Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD 105-19- Scientific Writing

Latour’s essay states that our society is in fact not modern. To be modern we must be able to consider two practices. “Translation” ,which is a hybrid of nature and culture, and “Purification”, which takes the hybrid and focuses on it’s constituents. However, there is a great dichotomy between the two practices, which is making modernity an unreachable reality.

The author makes it clear that this dichotomy is evident in the newspapers. Right now, our society is more of a hybrid. Latour says, “Press the most innocent aerosol button and you’ll be heading for the Antarctic and from there to the University of California at Irvine, the mountain ranges of Lyon…”. This is what the author calls a “network”, which is more of an “Ariadne’s Thread” that exhaustively takes the reader of a newspaper from one discipline’s view on the subject to another. That is why we need a balance between “Translation” and “Purification”.

With respects to The Greek Tree, I find that we utilize both the “translation” and “purification” practices. We view the tree as associated with Greek Life, but we also see the artwork separate from the natural beauty of the tree.

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD 105-19 Scientific Writing

Most believe that wildlife sanctuaries are a place to see nature in its most untouched state. However, Cronon claims that these serene landscape are not actually wild, but are in fact an “Illusion”. An illusion that began with the search for the “religious experience” and continues to this day with the fear of a diminishing frontier. Places such as Niagara Falls, Yosemite, and Yellowstone are littered with lodges, dams, trails, and boardwalks which cater to the needs of human recreation and their false sense of being in a true wilderness.

Cronin believes that wilderness can be found everywhere, not just in a protected state or national park. To truly be responsible with regards to nature, we have to find the middle ground between using nature or not.

I thought that Cronin’s stance on the issue was very insightful. A lot of his ideas, such as the false sense of true wilderness and the need to find the middle ground made sense. Also the idea that humans and nature can coexist, if humans are responsible, loosely connects to The Greek Tree, in that the tree survives even though it is directly affected by humans.

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD-105-Scientific Writing

Donna Haraway makes it clear in her essay, “The Cyborg Manifesto”, that we are transitioning from an organic, industrial society to a networked, artificial society ruled by technology. She believes this new reality will be detrimental because it is a movement that is a result of patriarchal dominance and the capitalist system. The “Cyborg” that will result from this societal change will blur the distinction between humans and nature and will cause the end of innocence, privacy, and natural purity that characterize feminism. Also the fundamental human interactions needed to promote the feminist ideals will cease to exist.

I find that her views on the subject do not match with my own and that her ideas are largely speculation as of now.  Through my analysis on The Greek Tree, I found that humans and nature could thrive even when the boundary between the two dissolves.

Alec Toufexis
INTD-Scientific Writing
Geneseo, New York

The Greek Tree
By Alec Toufexis
From far away it looks as if an outlandish blue tree has taken root in the Sturges quad. However, upon closer inspection, the words, “Geneseo’s Got the Goods” become visible. It is then realized that this tree isn’t the manifestation of some unnatural mutation but is the product of a Geneseo Tradition. Before sororities and fraternities began painting on The Greek Tree during the cover of night, it was just one of the many trees that drape the numerous walkways with their shade.
The Greek Tree, along with it’s neighbor, the Suess Spruce draw many eyes throughout the day, however, only The Greek Tree has managed to withstand the innumerable layers of paint. It embodies the notion that the domains between nature and humans are converging. Upon looking at it, I thought, “How has this tree withstood all of this paint?” and “Why is a prank viewed as a symbol of Geneseo pride?” I guess it symbolizes that the worlds of humans and nature can coincide.
Many people probably think of the tree as an eyesore or a result of a prank. Although there are negative views on the tree, I think of it as more of a triumph. It is amazing that this symbol of Geneseo began as a seed, grew into a large tree, and then finally became part of a student community that for the most part cherishes it.