The Curse of Surveillance Surveillance, the act of monitoring and observing individuals or groups, has become an integral part of modern society. The advancement of technology has made it increasingly easier for surveillance to occur, ranging from security cameras in public spaces to the tracking of online activities. While surveillance is often framed as a necessary tool for maintaining law and order, it is not without its drawbacks. One of the main disadvantages of surveillance is the erosion of privacy. The constant monitoring of individuals' daily activities can lead to a feeling of intrusion and a loss of personal autonomy. In a society that values privacy as a fundamental human right, the ever-present surveillance can be seen as a curse that restricts individual freedom and stifles self-expression.
In a society that values privacy as a fundamental human right, the ever-present surveillance can be seen as a curse that restricts individual freedom and stifles self-expression. Furthermore, surveillance can also have a chilling effect on behavior. The awareness of being watched can cause individuals to modify their actions and conform to societal norms.
Review of the Day: Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
Amulet (Book One: The Stonekeeper>
By Kazu Kibuishi
Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic
$21.99
ISBN: 978-0-439-84680-6
Ages 10 and up
On shelves now Meh. Every story, whether it’s being told orally, as a book, as a graphic novel, or in a kind of performance is allowed to reuse old tropes. Particularly when the story being told is appropriate for kids, there’s a talent in figuring out how to use familiar images and objects in new and exciting ways. It’s what distinguishes the good writing from the knock-offs. The storyline that involves a hero who finds a powerful object of some sort that could be good or could be bad is one pretty classic example. Everything from The Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter brings it up, and so when I saw that Amulet (Book One: Stonekeeper), a new graphic novel series by Kazu Kibuishi also worked the idea in, that was pretty cool. Sadly the book ultimately disappointed me in terms of its storytelling and original content. It’s not a bad graphic novel by any means, but if you’re looking for a title about kids on a quest, there are certainly others I would recommend instead. Emily and Navin’s life has taken a turn for the better, or worse, depending on whom you talk to. Emily, for example, is not too thrilled that their mom has moved them into a new old house in some town called Norlen. Their mom, however, is determined to make the best of it. Ever since their father died in a car crash the kids have found money exceedingly tight and it’s time for a fresh start. That fresh start, however, is complicated when Emily finds a mysterious hidden amulet in her great-grandpa’s library and a big octopus-looking thing in the basement kidnaps her mom. Wait . . . what? It seems that things in this house are not what they seem, and before they know it Emily and Navin discover that they have a quest on their hands. Somebody wants their amulet. Someone else wants them to harness its power for good. Now with the help of a troop of small robots, these kids are ready to do whatever it takes to bring their family together once again.
A feeling of familiarity is usually noticed more by adult reviewers than by kid readers, but there’s no avoiding the sense of déjà vu in some scenes within this book. For example, Spiderwick fans will recognize the idea of kids moving into a creepy old mansion with their mother (a mansion that used to belong to an old male relative with odd otherworldly interests). Which is not to say that there aren’t new ideas as well. I don’t remember ever having seen a disgusting octopus-like creature that holds living prey in its belly in a book before. And a robot rabbit. . . it sounds familiar but not so much that I can identify the source. The plot itself is a small series of adventures, one by one, like different levels. The video game elements of such a tale do come naturally out of the storytelling, but they’re such static, predictable moments that it’s hard not to feel like the book is just an excuse for an Xbox game or upcoming action film. I dunno, maybe I’m being too harsh on it. There are some pretty amusing moments, after all. For example, when Navin gets to fly a plane the view of the steering wheel is quite clearly Nintendo-inspired. That’s probably going to be a joke kids get more often than adults (which I appreciate). I liked the repeated images of hand clasping and then consciously letting go. The art is fine, though I think I liked the book a lot more when I read it in full-color (as hand-painted by Kibuishi’s wife Amy). Generally though this isn’t the strongest comic you’ll find on the market for kids today. Serviceable, but not extraordinary.
- In case you missed it, Will Smith’s kids are starring in the movie.
- And the author had some nice interviews over at Finding Wonderland and lectitans back in June of 2007.
About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
This can lead to a suppression of dissent and a restriction on individual creativity. In a world where uniqueness and independent thought are praised, the curse of surveillance can impede progress and personal growth. Another consequence of surveillance is the potential for abuse of power. The accumulation of vast amounts of personal data through surveillance can be tempting for those in positions of authority. The misuse of this information can lead to discrimination, profiling, and even harassment. In a society where power imbalances already exist, the curse of surveillance exacerbates these disparities and creates an environment of inequality and injustice. Additionally, the curse of surveillance also raises concerns about data security and personal safety. With the prevalence of cybercrime and hacking, the collection and storage of personal information can be vulnerable to malicious actors. The leak or misuse of such data can have devastating consequences for individuals, ranging from identity theft to blackmail. In conclusion, while surveillance is seen as a necessary evil in the modern world, it is not without its curses. The erosion of privacy, the chilling effect on behavior, the potential for abuse of power, and the risks to data security are all significant drawbacks to the pervasive surveillance we experience today. Striking a balance between security and privacy is essential to mitigate the curse of surveillance and uphold the values of individual freedom, autonomy, and privacy in our society..
Reviews for "magic tricks that will blow your mind"
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, string given in /home/default/EN-magic-CATALOG2/data/templates/templ04.txt on line 198