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| "The Past and the Pendulum": what is Ehrenhalt saying, here? Both chapters in Part V make the point that "we can't go home again," yet the underlying theme seems to be that we should not be too quick to dismiss the past, and the very real virtues, as well as the limitations, of the communities that could be found then. We have "communties" of a vastly different type, today. One of the on-going questions we shall be discussing in this course is whether it is possible to have a "virtual community," whether the meaning of "community" is the same. Two of the Web links I provided in my entry to "Meet Your Classmates" were reflections on my own interests, as manifested in "virtual communities." One is a virtual meeting place for "masters" (40 and up) competitive runners, who meet others, or renew acquaintances and keep in touch with, those they have met in track and field meets around the country. The other is a web page for film reviews, to which my recent-college-graduate son contributes. I love films, and love even more to see him writing about them. Empire State College has a number of discussion groups, for people who may be in face-to-face contact only a few times a year. I keep in touch with my students and faculty colleagues in Athens on the internet. This course will generate a kind of community, as you get to know each other over the course of the term. Some of us will exchange private communications, by e-mail, or even telephone. A couple of us may actually meet--something that would likely not have happened were we not engaged in this course. Electronic communication has vastly broadened our opportunities here. Sometimes, the unifying theme is a television program, such as "The West Wing," " The Sopranos," or "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" (now going to reruns, I'm informed by my children). Each of these has several websites. Some of the frequent visitors may get to know each other. This is a new phenomenon. (The Howard Dean campaign for president has made significant use of www.meetup.com). Largely because of the internet, people with similar interests and proclivities are brought together to share thoughts and feelings about any number of things, regardless of location or time differences. I can "talk" with people involved in masters running, you can communicate with those who own or are interested in PT Cruisers or who are into quilting, others can share their fascination with and insights into the Battle of Gettysburg or Post-World War II Germany. Sometimes we meet some of these people, at masters track meets, meetings of PT Cruiser clubs, or trips to Gettysburg, arranged via the internet. But, more often, not. Yet, we may come to feel we "know" some of them rather well. |
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