Narrative 2

A)     In Cynthia Selfe’s text titled “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution” she has three narratives. Our group read and discussed her second Narrative: “Land of Equal Opportunity” and “Land of Difference” on pages 301-305. In this narrative Selfe references the 2^nd cultural story in connection with computers and change. She explains that computers create an electronic landscape in which all have equal stakes, or what we own, equal opportunity, and equal access. Selfe suggests that according to Americans, the internet is unexplored space and is available for use to anyone who values advancement, individuality, and competition. Along with the internet, Selfe also talks about advertising and how they play upon the “land of the equal opportunity” narrative to capture the American’s fascination with traditional values. Cultural memory is potent in order to capture the golden days to sell something to Americans. Selfe proposes that as technologies progress the characteristics are becoming what Americans know how to accomplish when circumstances are right and that technology provides a sense of security. In America our cultural experiences create a land of opportunity only to those who chose to believe in it. If ads and images leave out race and gender then citizens of all kinds have access to technology and images we wouldn’t need such narrative images and ads.

B)       The quote I have chosen is relating to advertisements, “They are laden with cultural information, shot through with the values, ideological positions, and social understandings that comprise our shared experience.” (Pg. 294) This topic has been brought up in multiple of our readings. It sticks out to me because of the psychological aspect that advertisement companies go through to capture our attention and make us want to go out and buy whatever if being sold or encouraged.