Friday, October 17, 2008
Focal Things and Practices in Relation to "A Straight Story"
Borgmann in his text pointed out that focal things and practices were vital in improving the modern day technology. The film, "A Straight Story," Alvin rode a tractor rather than driving a car. He is a family man, who appreciates all of the environment around him. In many scenes of the movie, the director would show Alvin admiring the scenery. Another important aspect would be camping out every night. Many people on road trips would stay in a hotel, but Alvin loved the scenery, loved the outdoors, so he would build his own campfire. Borgmann would definitely define these aspects as being focal things and focal practices because they involve engagement and emotional appeals. Alvin's brother would not have appreciated him coming to see him as much knowing it took him over 5 weeks to get to his house. Also, the risk taking of him not talking to his brother, but then taking this trip would be another good point in Borgmann's point of view.
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2 comments:
The points that you make are very true! The movie was a good lead into the discussion that we had in class about nature and its focal ability. Alvin can feel that presence that the nature gives off. The risk that Alvin is getting from being intertwinded with nature gives him a sense of accomplishment when he keeps moving forward from place to place, coming closer and closer to his brother. To me it seems that Alvin was going to see his brother to mend things between the two of them but to also experience one last adventure before it was to late.
The movie is great it shows how focal things and practices are able to help us better understand ourselves and our surroundings. What made me think was how Alvin was driving his tractor the whole way to his brothers house instead of a car. When in a car we are going about 60 to 70 mph and don't get a great understanding of what we are driving past because we cannot pay attention. In Alvins case though he was going slow and getting the full effect of the land and meeting new people on the way.
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