Noah Response

When preparing to watch the movie Noah, I expected to be bored—After all, we are essentially watching someone play around on a computer for almost twenty minutes.  Much to my surprise, I was captivated.  Noah’s computer use is mind-boggling.  Although he never gave his full attention to anything, he was still able to maintain a fully functioning online identity.  However, his online actions affected life outside of his computer screen.

Although Amy never officially broke up with Noah until he logged onto her Facebook, it seemed as if she was preparing to end the relationship.  After viewing Noah’s digital habits, I cannot say I blame her.  He never gave her his full attention and lied to her about his online habits.  This is interesting because Noah cared for Amy.  However, his actions suggest otherwise.  I think if you care for someone you give them your full attention, you make them feel important, you are honest, you don’t let your friends call her a bitch.  Is the digitization of communication making these expectations irrelevant?  I certainly hope not, but that is what Noah seems to suggest.

Viewing this short movie in light of recent tragedy makes me absolutely sick.  I can’t stop thinking about how important unmediated human connections are.  If Noah were to suddenly lose Amy, is he going to think about how she looks online or about how her smile always lit up a room, how nice it was to hug her after having a hard day, how it feels to be with another person when you’re sad…

Although technologies have wonderful benefits, I don’t want to see real human connections lost or de-valued as a result.