Be careful What you read

Hey all,
This weather is great and I wish it could stay that way in Madison. After reading our prompt, I thought about it while on my jog. Can a work of fiction be as influential as a work of non-fiction? While running, I came up with the conclusion that yes it can be and that in some cases a work of fiction can be even more influential than non-fiction. Whether it is Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncles Toms Cabin or F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby it appears as though a great work of fiction immediately precedes a great man-made calamity. While many other causes can be attributed to these events, I believe it is the rhetorical power and freedom that fiction provides allows an author to discuss a wrong or problem in society.
An authors ideas and values are imbued in the text that they put forth. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncles Toms Cabin is a perfect example of this. While the story is fiction, the plotline provides a rebuke of the southern practices of slavery. This fictional story of black slave who serves his white masters became one of the most published works during the mid 19th century. The work was very popular in the abolitionist north and helped stir anti-slavery sentiment their. A few years after publication, a little skirmish between the abolitionist North and pro-slavery South broke out. After four years and 600,000 lives, the issue was resolved and slavery in America was abolished.
While some works have a direct impact on historical events, others can be viewed as startlingly accurate predicators of events. F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a good example of this. Fitzgerald’s story about life on Long Island during the roaring 20’s describes the social norms of the time period. Nick Carraway, the main character of the novel, is symbolic of the greed, extravagance and aimlessness of the time period. The decade after the Great War is accurately depicted in F Scott Fitzgerald’s work. A few years after the text was written, the greatest finical calamity in American History struck. In October 1929 the stock market crashed prompting what is now called the Great Depression. Historians have concluded the exuberance, similar to Nick Harraway’s parties, fueled by easy money lead to a stock market bubble that burst and started the Great Depression.
While the events in fictional novels can foreshadow future events, they can also describe the mood and fears that can arise after these horrific events have occurred. George Orwell’s work 1984 fits into this category. Orwell’s novel takes place forty years in the future in which the world is separated geographically into three areas. The main character Winston lives in one of these areas where the government has complete control of everyone’s thoughts and actions. The omnipresent though police arrest, torture and kill anybody who does not follow exactly what Big Brother says. Despite being one of my favorite works, the story highlights the fears over fascism and communism that plagued the world immediately after it was written. 1984 was written a few years after Hitler’s reign in Germany and during Stalin’s leadership in the Soviet Union. Remarkably, fifty years after the death of these tyrants, 1984 is still relevant today. The term “Big Brother” is often used by politicians, media and political activists to protest laws that they feel infringe upon their rights as an American Citizen. This argument has been used for everything from the Patriot Act to the Stimulus Bill. Overall, the text has made people weary of the federal government. They believe that while these laws may have good intentions, they believe the government can use them to commit nefarious crimes. At this point I would like to discuss how the argument, while often overused, can be used legitimately when discussing things like the Patriot act, rendition and Abu Ghraib, however it would deviate from my thesis and purpose of writing this essay.
The three examples, I provided are only a few examples of the impact fiction can have on society. Thousands of works could have been used, many which probably would have been better examples, and in the coming years many more will be produced. Fiction allows writers to connect with their readers and explore subjects on an emotional level that is unparalled by any mode of communication known to man. It is for that reason; fiction can be an invaluable rhetorical tool

Ahhh, The Power of Falsity

So last night, on my way home from the library, I was held up at gunpoint by a man in a sweatshirt. He demanded that I hand over my computer, wallet, and any other personal belongings I have. Of course, I leapt into action and kicked the gun out of his hand and in the same motion, knocked him on conscious. Just kidding, I didn't hit him. In fact, I was never robbed at gunpoint last. After all, I am typing this blog on MY computer. 

So this little anecdote I just shared is a blatant, and certainly exaggerated form of fiction. Is it completely useless. Well since I wrote it, it probably is. I agree, its a piece of crap. But how useless is it really. It was only last semester that there were a string of robberies, be they at gunpoint or with any other weapon. So what is something to take away from my realistic yet false encounter? Well for one, don't walk home alone from the library late at night, be careful if you have to walk home alone...etc yada yada yada. 

See, my stupid tales can teach some knowledge. But lets look at a more accomplished author to get a really good perspective of how fiction can be effective. One of my favorite books (really) is Upton Sinclair's novel, The Jungle. It is a tale of an immigrant from Lithuania, Jurgis Rudkus, who arrives in Chicago and tries to chase the "American Dream". Upon his arrival to America in Packingtown, Rudkus realizes that the American Dream is not an easy concept to acquire and it is going to take a lot of work to make it anywhere. Right there, Sinclair poses the very real theme of how hard it is for an immigrant to make it America. It was hard back when Sinclair wrote this novel and it is still hard, just ask anyone south of the border. Furthermore, Rudkus continues to run into corruption as he progresses in America. Laws are no longer enforced, politicians and salesman are making illegal deals, and everyone else in Packingtown is trying to get a leg up on the other immigrants. If you have never read this novel, you can imagine what I just described as really early in Scarface when Al Pacino is in that refugee camp playing basketball. And if you haven't read The Jungle or seen Scarface, well then you and I are on two different wavelengths.

The best example that the Jungle has to offer though is its ability to force the Government (in real life) to pass the Pure Food & Drug Act of 1906. This happened because in the novel, Sinclair described the poor quality of meat that was being given to immigrants. The meat was considered to be filled with diseases and illnesses and the government reacted swiftly to try and quell any rumors that would circulate once the book was published. This right here is a clear example of how fiction can really have an impact in the real world.

So what do I hope you have learned from my quasi-fictional rant? Well since only half of this was fictional, maybe you should have learned a lot of life lessons from half of this blog. Well actually, I guess we can learn that truth can be told in Fiction and Non-fiction. Imagine that, a world where Fiction and Non-fiction come together in harmony. How romantic. 

But seriously, Fiction is always a great read for pleasure but usually when a writer produces fiction, they still have some message that they are trying to get across. Some are subtle, some are blatant, and some are downright stupid. So what was the message I was trying to get across with my original story? Well obviously it is that you should look out for people when they are leaving the library. Also, bring a weapon, people tend to be scared of them...Just kidding.