The Killer Glue: Circle Blog #3 (Response Choice One)

Here's a crazy fan theory: Mae Holland dies at the end of Book I in David Egger's The Circle.  Well, maybe not physically dies, but she definitely loses what made her unique from the start.  Originally, Mae Holland constantly struggles to acclimate to the cultural revolution of the Circle company.  In addition, Mae's lack of savvy technology skills and interest regarding online interactions leads to conflict with several Circlers during her first few months of employment.  Even though Mae wishes to blend in at the company, her character rebells against the reduction of privacy that is replaced by an all-knowing society.  As Mae repeatedly tries to accept the Circle's ideology, she eventually discards her fundamental requirement for privacy and eventually becomes just another part of the machine.  The reoccurring theme of Mae's unintentional rebellions against the Circle is what holds Book I together while at the same time tearing Mae apart.

The "real" version of Mae does not like to be exploited.  In fact, she becomes extremely irritated when Francis utilizes her online profiles to mock up a perfect romantic relationship with her in front of an entire company demonstration (Eggers 124).  Feeling violated and embarrassed, it becomes blatantly obvious early on that she values her own information above society's ability to know everything.  As the storyline progresses, however, cracks begin to appear in her armor.

As Mae slowly begins to blend into the Circle's culture, she continues to react negatively when the exploitation of privacy involves her personal life.  Often the antagonist of privacy, Francis' recording of Mae's sexual acs lead her to plead "I can't believe this.  Delete that. Now," (Eggers 205).  The simple knowledge of knowing that something so intimate can be accessed by anybody drives Mae to extreme anger.  This anger solidifies the concept that Mae's character, consciously or not, cannot naturally accept a state where privacy does not exist.

Finally, Mae's tendency to reject privacy loss keeps the plot moving forward throughout the later part of Book I.  As if in a fundamental "death throe," Mae commits her final act of defiance by stealing a kayak to gain a short-lived period of privacy on the water.  Most likely aware of the possible ramifications, the discovery of her criminal acts still tears Mae down to a vulnerable state of mind.  Near the end of Book I, Eamon Bailey capitalizes on Mae's unstable mental state to teach a lesson and require her to become "transparent," (Eggers 206).  In this moment, the real Mae dies, as she finally loses the last part of herself that was holding onto privacy.  The glue for Book I is dissolved, and it can be assumed that this fundament change in values will begin to wear Mae down mentally and physically until she resembles nothing of her former self.

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Image provided by Pat Guiney

An Intimate View of Privacy: Circle Blog #2

Have you ever thought what a world without privacy would look like?  Well, in the world of the Circle, intimacy has simply ceased to exist. All relationships and interactions are up for display, and societal rules apply in every situation. Even when people are not watching, intimacy still fails to prevail as all actions can retroactively be viewed by anyone. Furthermore, as intimacy begins to fade into the unrealistic, privacy begins to decline until it is deemed unnecessary by society.

A main pattern found in the novel is society's movement towards unlocking the ability to know everything that happens. While this tendency can increase security, it can also reduce privacy and intimacy. For example, most employees of the Circle see social media as a necessary and innovative way to connect individuals and initiate relationships. What the employees fail to recognize, however, is that privacy is destroyed when every action is broadcasted online. In other words, relationships can begin with social media and other outlets, but intimate relationships are also disrupted by the same technology.

When Francis shows his initial interest in Mae, he does so by broadcasting his desire to the entire Circle community. At a company event, he steps onstage as a guinea pig to show how technology can set up ideal relationships. As Francis chooses Mae as his focus, the rest of the company then spends time devising the best ways to achieve a relationship with her. Searching her online profiles and databases, Mae's interests, allergies, and tendencies allow Francis see plan his relationship with her. However, the new technology lacks the ability to let their relationship be intimate. Normal, intimate beginnings of a romance require knowledge to be passed people in person, without everyone in the world watching (Eggers 122).

Another example of how reduced privacy decreases intimacy is showcased when Mae visits her new doctor. With the new technology of wrist and internal trackers, Circle doctors can successfully monitor an individual's health at all times. In terms of health, this is a positive improvement as any variances in key body functions can be recognized quickly and the proper treatment can be administered. On the other hand, as the privacy of medical history is erased, the intimate relationship an individual has with their doctor is also eradicated. Many people do not want the entire world to have access to this information, as bias and judgment can result from this knowledge. This tradeoff shows how much the Circlers overlooked all ramifications when devising new technology (Eggers 154).

Cracks begin to show up when Mae experiences a major online adrenaline rush. As she readies for bed, Mae pulls out her tablet and realizes "she couldn't sleep. Now, thinking about how much better she could do, she logged on again... and pledged to do work until two in the morning" (Eggers 192). Mae's semi-addictive actions of commenting, liking statuses, and interacting with people on social media prove that when intimate relationships with real people deteriorate, these human needs demand to be filled with other forms of interaction. At this point it becomes apparent that the Circlers acts first without asking questions; as they decrease the want for privacy, intimacy decreases right along with it.

