Creative Works | Poetry | Bates 132 CALIFORNIA SOCIOLOGY FORUM VOL. 6 Humanity and Technology Explored Through Poetry Taryn Bates Department of Sociology California State University, Los Angeles EXPLANATION OF SOCIOLOGICAL RELEVANCE A collection of five poetry pieces all featuring the social theory of interactionism through the ever-increasing hyperreality of digital technology influencing humanity; social identity is a main theme throughout all. Streaming does not directly reference any technological devices, using analogous wording describing a stream of water; this illustrates how natural it has become to use modern tech as part of daily norms. Can’t Connect Right Now wrestles with “the looking glass self” being influenced by external perceptions. No Data Connection explores “the I” & “the Me” of interactions with technological devices, playing with analogies of various features used both in and out of tech, such as how fingers are also known as digits. The Vast Nothingness of Space follows a journey of cutting off humanity – both personally and socially – in an act of distancing the self from all else to avoid role strain and role conflict through the technological advancement of space exploration as a metaphor. I Am Human essentially brings all the previous components together by focusing on the natural state of being human, putting a spin on roboticization of the modern world. The visual formatting of the piece is meant to resemble a spine. Creative Works | Poetry | Bates 133 CALIFORNIA SOCIOLOGY FORUM VOL. 6 Streaming A stream of sound & images Coursing like a powerful river Never-ending, flowing one into another Once it starts, it sweeps you away Following familiar but undefined paths Never questioning stepping into the stream Just going with the flow Mindlessly taking the course Numbing the senses Vaguely aware of the passing time Until you find yourself farther than you expected Disoriented and struggling to get back control Leaving, but knowing you’ll be back Can’t Connect Right Now The connection is unstable No strength in bandwidth The audio is cutting out The imagery fuzzy and frozen These time zones And packed schedules The distance prolonged By lack of conversation Priority of minutes Limited by plans Mismatched carriers Prevent any signals Am I still seen Even when not perceived Free to speak my truth If no one can hear me now? Creative Works | Poetry | Bates 134 CALIFORNIA SOCIOLOGY FORUM VOL. 6 No Data Connection I am left to my own devices Trying to establish a safe connection Stable, steady ~ a secure net Inter-dependent communication Information at my fingertips Digital era only opens options Overwhelming the senses Limited data capacity in an unlimited world Wide web entangling understanding Pages and pages to keep tabs on The stimulation keeps me Wired Less I lose the signal of affirmation Fidelity to society App-lying the expected tools Rules of conduct instructing To suffer no fools Agreeing without reading The terms of conditions The policy of privacy White noise in a stream of static Taken for granted When my access is gratified But woefully distressing When not found Online Prone to servicing my need for confirmation That I’m never truly alone The Vast Nothingness of Space I carved out my heart long ago Cleaved it from my chest Put my instincts on ice Locked them up, laid to rest Instead of using bandages I built an outer wall Sealing off infected areas Quarantining from all Creative Works | Poetry | Bates 135 CALIFORNIA SOCIOLOGY FORUM VOL. 6 A resolute mission developed Becoming a satellite Jettisoned out into space Spinning in never-ending night But then the deep ache came In the absence of the whole I longed for healthy living But my actions undermined that goal While my spirit was claimed redeemed My head pulled a heavy load Spinning from intellectual plates served From a diet of self-preservation mode Slabs of frozen meats applied To dull the swelling senses Trying to fill the emotional void While not fully letting down defenses The time was passed with fairy tales Surely I was a cursed victim in need Believing all the stories Awaiting a brave, heroic deed A taste of being understood Instilled a persistent craving Desire for deep connection Awakens hope I’m worth saving Looking for any signals of fulfillment Embedded in me since birth I hear my purpose calling Free falling back to Earth Overpowering destiny Real love is to be known Truly seen and heard, received Finally welcomed home Creative Works | Poetry | Bates 136 CALIFORNIA SOCIOLOGY FORUM VOL. 6 I Am Human I am Human Framed in bone Stoney support Standing tall yet fragile in its own way Grasping onto what life can give Sometimes breaking in the process But becoming stronger for it I am Human Streamed in blood Flooded with tears Sweating the small stuff Mingling into a concoction unique to this species A life juice of courage and persistence Of filling this existence with meaning I am Human Networked in nerves Serving a variety of sensations From pain to pleasure And a multitude in between Ending and beginning connected as one Increasing the experience ready to be had I am Human Covered in flesh Freshly encompassing all Though time will leave its marks Like the rings of a tree trunk Weathering changes while still growing A visible sign of a signature story I am Human Bone, Blood, Nerves, & Flesh Combined in the Physical Composed of the Emotional Corroborated in the Mental Creatively singular within the sameness That is Human Humanity and Technology Explored Through Poetry - Taryn Bates