I absolutely love Cat’s Cradle so far but in comparing it to Postmodernism I am going to have some difficulty because I don’t quite comprehend Postmodernism’s ideas.
Some ideas from Postmodernism that I understood contained similar aspects in Cat’s Cradle. When talking about the religion, Bokononism, I can see how it is relative to a kind of Postmodernist religion. The first line it the Bokonon book stated, “All of the true things that I am to tell you are shameless lies.” Here we can see Bogonot’s opinion on religion. People are in search for something they can actually believe and seems real. The religion, overall, covers the horrific and terrifying truths presented in society, but are hidden to cover these truths with lies that satisfy individuals. They do not question the religion, just blindly follow it. In Postmodernism it simply states that a person believes what they desire to. It is to strive for what makes someone feel good without any negatives. One chooses bits and pieces of varieties of religions or beliefs and takes different approvals into consideration. People believe they understand things in his or her perspective, although, in reality they come to not understand it when they run into something they have never seen or heard of before. They have not looked beyond the normal; only have been kept inside his or her mindset. Furthermore, "Truth was the enemy of the people, because the truth was so terrible, so Bokonon made it his business to provide the people with better and better lies." This expresses the ideas I mentioned previously in the paragraph. The book promotes lies to engage the reader to believe such things to make his or her happiness content. This is bluntly related to Postmodernism in a way because in society when a group of individuals all agree in believing in something, it creates a chain reaction because it seems normal in that environment.
Okay..that was one of my ideas. I do not know if that made any sense but yeah. Have a good day =)
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Great Posting Brooke:)
ReplyDeleteThis is a way i never thought of it your statement on religion is sparking many ideas within my own head. Just to continue on your idea that does make alot of sense on how they "blindly" follow religion to achieve happiness with no negative effects. But i ask you does religion have no negative effects is there no sacrifices you must give up to be involved in a religion. Some where in Brave New World, the DHC says something like "soma is like alcohal and christianity without the negatives" is there not things you must leave behind when you become religious or affiliated with a specific religion. Your quotes were very powerful and straight forward, how you related the author's own style with his reaction to religion is something i didnt notice either! All in all great post i will most definately be putting some of these ideas to work in my next essay,blog, or whatever Mr. Dominguez assigns!