Dave Eggers: The Circle

• discussion about the implications

• Discussion about the difference between individually posted information and aggregate information
• Research: What of that is already possible today?

• Mercer argues that social media have changed people for worse, has turned people into teenagers
• Discussion about this position

All voluntary, but at the same time socially enforced

• “to go transparent”

• Talking to Kalden, he disapproves of the constant camera on the congresswoman
• Mae is reluctant to leave without being seen by her supervisors
• Before she goes with Kalden she takes a few pictures and posts them to show herself being social (p. 217)

• environmental implications of widespread use of digital devices and cloud storage

• Slogan in three Parts (p. 303). Cf. George Orwell: 1984

• Mae talks to her viewers (p. 309) — vlogging?
• Mae is not transparent – she is used as a marketing device.
• Later: her parents’ home is also transparent (p. 323)

• Ideas of completion (fulfilment?) – hopes to find in an online service what one can’t find in real life

• When you’re always being watched you have to fake appearances and turn to your inside world for recreation → also cf. George Orwell: 1984

The leaders of the health companies meet in private — why?

• Illusion that complete measurement of learning will improve learning or even improve personal skills of students.
• “Where was this 20 years ago? My kids would have gone to Yale”

• Francis is sorry that he recorded the sex that the two of them had, “I couldn’t believe that I was with you. And there was some part of me that assumed it would be the only time. I wanted to remember it” – Is recording something really the best way of remembering a special moment? → smart phone photos everywhere, cf. quote:

„Monde und Jahre vergehen, aber ein schöner Moment leuchtet das Leben hindurch.“

— Franz Grillparzer

• Narrative perspective: stream of consciousness?

• Even Mercer’s death and Annie’s breakdown don’t make her question it