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Image provided by osseous

A Circular View of Penn State: Circle Blog #1

Let's face it, becoming the "newbie" in any situation is often overwhelming and confusing.  The plethora of little traditions and know-how of current members can make new individuals feel out of place.  In several ways, adjusting to life at Penn State is similar to Mae's first few weeks at the Circle. Most notably, the flood of new information, cultures, and traditions makes for a tedious transition into both communities.

New information is vital to the success of any community member, regardless of current experience.  For example, even though the longterm Circlers are comfortable with constant technology changes, they still benefit from evolutions in their company gadgets.  On the other hand, the landslide of information results in Mae feeling overwhelmed.  Although she handles the pressure well at the start, it becomes obvious that every additional task required becomes burdensome.  A "newbie" Penn State student may begin to feel the same way, specifically when it comes to getting involved. Freshman students drowning in countless emails and advertisements feel temped to skim over the involvement processes.

As Mae acclimates to her new environment at the Circle, she also becomes aware of a revolutionary culture.  Most employees at the company are the epitome of efficiency.  Sitting at a desk with several screens at once, the workers strive to achieve perfect evaluation scores from clients while handling other duties as well.  Several tricks of the trade, such as sending out follow up assessments if perfection was not achieved the first time, highlight the cultural trend for excellence (Eggers 52). At Penn State, new cultures meld together to generate a sense of pride for the University as well as bolster newcomers to join the ranks.  While perfection is not required, Penn Staters share a fundamental goal to achieve the highest standard or learning possible, even if this requires multiple attempts.

Finally, the unwritten traditions of a new environment can make or break a newbie.  Mae's first nighttime party showcases new social interactions and party games she knew nothing about. Furthermore, people always tended to pick up on Mae's inexperience.  For example, while laying down with other circlers while playing a relaxation game, an older circler said "Look at this one.  She looks so peaceful" (Eggers 32).  The fact that another community member cutely referred to Mae "this one" proves how easy it is to pick out someone who is new.  At Penn State, the same rules apply. Most freshman are extremely easy to pick out due to their obvious lack of know-how and confidence. Both communities also share traditional mantras that bring the community together such as Penn State's obvious "We Are," and the Circles more obscure "All that happens will be known" (Eggers 71).  Even the traditional obsession for Penn State football creates a feeling of unity.

Although starting off at the Circle or Penn State can be similarly challenging, differences in fundamental values also emerge.  The Circle focuses more on following the flow of command.  Mae's boss constantly checks in on her to make sure she is doing a satisfactory job (Eggers 54).  At Penn State, however, individuals operate with a greater degree of freedom.  If someone wants to shortchange their academics by going out every night, they are allowed to do so at their own expense.  While these differences are what makes Penn State a more individualized experience, the structure of the Circle does appeal to order.  The similarities and discrepancies between these two communities makes us question balance between individual freedom and control.  As someone who believes in personal liberties, I am glad Penn State is not the Circle.

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Image provided by Heath Brandon

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Explore by Day, or Explore by Night

Is exploring better when you're awake or asleep?

I am passionate about having passion for my passions.  We all know the drill.  Every single person on Earth has a set of unique interests that make them who they are.  Collaborating and sharing these so called "passions" can help enhance the human experience and teach us new things.  Sure, sure.  But after some time, it can start to feel like we are just "going through the motions" of communicating our loves and nothing comes from it.  How do I plan on avoiding this monotony?  The answer is simple: I need your feedback to tailor my ramblings to your passions as well as my own.

Right now, I am investigating two ideas to share and discuss at length.  One is a love for exploring the outdoors.  The other concept deals with exploring the inner workings of your mind while you sleep. Check out my ideas below and let me know which topic interests you more!

Topic Idea Number 1: Exploring by Day

As a young boy, the outdoors was a scary place. For example, I legitimately believed that grandaddy long leg spiders were going to be the death of me.  I would lay awake at night in a circa 1940's army tent and hide under my sleeping bag, visualizing the spiders descending upon me... perhaps even crawling into my mouth while I slept.

By some miracle, I survived those first nights and developed into a more seasoned outdoorsman.  Today, as an Eagle Scout, I believe that it is my duty and privilege to serve others and teach people about the natural world we live in.  If weekly outdoors advice and stories interests you, then this may be the digital adventure you've been waiting for!


Topic Idea Number 2: Exploring by Night:

I have an interactive question for everyone: Who likes to sleep? If you answered no to this question, jump up and down where you are 5 times. If you do like to sleep, do nothing! Wow! It appears like everyone loves to sleep.  While I may have rigged that question, it still holds quite true. Now, what if I told you that while you're sleeping, you could also control your dream and actively problem solve real-life issues?  Lucid dreaming provides an excellent avenue for people to make sleeping even more rejuvenating.  Who would be interested in a resource where people could learn the proper techniques and benefits of lucid dreaming?

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Photo provided by - bjornsphoto -