Finding a Metaphor in Feed

During my time reading Feed written by MT Anderson I could see many differences in different passages of the read. One that really caught my eye and made me  want to investigate more about were the lesions and lenticels. There are several parts in the novel where these are discussed. After seeing this I could connect into an analogy. For those that do not know what a Metaphor is it is: a brief or extended comparison of something with something else. The Metaphor that I can make a connection too and see in our world today is plastic surgery. 

In the novel, Quendy, Castlia, and Loga are always trying to stay up to date with the latest fashions and trends. The feed broadcasts all this information to them; so they can be hip. One trend that became larger in the book were lesions. Lesions are cuts in the body that show peoples muscles and tissues. Form my point of view this reminds me of plastic surgery. Recreating yourself is something that we commonly see today. Obliviously in Feed things are a bit more drastic and off the beaten path.  

Our lives are all consumed by “being the perfect person”, with the perfect body type. This can be facial or body. It’s almost as if being different is a sin. We are all beautiful in our own ways and we shouldn't need to change anything about us to be happy. We think about the acceptance of others before we think about ourselves. Plastic surgery is one of the ways that people accept themselves. It is a sad, but a true statement. So many people spend tons of money a year for a tummy tuck or nose job. Just so they can go through all that pain and recovery time to feel normal on the outside. This may help them to feel more accepted in cruel world we live in. 

 Some connections I made with the texts seem so realistic to the present. Titus states in the book when Quendy walks into the party.. “her whole skin was cut up with these artificial lesions. They were all over her.” (191).

“She raised her arms. The cuts were like eyes. They got bigger and redder when she moved”(192).

You’re,” said Marty “you’re covered with cuts.” 

“they’re not ‘cuts,’” she said smiling like he was an idiot 

“First of all, it’s the big spit. And second for your info, it’s called ‘birching,’ and they’re lenticels.”(193).

So here Quendy is looking at Marty like he is stupid. She calls these surgical lesions “the big spit.” Meaning they are totally the rad “fashion statement” to have nowadays. She just kinda bluffs Marty off, making it seem like he isn’t aware of the latest trend.

Titus sees Clastilla and Loga chatting with one another about Quendy. Titus suggest to the boys that they talking about how hard Quendy is trying to look good and feel the best, even if it isn't her on the inside. Titus chatted Violet as she did not understand why Quendy would do that to her body and why? 

“ I went, its all for Link. I guess she wanted to outdo Calista” (192).

Jealously at it’s finest. Quendy thinks if she gets these lenticels that Link will be so into her and finally move on from his old girl. This basically is the same as the girl that gets butt/breast implants. They know they look better and gain more confidence, I guess you could say? Like damn that’s hot. But, seriously why would you do that to yourself. Just so you could think you are better than everyone else?

I know some woman like to get this type of work done because it makes them feel better about themselves. I feel like this is something that needs to be changed in our country. There are too many young girls that are getting plastic surgery because they feel bad about themselves.  The media shows them how they should look. This is a terrible influence. The commercials, internet, billboards are all showing women the way they “should look”. 

The feed does the same thing to all of it’s characters by feeding them information on what to wear and how to be fashionable. Hoping to possibly make you want to change and pay for those changes. They are brainwashing the characters just like real life. Most of the time this works out for companies and yields profits. This makes woman feel like they need to look like that billboard or Instagram model. It is almost as if people make these changes their outlook on there lives change as well. 

It is all so superficial and I believe it takes away from us as human beings. Why should we modify ourselves like that? As I see these things ruin our society. They make people feel like they need to be the same they all need to fit the “perfect image" .

Your A1 Blogger, Chris S. 

Reference Cited:

Anderson, M. T. Feed. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick, 2002. Print.