Choose two of the “other worlds” described in the unit. Compare and contrast the ways these other worlds impacted the real world for the characters
OTHER WORLDS:
“Nolan Bushnell”
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"
“All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace”.
The two "other worlds" I will compare and contrast are "Nolan Bushnell" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". These other worlds affected the real world for the characters in different ways.
In "Nolan Bushnell", the other world is the virtual reality game created by Bushnell. Bushnell develops a game where players can escape from their ordinary lives and engage in a thrilling and immersive experience. The impact on the real world is that it allows the characters to experience a sense of adventure and excitement that they may not otherwise have in their daily lives. The game provides an escape from reality and allows the characters to tap into their imagination and explore different scenarios. This impacts the real world for the characters by giving them a break from the monotony and responsibilities of their everyday existence.
On the other hand, in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", the other world is the imaginative world that Walter Mitty creates in his mind. Walter is a daydreamer who often escapes into his fantasies to cope with the mundane and unsatisfying aspects of his real life. The impact on the real world for Walter is that he develops a sense of confidence and fulfillment through his daydreams. These fantasies allow him to feel heroic, accomplished, and in control, which contrasts with his passive and unadventurous real life. However, the downside is that Walter's fantasies also serve as a distraction from addressing and improving his actual circumstances.
While both "Nolan Bushnell" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" involve other worlds that impact the real world for the characters, they differ in terms of escapism and its consequences. In "Nolan Bushnell," the virtual reality game offers an opportunity for temporary escapism without significant negative consequences. It provides an outlet for the characters to experience adventure and excitement, but they ultimately return to their real lives. On the other hand, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" showcases the potential drawbacks of escapism through Walter's excessive daydreaming. Rather than confronting and resolving his actual problems, Walter's fantasies become a hindrance to personal growth and change.
Overall, the impact of these other worlds on the real world for the characters in "Nolan Bushnell" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" highlights the importance of finding a balance between escapism and facing reality. While temporarily escaping into other worlds can provide relief and inspiration, it should not hinder personal development or act as an avoidance strategy.
To compare and contrast the impact of two "other worlds" described in the unit on the real world for the characters, we will look at "Nolan Bushnell" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty."
1. "Nolan Bushnell":
- Explanation: "Nolan Bushnell" is a story written by Ernest Cline, depicting a future where virtual reality gaming has become an immersive experience. The protagonist, Nolan, spends most of his time inside virtual worlds, disconnected from reality.
- Impact on the real world: In the story, the virtual reality gaming industry has a significant impact on the real world. It transforms society's obsession with technology and virtual experiences. Characters like Nolan escape their mundane lives to live in virtual worlds, finding excitement, adventure, and companionship. However, this virtual world also isolates them from human connections in the physical world. The impact is both positive, in terms of escapism and the ability to live alternate lives, and negative, in terms of disconnection from reality and physical relationships.
2. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty":
- Explanation: "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" is a short story written by James Thurber, where daydreams transport the eponymous character into heroic and imaginative scenarios, contrasting his ordinary, monotonous life.
- Impact on the real world: For Walter Mitty, these daydreams provide an escape from his unfulfilling real life. They impact the real world by giving him a sense of identity and purpose, allowing him to feel heroic, confident, and accomplished. However, the impact also reveals a certain level of dissatisfaction with reality. Walter's daydreams disrupt his ability to engage with the real world fully, preventing him from realizing his true potential.
In both "Nolan Bushnell" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," the "other worlds" have a significant impact on the characters' real lives. However, there are notable differences. While "Nolan Bushnell" explores a futuristic and technologically immersive virtual world, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" revolves around the power of imagination and daydreams. Both worlds allow the characters to escape the limitations of their mundane lives and find an alternative source of fulfillment. However, the impact differs in terms of the level of disconnection from reality. In "Nolan Bushnell," the virtual world isolates characters from the physical world, whereas in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," daydreams offer a temporary respite from reality without complete detachment.