Blog Post #8 Fielding and Swift

If Henry Fielding and Jonathan Swift took a stroll through social media today, the latter would take to Twitter to harass politicians and the former would begin a personal blog detailing the attempts of low people to imitate who they perceive as high people (celebrities, models, etc.) but are low people with better lighting, photographers, and facial structures. High people, in a non-parodic way, would be wealthy individuals who have shaped reality by innovation and ambition. People who come to mind are Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos. While Fielding busied himself with explaining the dangers of worshipping those of higher society, Jonathan Swift would be delivering scathing remarks to Donald Trump, Nicolas Maduro, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un. He might also send a message to Prince Harry to ask if he (Swift) could be the representative of Ireland in the upcoming royal wedding. A modern “Modern Proposal” would have Swift asking those Americans who lost their coal jobs or who lost their jobs to immigrants, to go get hired at the construction of the border wall. In this way, they get paid and protect that country that they love so much. However, Swift would describe the harsh conditions of working there and give lament to the immigrants who have been working construction and other harsh job for years without recognition. He will then reassure those patriotic Americans that they too will go unsung because Americans are all for equality of course. He will then (sarcastically) hope that those cunning immigrants have not invented other ways to get into the country such as visas or ladders. In the end he will hope his proposal drives the charisma of those hard-working Americans.

Back to social media, perhaps both Fielding and Swift
would shun social media entirely realizing the danger of over-exposure to it. It is paradoxical in a way. One is given a large platform with access to the minds of millions and if one were savvy in manipulation once could easily disseminate an agenda. The problem becomes when one becomes assimilated by the followers. In the beginning it may seem you are spreading your own ideas but it can become that you are spreading ideas that you know will get you more likes or followers. You are catering ideas to the mindset of others. You’re the follower that speaks.

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