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Hannah Shofner
English 230-007
Richardson
November 17, 2011
Multimedia Project Write Up
In today’s society, the term “media” is used in conjunction with everything. From pop
culture to social, political and educational uses, media touches almost every part of our lives.
And in turn, the typical daily life of our culture acts as musing for these works of media. It’s no
wonder then that we can draw associations of today’s media topics with those from past era’s
entertainments. Although the environments of yesteryear might differ with the situations of
modern media, we can still relate some timeless key motifs present in both. Forming these
associations will help readers to identify the lessons buried between the lines and apply them to
their daily lives.
In the ancient medieval text, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight written by the Pearl Poet,
a chivalrous man is forced to face his fear of mortality. This fear of dying causes the knight,
Gawain, to go against his deeply rooted moral code. He attempts to rely on the magic of an
object to protect him from his fate. Although the wrong decision to make, he admits his fault
and this immoral act turns into a virtuous confession. Gawain is reminded “that the frailty of
flesh is man’s biggest fault,” (Pearl, 2435). Associating this with present day society, I instantly
thought of Steve Jobs. Jobs advanced our society in unforeseen ways, and now we are left only
to imagine how much further he could have taken it. Although Jobs was more successful in his
ambitions than Gawain would have claimed himself to be, Jobs’ death impacted our society as
much as Gawain’s probably would have impacted the Arthurian court. Jobs’ revolutionary
creations represent the state of our society: inventive, technological, and connected. Likewise,

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Gawain’s journey represented the state of his society: dependent upon nature, chivalrous, and
connected. Both men’s biggest shortcomings fault to their mortality.
Albert Camus’ The Stranger dissects the trial of an absurd man who committed a
senseless murder. The murderer, Mersualt, lives an of-the-moment existence which influences
his values and morals. Because he doesn’t tend to see how his actions will affect him in the long
run, he often fails to recognize the importance of each decision. He lacks a strong moral justice
system and because of such his relationships with himself, others, and God are compromised.
Mersault is called out on this by the minister, “I am on your side. But you have no way of
knowing it because your heart is blind. I shall pray for you,” (Camus, 120). A similar
characteristic can be found in modern day reality star, the Hills’ Heidi Montag. Her best friend
Lauren consistently called her out on her diminishing values while on the show. Heidi became
obsessed with keeping up appearances as do many people in today’s society chasing money and
fame and lost sight of the value of her friendship. By comparing Meursault and Heidi, we see the
absurd irrational tendencies of morality to compromise a promising situation for a fleeting
moment of frivolity.
“Here, Bullet” is Brian Turner’s poem dissecting a game of Russian roulette. A soldier,
Turner’s game is compiled using war stricken imagery which eludes an impression of the battle
going on in his mind. “If a body is what you want, then here is bone and gristle and flesh. Here is
the clavicle-snapped wish, the aorta’s opened valves, the leap thought makes at the synaptic
gap,” (Turner, 1-5). Comparatively, Harry Potter gives himself over to Lord Voldemort’s game
in the movie Deathly Hallows Part Two. Harry risking his life meeting Voldemort in the
Forbidden Forest is reminiscent of Turner playing Russian roulette. Like Turner, Harry’s mind,
linked to the dark lord’s, was also a place on constant strife. Moreover, the very anatomical

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nature of the quote can be associated with Harry in the fact that Voldemort shared a body with
Harry, reading his mind and feelings his emotions.
Relating these quotes to various situations allows the reader to see the importance of
media throughout history. Throughout time, media has been entertaining to society and
audiences want to enjoy a relatable story. Therefore, the media produced during a time period
shows us the characteristics of the era- the fads, newest advancements, societal standards, etc.,
but also continuously shows us typical trials and tribulations of human existence allowing us to
relate to the past, feeling more a part of it. By corresponding central themes to various media
topics, readers develop a relatable perception of the lesson being taught and will apply it to other
aspects.

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Works Cited
Armitage, Simon. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight . New York: W. W.
Norton & Company, Inc., 2008. Print.
Camus, Albert. the Stranger. 1st Vintage International ed. New York:
Random House, Inc., 1989. Print.
Turner, Brian. “Here, Bullet.” The Georgia Review 58.3 (Fall 2004): 521.
Print.
Photos Cited
Charis Tsevis. Wired Steve Jobs . 2011. Graphic. www.fubiz.net Web. 17
Nov 2011. <http://www.fubiz.net/galleries/set/charis -
tsevis/photo/149828251/>.
lauren_conrad1. 2010. Screencap. http://danchiz.com/ Web. 17 Nov 2011.
<http://danchiz.com/wp -content/uploads/2010/07/lauren_conrad1 -
300x225.jpg>.
CJSfan. Avadakedavra. 2011. Screencap. www.wikia.com Web. 17 Nov
2011. <http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Forbidden_Forest>.