Amber Dzikowicz

English 111
Paul Anderson
Movie Synthesis: Rough Draft
12/2/14
New Technology: How Should We View It?
We all have heard of Pac Man. We all know the name Google. We all recognize the titles
Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace. But the many controversial ideas about all of these
technologies are, more times than not, overlooked by the users. While Nicholas Carr argues the
many negative factors that have been caused by the internet and the technological advances it
has given us, the documentary Video Games: The Movie shows all of the ways that this
technology has produced many benefits. Showing both sides of this controversy Jay David Bolter
seems to agree with both Carr and The Movie. While all three essays seem to have different
standpoints, they still are all intertwined.
Carr argues that these new technologies are causing us to lose and unintentionally change
what we have been using many, many years. He tells us of Friedrich Nietzsche, a writer whose
eyesight had become bad which consequently mad writing exhausting and painful and brought
on painful headaches. Nietzsche had bought a typewriter and once he had mastered using it he
could once again write just like he had before. The only issue that was found? His writing style
had changed, it had become tenser. Carr argues that the writing styles we use change the output
that we receive. If writing and storytelling changes depending on the quality and the type of

Dzikowicz 2

writing material, and the new technologies were making it worse, than how can these
technological advances be good? While Carr believes these technologies are negative, Bolter
disagrees.
Bolter states Unlike print, electronic writing can be published without the intervention
of authorities (publishers and editors) who will decide on its commercial or intellectual value and
therefore enforce cultural norms and biases (CITATION BOLTER PAGE 660). He believes
that the authenticity that constant in the original piece is lost when given to higher authorities.
These higher authorities are choosing what they want and what they dont want, and the writers
have to adapt what is expected of them. He believes that this is an issue that is overcome by the
internet. The internet allows any individual to post, upload or create whatever they want and
whoever they would like it without having adapt what they have created to please others. It
prevents higher authorities from saying No. By allowing the general public to publish
whatever they believe fit wherever they can, we allow the entire piece that was produced to stay
authentic and exactly the way it was originally created. This is where Carr and Bolter have
different views, Carr believes that these changes are negative because we are not getting exactly
what we are thinking because the information and our imaginations do not travel through a
typewriter, or in this case the internet, the way we intend them to. There is an interference and
the end result is not exactly what was wanted. Bolter thinks this exact thing allows for a
completely different result. The writers get everything they wanted because there is not a single
person telling them they are wrong; so what they produced is exactly what they sought after.
Video Games: The Movie would agree with Bolter. This new type of storytelling is
creating something entirely new. The art of storytelling is described as an intricate process in
video games, and the most recent games allow the player to tell the story. While the main plot of

Dzikowicz 3

the game is prewritten, it is what happens between the plot that creates the artistic view of the
story. No game will ever be played the same way. One player may go for the gold to collect the
best armor that they possibly get, while a different player may try to level up as fast as they can
and become strong, and a third character may try to get through the games as quick as possible.
The Movie agrees with Bolter, this new form of storytelling gives the user the opportunity to
decide, in a way, for themselves. It is up to them and both sources believe that this is a new
opportunity for creation and imagination.
Not only does Carr see technological advances to be hurting the way we create new things, but
he also views these advances to be distractions. What the Net seems to be doing is chipping
away at my capacity for concentration and contemplation. My mind now expects to take in
information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly movie stream of particles (CITATION
CARR PAGE 371). In a nutshell he is explaining that massive amounts of information that is
accessible at the tips of our fingers is causing us to lose the mental capacity that we need to think
for ourselves. He believes that the internet has caused the majority of to lose the ability to
concentrate because our minds have become used to the distractions of new links, new
information, and the ability to quickly jump from webpage to webpage. While Carr believes that
the distraction is a bad thing, Video Games: The Movie believes that these distractions are a
good thing.
The Movie explains that these distractions are a good thing. If all we ever do is
concentrate as hard as we possibly can on every little thing we do without any breaks or time off,
we would all become very stressed out. The Movie says the video games are a great way to sit
back, relax, and let loose for a little bit. Whether it be one of the Final Fantasy Games or Tetris
or something as simple as Facebook they all provide a release and a way to get away from real

Dzikowicz 4

life. Mikey Neuman fully agrees with this. After suffering a stroke he used video games to help
himself heal, maybe not physically, but mentally. He believed that video games helped him let
go of some of the anger and loneliness he had started to feel after he had his stroke. Neuman
stated that video games helped him escape from his real life problems and game him time to
relax and feel better. (CITATION VIDEO GAME). Both sources, Video Games: The Movie and
Nicholas Carr believe that this type of technology is a distraction. The difference being whether
the distraction is bad or good.
After getting a sense of what Carr believes so far, it would be safe to assume that he also
believes that these technological advances are bad for social communication and social groups.
He has already stated it is bad for our thinking. One would be led to think that he would find
this also negative for the way we interact with each other. Video Games: The Movie and Bolter
would both disagree. Bolter argues a point made by Fred Rheingold The technology that makes
virtual communities possible has the potential to bring enormous leverage to ordinary citizens at
relatively little cost intellectual leverage, social leverage, commercial leverage, and most
important political leverage (CITATION BOLTER PAGE 636). He believes that the new and
upcoming technologies are helping us forge new groups form those who share common interest
but are separated in space (CITATION BOLTER PAGER 636). Video Games: The Movie
would completely agree. The Movie stated that video games are one of the most beneficial things
that have happened to human interaction. Individuals are able to find others who relate to
everything that individual enjoys, even if they live thousands of miles away. Not only do people
meet in online worlds and chat rooms but also at conventions, tournaments and community
groups. It is said that some of the most long lasting, and strongest relationships were created by
video games, some even leading to marriage. (CITATION VIDEO GAMES)

Dzikowicz 5

While technological advances such as video games have been largely controversial
everyone has their own views on it. Nicholas Carr believes that these technologies are changing
the way that we produce thoughts and ideas, distractions that are causing us to become less
intelligent, and we are led to believe that he would think that they are also bad for social
communication and community growth. While Video Games: The Movie agrees with Carr that
the technological advancements are distractions, they would say the distraction is a good thing.
The Movie also believes that the new way of storytelling is positive and is a great way for those
who are far apart to communicate and meet people with the same ideas and interests. Bolter
agrees with both sources. He believes, along with Video Games: The Movie, that the new
version of storytelling allows users not to be required to adapt to a higher power and that the
technology is creating better social interaction. While all sources have their standpoints, there is
still much controversy on whether or not video games along with other technological advances
are beneficial or not.

Dzikowicz 6

Works Cited