Rip Van Winkle Project Response

In the last decades, technology has transformed worldwide communication. At the click of a button, an individual from across the world can communicate with someone on the opposite side of the globe. Most importantly, technology allows people to become more globally aware and informed. In a project based on the story of “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving where excessive alcohol consumption and abuse causes a man to be isolated from his family and friends, “Birdie” attempts to challenge his need to constantly be informed by the news. His determination to cut himself off all of communication is admirable; however, in a society where technology plays a significant role in the lives of every person the project of “Birdie” seems unreasonable. Even if “Birdie” restricts himself from directly receiving information from the newspaper, radio and TV, he will still hear of major events by word of mouth. “Birdie” has asked his friends to help him in his project but the reality is that the world is too interconnected through the Internet and television to avoid the global news. An alternative and more reasonable solution to the news addiction of "Birdie"could have been to limit his exposure to the news to certain times or only through certain mediums because ultimately it is inevitable that "Birdie" be informed of any global crisis.