathering evidence and arguments from texts. According to Lenny, “the old Chinese woman had a decent 1400 [credit score], but others, the young Latina mothers, even a profligate teenaged Hasid puffing down the street, were showing blinking red scores below 900, and I was worried for them” (Shteyngart, pg. 54).

For Blog Post #6, I analyzed Jessica Hale’s article about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This is my considered “secondary source.” On a number of instances, Hale directly quotes from Frankenstein, such as discussing how pages 17 and 18 depict an abnormal family unit. This was introduced in a section discussing Hale’s quoting of Frankenstein, and was related to the topic at hand of analyzing the article itself. Another way of phrasing this quotation is as follows: In Hale’s view, “Schoene-Harwood identifies Alphonse and Henry as “men who feel secure enough in their masculinity to display feelings of domestic affection…who seem perfectly balanced in their manliness which incorporates rather than categorically excludes the feminine” (Schoene-Harwood 16)” (Hale, pg. 13).

One example where I quote from a primary source was in a discussion of communication from Super Sad True Love Story. I introduce the quote by providing context towards the text I am about to display, stating “On page 88, Vishnu introduces the term/acronym FAC meaning Forming a Community. He states”. After using the quote, I describe how this system of communication related to society and even provide a so what factor describing the use of similar phrases coined in modern society and how the progression of messaging is not that far off. However, I fail to fully explain the meaning of the quotation, but rather allow the quote to explain itself, as it does in a way, and continue to my further analysis. To fix this, I can use the template, “In other words, Shteyngart believes”, describing the quote by defining the system of FAC in other, more relatable terminology.

One example where I use a secondary source was in Blog Post 6 through integrating quotations from Hale’s article “Constructing Connectedness: Gender, Sexuality and Race in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein” to comment on key concept of pleasure which she argues exists prominently in “Frankenstein”. In the second paragraph, I integrated the quotation “the gaze is the object in which the subject can see himself seeing himself” by stating “Additionally, in promoting the concept of pleasure, Hale close reads the quote”, demonstrating her purpose of the quote in promoting the notion of pleasure. I then analyze her quotation and her interpretation of the quotation to further my argument towards the meaning of her claim, introducing the analysis with “Here…”. In order to perhaps alter the sandwich I created I can change “Here” to “Hale’s point is that…” and then follow up with my analysis.

One of the primary sources I have used is available on my post #4. I use a fragment from the book Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart that describes how the character Grillbitch was at rage with her boyfriend after she discovered he was cheating on her. The quotation was, “I went on this new Teens site called ‘D-Base’ where they can digitize you like covered in shit or getting fucked by four guys at once and I sent Gopher all these Images of myself getting fucked by four guys at once.” I was able to integrate this quotation by describing what was it that Grillbitch said and then described how ironic it was that according to the book in order to receive respect, you had to “get fucked by four guys.” I was able to introduce the quote by describing the author and the source, and indicate how it relates to my text. But if I were to change it, I would write:
The author Gary Shteyngart introduces a dystopian situation in his book Super Sad True Love Story by exaggerating the way in which a female, in this case Grillbitch, would react if her significant other were to be unfaithful to the relationship. Grillbitch says, “[insert quote here]” After reading these words, one might question her behavior because in these times, if you use your body like that, you would lose respect, not gain it.

One of the secondary sources I used is on my post #5. In that article about the downsides of technology in school, the author says, “what the U.S. education system needs above all isn’t more technology, but a deliberate allocation of high-quality adult supervision focused on those who need it most.” I integrated the quotation by introducing most arguments about technology, the author and the name of the article. I also explained what it meant and was able to relate it with the book Super Sad True Love Story. I would change the way in which I presented this quotation and write this:
The author Kantaro Tomaya is adamant that “[insert quote here]” after discovering that the technology is only a source of distraction to the students. He expresses, in other words, that technology’s primary function is to entertain, not help the students to focus.

In blog post #1 I quote a primary source, SSTLS. This quote relates to my text because it shows the authors portrayal of the stereotype that Koreans are racist and the quote directly quotes Eunice’s father saying a racist remark. In the post it says “Chung Won Park mentions that Eunice’s father thinks Eunice ‘is probably with black man,’ giving black people a negative connotation.” I have integrated my quotation well into my writing but I think I could have introduced it and explained it better. Another way I could introduce the quote is “Eunice’s father himself remarks that Eunice ‘is probably with black man,’ portraying the stereotype that all Koreans are racist.” This way I have a better introduction. I also have a better explanation because of the quotation sandwich format.

