Perception is a critical idea for many works including, “How to Be Stupid: The Teachings of Channel One” by Mark Crispin Miller and “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer. Both works idealize either a product or an experience that outsiders are captivated by. In Miller’s “How to Be Stupid,” he exposes Channel One for all the manipulative tactics used to sell a product to its viewers. While Krakauer’s “Into the Wild” is a retelling of the story of a man named Chris McCandless that goes on a voyage to existentially discover himself and his meaning for living. McCandless had a difficult childhood, and had an outlook on life that many would not even fathom. However, this journey is often lampooned by idolized figures that have gone through similar experiences
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However, one of the few things he did carry with him, was a gun for hunting. Since he did not have much experience in choosing a gun, he relied on the salesman, who used common marketing tactics of supply and demand to lure him into getting a gun that was unfit for the situations McCandless was soon to encounter. Yet, he was desperate for anything that would ease his mind, so he made the purchase (of a discontinued semiautomatic .22-caliber Remington with a 4x20 scope) in a sketchy parking lot (Krakauer 205).
Transcendentalism is the belief that we must separate ourselves from society in order to return to our roots in nature. Unfortunately, Chris McCandless took transcendentalism to an extreme on purpose to escape the modernism of society (Krakauer 219). McCandless misread transcendentalism because he did not understand the concept that nature does not always give you the answers, but that you must earn them over time (Krakauer …show more content…
He had obsessed over inadequately capturing food, that for a month his journal consisted of nothing but what he was able and not able to hunt, since throughout his adventure, he made a multitude of errors in his execution of hunting for food. He was inexperienced at first, (Krakauer 207) but as time went on, he bettered this skill and began capturing larger animals such as a moose on June 9th (Krakauer 209). The resources and time capturing this moose, as well as the moose itself, went to waste when he was not able to eat it in time. This upset the forces of nature and went against his intentions of transcendentalism.
The impact that nature had on his life was monumental, as it was the reason he felt most alive, yet also the least. He died after being naive about the truth of the wilderness, much like viewers of propaganda in the media. In both instances, somebody (McCandless in “Into the Wild”, and viewers in “How to Be Stupid”) is being influenced by their surroundings in order to ultimately make decisions: fiscally, emotionally, and
However, one of the few things he did carry with him, was a gun for hunting. Since he did not have much experience in choosing a gun, he relied on the salesman, who used common marketing tactics of supply and demand to lure him into getting a gun that was unfit for the situations McCandless was soon to encounter. Yet, he was desperate for anything that would ease his mind, so he made the purchase (of a discontinued semiautomatic .22-caliber Remington with a 4x20 scope) in a sketchy parking lot (Krakauer 205).
Transcendentalism is the belief that we must separate ourselves from society in order to return to our roots in nature. Unfortunately, Chris McCandless took transcendentalism to an extreme on purpose to escape the modernism of society (Krakauer 219). McCandless misread transcendentalism because he did not understand the concept that nature does not always give you the answers, but that you must earn them over time (Krakauer …show more content…
He had obsessed over inadequately capturing food, that for a month his journal consisted of nothing but what he was able and not able to hunt, since throughout his adventure, he made a multitude of errors in his execution of hunting for food. He was inexperienced at first, (Krakauer 207) but as time went on, he bettered this skill and began capturing larger animals such as a moose on June 9th (Krakauer 209). The resources and time capturing this moose, as well as the moose itself, went to waste when he was not able to eat it in time. This upset the forces of nature and went against his intentions of transcendentalism.
The impact that nature had on his life was monumental, as it was the reason he felt most alive, yet also the least. He died after being naive about the truth of the wilderness, much like viewers of propaganda in the media. In both instances, somebody (McCandless in “Into the Wild”, and viewers in “How to Be Stupid”) is being influenced by their surroundings in order to ultimately make decisions: fiscally, emotionally, and