Together, But Not Really

Together, But Not Really

There is no time for writing letters and making phone calls when people are living in the fast lane.  So it comes as no surprise that: “31% of U.S. adults prefer to be reached by text message” (Mashable Tech.com, by Zoe Fox).  Some people even prefer to text instead of talk to the person they are sitting next to.  People want text messages so that they can avoid getting stuck in a conversation they don’t want to be in.  It could be because they don’t have the time to chat or because they have other things going on.  In the picture, all of those teens are together, but they aren’t.  Cell phones, computers, ipads, Kindles, social networking sites, Skype, etc. have made conversations easier, yet harder.  Today teenagers don’t call each other; they send texts.  Relationships have become more superficial.  Most teenagers’ just text to each other about what is happening ‘in the now.’  Since people talk this way, they not only lack depth in conversations, but they also don’t get to know the other person.  People also have facebook and twitter accounts with hundreds of friends and followers, when in reality, they only have a couple of close friends who they know well.  Technology may have helped people connect with one another but it hasn't helped them know one another better. 

Conversations are becoming more about the technology than about being interested in the other person.  Social networking is "all about me".  People want to share what they are doing at the moment and they like seeing what other people are doing, but this is a poor substitute to having a conversation.

 If we didn’t have technology like we have today, our lives would be completely different.  The technology that we have today gives us the opportunity to talk to people in multiple ways.  However, if we didn’t have technology, people would have more conversations face to face, which could help real relationships’ last longer.

http://mashable.com/2011/09/19/31-of-u-s-adults-prefer-to-be-reached-by-text-message-study/

Don't Look Behind The Door!

Don’t Look Behind The Door!

In this scene, Walter Neff is waiting to see Phyllis Dietrichson in his apartment.  However, unexpectedly, Barton Keyes knocks on the door before her.  Neff answers the door and Keyes knows more about the murder case.  When Mrs. Dietrichson walks up to the door, she hears that two men are in the room and decides to listen to their conversation through the closed door.  Neff opens the door and they both walk out of the apartment.  Mrs. Dietrichson hides behind the open door.  She lets Neff know that she is there by tugging on the handle, just enough to let Neff know she is there without tipping off Keyes. 

The setting is shadowy and suspenseful, and Mrs Dietrichson is in the shadows.  It is a very tight space.  The only protection Mrs. Dietrichson has is the door and Neff.  She can’t move or make a noise.  All of the surfaces like the door, the walls, and the floor are hard.  There is no furniture in this scene, nothing soft and or comfortable.  She is in between a door and a hard place.  She’s got nowhere to go.  All she can do is quietly stand behind the door and pray that Keyes walks away.  There is light coming out of the room.  That is the place she needs to get to in order to be safe.

http://www.kellimarshall.net/cinemahistory/discussion-questions/double-indemnity-film-noir/