In blog post #6 I quote a Jessica Hales “Constructing Connectedness: Gender, Sexuality and Race in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” a secondary source. In my post I state “Hale argues that Robert Walton has a homosocial longing. She backs up this thought with a direct quote from the novel written by Walton, ‘I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me, whose eyes would reply to mine’. Hale analyzes this line and concludes that Walton uses the language of erotic desire to express a longing for a male companion, rather than the longing for a woman.” I have integrated my quotation well into my writing using the quotation sandwich. I have both introduced it well and explained what it meant. This quote relates to my text because it analyzes one of Hale’s arguments in her paper, Robert Walton’s homosocial longing in Frankenstein. Another way of stating this quote could have been “The essence of Hale’s argument is the homosocial longing of Robert Walton. She backs up this thought with a direct quote from the novel written by Walton, ‘I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me, whose eyes would reply to mine’. In other words, Hale believes that Walton uses the language of erotic desire to express a longing for a male companion, rather than the longing for a woman.”

http://www.jstor.org.proxy.library.emory.edu/stable/27511639?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=technology&searchText=and&searchText=frankenstein&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dtechnology%2Band%2Bfrankenstein%26amp%3Bacc%3Don%26amp%3Bwc%3Don%26amp%3Bfc%3Doff%26amp%3Bgroup%3Dnone&seq=5#page_scan_tab_contents

The article I found raises the question of whether we should engage in new technological pursuits or advances just because we have the means of doing so. It brings in a medical aspect with the current controversy over the implementation of cloning. Though the act has many ethical drawbacks, scientists feel as if it is their duty to explore any possible leads that may present themselves. The scenario of- if the death of one person provides life for two people then the act should be condoned- is a means of justification. The article incorporated the example of the story of Frankenstein to highlight the quest for knowledge at all costs and how this often turns out detrimental. Along with Frankenstein, other examples were given to further illustrate the motives of human character such as: Adam and Eve who ate the forbidden fruit, the biblical story of Lot’s wife who turned back after being instructed not to and was transformed into a pillar of salt, Pandora who opened the box, and a few others. In all of these cases, curiosity and the desire for greater knowledge led to their ultimate downfall.

The author of the article doesn’t seem to reference other works or writers, but only presents several facts and evidence from technology/modern science and incorporates stories such as Frankenstein to, in a way, raise a question to begin the discussion. This article could be very effectively used to discuss the overwhelming power and innovation in technology that can be seen in any of the stories I later choose to base my paper on. It really introduces a valid question of when is enough, enough, and stresses humanity’s time long pursuit of forbidden knowledge, as well as depicting the advancement of technology in a negative light that results in less than desirable outcomes.

The scholarly source that I have selected is about the origin of cyborgs and their characteristics in Italian science fiction.  It has integral information towards the identification of women and technology that plays into the objectification of women and the history behind it all.  Ross declares that technology has been given genders and erotic qualities that reflect secondary narcissism, and that this originated in many different Italian texts.  She uses Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to extend her argument that science fiction narratives tend to use Lombroso’s misogynistic ideas that portray women as machines and deny their bodies, while making the rational, creator beings male.  I plan on relating this article to support my views that technology has become seriously debilitating in human interaction and identity, especially in the portrayal of women as objects.  This can relate to Gary Shteyngart’s Super Sad True Love Story, in how Eunice is described in relation to a robot. The description of Eunice is dehumanizing, and makes her detachment from society seem like it is ideal.  She, along with the rest of their society, is absorbed into the encompassing world of the apparat.  The continuous flow of data and information is controlling and strips lives down to a monotone nature, because everything is accessible.  They don’t have to have actual conversations to get to know someone or find out their deepest, darkest secrets.  This provides a sense of technological detachment and creates isolation between individuals.  I would also like to bring in points from Ross’s article about objects, such as cars, being portrayed as female, which relates to the objectification of women.  As Ross points out, cyborgs and technology are given female traits and deemed as inferior is frequently found in science fiction texts.  I believe that this would be a very interesting topic to research more, and to relate to our current society.

http://www.jstor.org.proxy.library.emory.edu/stable/27669002?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=Shelley’s&searchText=%22Frankenstein%22&searchText=%22objectification%20of%20women%22&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DShelley%2527s%2B%2522Frankenstein%2522%2B%2522objectification%2Bof%2Bwomen%2522%26amp%3Bprq%3DShelley%2B%2522Frankenstein%2522%2Bcriticism%252C%2B%2522objectification%2Bof%2Bwomen%2522%26amp%3Bgroup%3Dnone%26amp%3Bacc%3Don%26amp%3Bwc%3Don%26amp%3Bfc%3Doff%26amp%3Bso%3Drel%26amp%3Bhp%3D25&seq=1#references_tab_contents