User:Ma Ch Spring 2008

The Impact of Heavens Minefield on Society

1. Objective I propose to explain the impact of medicine on the role of older generations in both the present, and the possible future such as in Rainbows End.
2. Interest This is interesting because the medicine of today and the future can keep people alive longer then they naturally would. This brings up different questions of how these people will be treated in society in terms of their roles, how they will be perceived, and what opportunities they will be given to do more with their lives. It will incorporate the concepts of prejudice, norms, roles, class, and even stratification. This is an important topic because the advances in medicine are beginning now and we can see what might happen with people who are saved in the future. In particular, older people who have become rejuvenated.
3. Background reading I will read examples from Rainbows End, sociological ideas from the text book, and I will research modern medicine and where it is heading. By using these sources, I will tie together sociological concepts to Rainbows End and the times of today.
4. General Plan I plan to pull together examples of how the formerly ill people in Rainbows End are treated and what their lives are like. Maybe some comparison of life before and after being treated, and what is expected of them.
5. Collaborators I will be working alone to add to the Sociological Themes In Rainbows End.

The ideas Vinge uses in Rainbows End to describe modern medicine seem as if they are miracles, but in reality the rate of advancement in technology and medicine make Vinge's ideas possible in the future. In Rainbows End, modern medicine is described as a minefield made in heaven. The meaning is that medicine has treatments and cures for a lot of illness, but there are still many problems that cannot be fixed. Whether or not ones illness can be cured is left up to what the problem is, a type of hit or miss situation as in a minefield. In the story, Robert Gu is cured of his Alzheimer's and his body is able to regenerate and reverse his aging process. Gu was once a world famous poet that taught at Universities and had a large following of his work. In his time he was as successful in his field as one could dream of. When he is cured and regenerated, his struggle begins to find his place in this society filled with new technology where his skills and accomplishments do not amount to much.

Gu is one of many people that struggle fitting into society once they are healed. This opens many sociological questions that look to answer how medicine has an impact on society. Things such as what roles these people are to fill, if they can be successful again, if they have the resources to do something with their lives, if they will be classified seperatley, and how they will be seen can all be taken into account to understand medicines impact. Though these older people have problems learning new technology and concepts, there are programs set up to try and help them. Gu is able to enroll at a local high school and take basic classes that allow for a sort of re-education into learning. In terms of stratification, are goods and services be distributed differently to these people compared to others? Though they struggle, these people are given the resources and opportunity to do something with themselves. This is needed because now that they will be alive longer, they will need an income to live off of. Without the ability to learn new skills or to be educated with new technology and ideas, they would not be able to get jobs. Historically, people have looked to their elders for information, advice, and wisdom. The problem with medicine keeping people alive for much longer then they naturally would is that other than family ties, there is not a great use for them. As seen in the story, children have a better understanding of the things around them and the older generations are forced to look to the younger ones for advice and guidance. This is a sort of role change for the two age groups. Sociologically, the accepted norms of the past that put these older people into their roles in society are not there anymore. As life goes on, ones role changes with time, but for these people they have a problem fitting into a role because it is not natural. This leads to a kind of prejudice towards them. They do not have a set place in society and people do not have much use for them. In a way, they are seen as a waste if they cannot understand the technology and world around them, and are looked down upon especially by they young people. In the prime of his life, Robert Gu could have been classified as an upper class citizen. He had a job, was good at what he did, and had a life to fall back on. After medicine cured him and gave him another chance at life, he was initially left without that life and the class he was once in. The problems that these people face could be similair in the realistic future. The ability to keep large numbers of people alive and well for longer than they naturally would will have sociological effects. It will give a whole new group of people to study and make sociological connections with.