Two cartoons of real and virtual spaces

SPACES & EXCHANGES - 

Exchanges in  Real Spaces & Virtual Spaces

Two cartoons

Doc 1: Ace Computer, by Harvey Schwadron

1) Description:

This cartoon was drawn by the very talented cartoonist Harvey Schwadron.

What draws the attention at first sight is the impressive front window, in the middle of the cartoon.

This is the front window of a shop named "Ace Computers". This shop must sell computer and equipments of high technology as phones or tablet computer. Morever, we can notice three computer exhibited. 

On the right of the cartoon, there is a man walking, holding a briefcase and staring at the advertising poster of the shop. The message claims: "Welcome, eco-tourists! Why travel & add to pollution? Stay home & visit exotic travel web sites!"

Finally, at the top right of the picture, we can observe the sun, and some buildings. 

2) Meaning: 

There are many things to say about this draw, but it's obvious that the cartoonist expresses an opinion on a big topic in our current society: the rise of high technologies. 

First of all, the advertising intend to influence tourists, in order to sell the most computers as possible. The argument of the eco-tourism given by the shop is very excessive. Indeed, according to the shop's directors, people have to stop travelling because this is bad for the Earth. The message claims that eco-tourists are participating to pollution, instead there are actually fighting against climate change by travelling in natural environments and supporting wildlife: this is paradoxical. This is a way to influence, even to manipulate people in the hope of making more computer's sales. Here, there is the use of web sites as an example in order to attract shoppers, because web sites are used by a lot of people, as it allows a sharing between persons. 

Its seems very clear that Schwadron tries to show the bad side of news technologies and their impact on people. These high technologies are becoming more and more present in our society and this could be an issue as many economic activities could be drop off, for instance, tourism. 

This is so an ironic and critical cartoon.

3) Conclusion: link with notion:

The key issue is the following:  How far is the boundary between real and virtual spaces  becoming increasingly blurred nowadays?

I personally think that the bundary between real and virtual spaces is blurred because of two reasons.

On the one hand, nowadays, the majority of the human activies are or can be made through new technology. It's impossible to deny that without technolgy, our life would be more difficult. We all used to live with phones, computers, television... and we do tremendously things thanks to technology: we buy online, we work, we communicate/ talk to people, we express ourselves and give our opinion, we play video games and have fun, and we have access to important informations. This i why virtual spaces are increasing nowadays.

On the other hand, and that's what the cartoon shows, people can do in virtual spaces, the same as in real spaces. This point is clearly illustrated by tourism. Tourism, an activity which includes real spaces, can also be done through technologies, like web sites. It's true to say that there is a difference between travelling and visiting web sites. But it's undeniable to assure that many virtual activites are seting up in our lives. 

That's why the bundary between real and virtual spaces are becoming increasingly blurred nowadays.

Doc 2: Working from home, by Mark Dubovsky

1) Description:

This second cartoon drawn by Mark Dubovsky shows an interesting aspect of communication through virtual spaces, as the cartoon illustrates it, thanks to computers. 

Firstly, we can observe two computers, each on a desk. These computers are showing a man face. Additionally, there are two empty chairs, nobody's sitting. 

Underneath the cartoon, we can read a small dialogue between both men: "Hey Greg, you gonna be at work today? No, man. Workin' from home. You?"

2) Meaning:

This draw shows first that nowadays, people used to work from home, as teleworking is becoming more ordinary. Commnication is more than ever established through virtual spaces as emails boxes, videoconference, skype, etc. But the cartoon also points out the fact that with these news ways of communication, the direct contact between people is disappearing as many people don't go to work and stay at home to work.

3) Conclusion: link with notion:

The key issue is the following:  How far is the boundary between real and virtual spaces  becoming increasingly blurred nowadays?

One again, I believe the bundary between real and virtual spaces is becoming blurred because nowadays, its easy to do the same things in both spaces. The communication is still possible whatever the format (computer, phones...), and this bundary dissapears over time. Moreover, an house is a real space and this means that being in a real space, you can do stuff thanks to virtual space. The two spaces are blended. 

These two cartoons show real and virtual spaces are getting closer and it is becoming hard to find difference between these spaces are there have a lot of advantages and points in common.