It is no secret that us, humans, are always plugged in and
always have the newest, “greatest” technology. Recently, I have read A Walk in the Woods, written by Bill
Bryson, as well as watched the movie
rendition of the novel. A Walk in the
Woods, written by Bill Bryson. With no outdoor experience, Bryson
originally planned on hiking the entire 2,200-mile trail in one season,
starting in Georgia and ending in Maine. Bryson enlists his childhood friend,
Stephen Katz to accompany him on his trek. The book documents the duos’ journey
on the trail.
My
boyfriend and I went one Sunday afternoon to see the movie rendition of the
book. At the conclusion of the movie, I was ready to hike the trail (with
Bryson and Katz in the novel, of course) and thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I
thought the actors the producers choose did an amazing job portraying the
characters. Also, the fly-over scenes were breath-taking. I disappointed in the
unrealistic green screening demonstrated. My boyfriend, who I went to see the
movie with, reminded me that it might not be possible to bring a crew and
equipment on to the trail on step cliffs. But with technology and advances in
the movie industry, I felt the producers could have pick a different place on
the trial, a different location, or a better green screening background!
I read and finished the novel of
the course of the following couple days. I laughed at some parts, imagining
specific scenes in which were included within the movie rendition. However, at
the conclusion of the novel, I felt disappointed and highly ticked that the
film version had a different ending than the novel. I felt the book offered
information about the history of the trail where as the movie rendition was
geared towards the comedy seen within the covers of the novel. I feel like
those whom will not read and will simply see the movie rendition will miss out
on the significant depth Bryson spends talking about specific issues with American
culture, technology.
One of the
specific issues Bryson spoke to was technologies enclosing on the until
recently “off the grid” culture of the Appalachian Trail. In A Walk in the Woods, Bryson begins
describing a situation in which he comes in contact with another hiker whom was
carrying a handheld electronic device in which he was taking mysterious
readings of the sky or landscape. Bryson instead expresses his hate of
technology he has found on the Appalachian trail and how now hikers are traveling
with laptop computers and modems to communicate daily reports back to their
friends and family. Technology is very much prevalent more so in today’s
society compared to when Bryson traveled the trail. Our society has a difficult
time going off the grid, always checking into social media.
I find
myself checking social media when I am out. When I am among nature, however, I
will gladly take pictures of nature around me. It is difficult, particularly,
for my generation to go off the grid. However, nature should be observed
through the naked eye and not through the lenses of the latest and greatest
smartphone.
Round Two. Nature vs. Technology. Who will come out on top?
Source: Bryson, Bill. A Walk in the Woods:
Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. New York: Broadway, 1998.
Print.
