This document discusses themes from the dystopian novel Feed by M.T. Anderson through multiple texts. It provides an overview of the novel, which is set in a future where humans have brain implants called "feeds" that constantly connect them to the internet. It then outlines several class activities exploring themes like consumerism, individuality vs. conformity, technology's role in society, and communication in the digital age through videos, essays and other supplementary texts related to the novel. Students are asked to complete a multiple text assignment incorporating themes and outside materials.

1. Exploring the themes of Feed,
by M. T. Anderson, through
multiple texts
Kevin Kerr
JCHS
AP English Lit.
March 2013

2. About the book
Feed
 a dark dystopian futuristic novel
 earth’s natural environment is inhospitable
 People live in domed cities and cars fly
 Human continue to expand technologically
 Americans are connected via the Feednet

3. Feednet ?
 a chip implanted into the brain
 enables instant internet communication
 offers unlimited commercials to pay for
the service.

4. Titus
The narrator
 A teenaged boy
 On a spring break trip to the moon he meets
Violet

5. Violet
Violet is unusual and intriguing
 has only had the feed since she was
seven.
 has a less shallow perspective

6. The Situation
 On the moon, they become victims of feed-hackers
 Back home Violet finds that her feed --and
health -- continues to deteriorate
 Violet’s radical refusal to buy into the
consumerism of the feed, means no
technicians will help her.

7. Relevant Themes
This satiric novel, set in the distant future,
examines themes relevant today
 Individuality v. herd mentality
 Technology’s roles in society
 Consumerism as a negative force
 Communication in the Digital Age

8. Consumerism as a Negative Force
“We Americans are interested only in the
consumption of our products. We have no interest
in how they are produced, or what happens to
them once we discard them, once we throw them
away.”
M.T. Anderson, Feed

9. Consumerism as a Negative
Force
Activity-
1. View the video clip poem, found on the
next slide
2. Conduct a five minute quick-write, relating
the clip to the novel.
3. Share your writing with the class, via
Edmodo.

10. Consumerism: A Cautionary
Rhyme
click below

11. Individuality, the Herd Mentality,
and the Loss of Solitude
“You need the noise of your friends in space.”
–MT Anderson, Feed

12. Individuality, the Herd Mentality,
and the Loss of Solitude
Activity-
Explore this theme through reading the
following essay, “The End of Solitude”
http://chronicle.com/article/The-End-of-
Solitude/3708/

13. Technology as a Pervasive
Force
in Society
“We are the nation of dreams. We are seers. We are
wizards. We speak in visions. Our letters are like
flocks of doves, released from under our hats. We
have only to stretch out our hand and desire, and
what we wish for settles like a kerchief in our palm.
We are a race of sorcerers, enchanters. We are
Atlantis. We are the wizard-isle of Mu.”
M.T. Anderson, Feed

14. Individuality, the Herd Mentality,
and the Loss of Solitude
Activity-
 View the first segment of the documentary
found at the following location
 Write a one page response to it
 Share on Edmodo
Growing Up Online:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/view/

15. Communication in the Digital
Age
“…It’s like a spiral: They keep making everything
more basic so it will appeal to everyone. And
gradually, everyone gets used to everything being
basic, so we get less and less varied as people,
more simple. So the corps make everything even
simpler. And it goes on and on.”
M.T. Anderson, Feed

16. Communication in the Digital
Age
Activity-
1. Read the following article:
“Ralph Fiennes: Twitter Eroding English
Language for Students”
http://www.educationnews.org/international
-uk/ralph-fiennes-twitter-eroding-english

17. Communication in the Digital
Age
Activity (Continued)-
2. Write a one-three page response drawing
from your own experiences and from the
novel.
Provide at least two examples from the book.

18. Are We Headed for the
Feed?
“Then it was this big thing. She was like, 'I
never want to see you again', and I was like,
'Fine. Okay? Fine. Then get some special
goggles.” M.T. Anderson, Feed
Activity-
View the following videos

19. Google Goggles
(Please click below)

20. And Next, “One Day…”
The Official Google Version
(Please click below)

21. Soon ?
Activity-
1. Read the following two news articles
2. Describe a typical morning that you
would experience wearing a pair of
Google’s perfected Project Glass
glasses.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/techn
ology/google-glasses-will-be-powered-by-android.
html?_r=1

22. *Be sure to watch the unofficial, “Re-Mix” of the last
video, at this youtube website, before you read the
article.*
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mRF
0rBXIeg&feature=player_detailpage
 http://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthof/20
12/06/29/dont-kid-yourself-project-glass-will-
produce-an-advertising-bonanza-for-google/

23. Finally,
Activity –
1. Read one of the following books
2. select four outside texts/resources to
supplement the study of the novel.
3. Complete a multiple text assignment
based heavily upon this one.
A. 1984 by George Orwell
B. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

24. Activity (continued) –
4. Create a PowerPoint, using this one as
a model, for a multiple text assignment
incorporating two of the themes
explored here and two of your own
choosing.

25. Activity (continued) –
Possible texts that may be included are:
 A piece of recorded music
 A video game
 A magazine or newspaper article
 A piece of art
 A film or video clip
 A poem or selection of poetry
 Other (with approval)

26. References
 Amos, Tori. "I Don't like Mondays." By Sir Bob Geldoff. Rec. 2001. Strange Little Girls. Tori
Amos. Tori Amos, 2001. MP3.
 Birch, B. A. "Ralph Fiennes: Twitter Eroding English Language for Students." Ralph Fiennes:
Twitter Eroding English Language for Students. Education News, 31 Oct. 2011. Web. 02
March 2032. <http://www.educationnews.org/international-uk/ralph-fiennes-twitter-eroding-english-
language-for-students/>.
 Deresiewicz, William. "The Chronicle Review." The End of Solitude. The Chronicle of Higher
Education, 30 Jan. 2009. Web. 03 July 2012. <http://chronicle.com/article/The-End-of-
Solitude/3708/>.
 Draper, Christine A. Multiple Texts Assignment. Georgia Southern University, n.d. Web. 2
June 2012. <https://goml.view.usg.edu/webct/urw/tp0.lc18395011/
cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.
 Emzygunning. "Consumerism: A Cautionary Rhyme." YouTube. YouTube, 15 Feb. 2011.
Web. 03 March 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSznbYe2H0k>.
 "Engadget." Project Glass In-Depth Preview. N.p., 2012. Web. 01 July 2012. <http://
www.engadget.com/photos/google-glass-in-depth-preview/>.
 "Google Goggles Experiment Video." YouTube. YouTube, 15 Nov. 2010. Web. 03 March
2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq-hXD33vXs>.
 Hof, Robert. "Don't Kid Yourself--Project Glass Will Produce An Advertising Bonanza For
Google." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 29 June 2012. Web. 02 March 2013. <http://
www.forbes.com/sites/roberthof/2012/06/29/dont-kid-yourself-project-glass-will-produce-an-
advertising-bonanza-for-google/>.
 "Project Glass: One Day..." YouTube. YouTube, 04 Apr. 2012. Web. 03 March 2013. <http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W4CCU9M4>.