In addition, Adora also teaches online lessons to schools in America about writing poetry. In this way she is able to share her knowledge and teach children in a way which they might be able to understand better as it comes from one of their peers. However, I would argue for a more cyber-distopian view of this as much of the motives behind charging for these online lessons are monetary rather than being for the joy of passing on knowledge, working off the gimmick that she is a children genius and it merely being used as a way to make her family more money.
Whilst it does mean that she’s able to teach a larger amount of people, and those who she wouldn’t be able to reach in person through virtuality, I also think that the fact that the Adora “brand” is represented through her web-site, which she coincidentally sells her book via, suggests to me that her parents are almost “cashing in” on her intelligence and the online tutorials she does (from her basement come T.V. studio) are being used to make a profit from her behind the guise of distance learning, the emphasis being on money rather than sharing knowledge with those who wouldn’t be able to have the same opportunities because of location.
Given the cost of Higher Education in the states, maybe this family couldn't afford for her to go to an Ivy League university unless they cash in whilst she's cute (lecturing doesn't pay much when you're older ;-))
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I'm not sure your position is cyber-dystopian? That would basically mean that you feel that computers/new media will change the world for the worse. You seem to be more thoughtful than that? However, you are very skeptical of surface claims (I think of any type) and that is very good from an academic viewpoint.