Title: Avant-garde
by Michael from Kent | in writing, fiction
[A nearly empty library at the beginning of school break time. A table near the door has daily newspapers laid out on it and chairs neatly tucked under. Two boys are sitting on another table, one has a pen in his hand and a book open, the other has a sandwich in his hand and is flicking through the news. One more boy walks in;]
(walking past the table with the newspapers on, the first boy picks up a daily newspaper, holds it out in front of him and walks towards the occupied table)
first boy; what have we got today then? Any news? (scans front page as he takes a seat)
second boy; (looking up) hey! Nah nothing interesting - petrol prices, global warming..
third boy; What about the elections? too late for the paper I guess, I'll check on the Internet. (walks out, presumably to check a computer)
first boy; (mock amazed, perhaps shaking his head) modern technology! I have an essay to do anyway (tosses paper to one side)
second boy; unlucky! about? (gets a message on his mobile)
first boy; the portrayal of ways of life in an 18th century poem..
second boy; I see... (disinterested as he reads both paper and phone) changed much?
first boy; well, it does seem so closed off, talking about 'a few days walk'... Makes you think how accessible the world is today!
second boy; yer? (looking at his phone)
first boy; (tuts) yer! like we have so many opportunities now... it's easy to get overwhelmed.
second boy; (distracted, putting phone away) mm? so it's a poem?
first boy; (laughs) never mind.
Based on the conversations I have with my own friends at break times, I wanted to illustrate the accessibility of the modern world. Whether it be through telephones, travel or the Internet nothing is ever too far away. Although this is exciting, it leaves us swamped with possibility and information that we can't digest in its entirety. The casual student attitude shows how perhaps dealing with this is a skill young people today group up acquiring and so more than any other generation will be able to make the most of global links.
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