Morissette Updates ‘Ironic’ w/ a "FirstWorldProb" Twist

You may remember Alanis Morissette and her 1995 hit "Ironic" which was ironically criticized for not being, well, ironic. On an episode of The Late Late Show With James Corden, Alanis and James sang a duet that incorporated many "first world" forms of technology and digital communication. I have bolded the words that reflect our more tech-savvy age:

An old friend sends you a Facebook request

And you only find out they’re racist after you accept

There’s free office cake on the first day of your diet

It’s like they announce a new iPhone the day after you buy it

Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?

It’s like swiping left on your future soulmate

It’s a Snapchat that you wish you had saved

It’s a funny tweet that nobody faves

And who would’ve thought? It figures…

It’s a traffic jam, when you tried to use Waze

A no smoking sign, when you brought your vape

It’s ten thousand male late night hosts, when all you want is just one woman, seriously!

Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?

It’s like you’re first class on a Southwest plane

Then you realize that every seat is the same

It’s like Amazon, but your package never came

And who would’ve thought? It figures…

It’s like Netflix, but you own DVDs

It’s a free ride, but your Uber’s down the street

It’s singing “Ironic,” but there are no ironies

Who would’ve thought? It figures…

There are many humorous "First World Probs" in Morissette's updated lyrics. But, a lot of these minuscule problems are probably applicable to most of our lives. I found it interesting that the lyrics mentioned adding someone on Facebook but then discovering the person is racist. Shouldn't you know someone well before you even add them? Morissette also mentions the irony of buying an iPhone the day before they announce a new one. I think this line does a good job exemplifying that our society always feels the pressure to continuously keep up with constantly developing gadgets and technology. When Morissette mentioned that it was ironic to swipe left on your future soulmate, it made me think about how superficial and disconnected online/app dating can be. There are so many profiles that users might swipe left on their "soulmate" because their profile does not appear as attractive as other options. Or, their bio may not suffice and it would have required face to face conversation to realize what a great match it is. I think that Morissette's goofy song is more than just funny lyrics. Her updated song says something more about our tech-savvy society.

Progress Report

www.dailytech.com/Cell+Phone+Unlocking+Bill+Heads+to+President+Obamas+Desk/article36293.htm

I am making steady progress on my assignment. I want to write about how cellphones are helpful, lifesaving, damaging, and distracting. I think that the topic of cellphone use has given me potential to write about many different perspectives but so far I have only focused on one. I found another article that supports the use of cellphones and also promotes particular safety apps. After completing a second rhetorical analysis document (RAD) form, I feel much more confident in my topic. 

I have gained more support on the lifesaving aspect of cellphones. I found an article titled, "Five Ways Your Cellphone Can Save You", written by Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent. She first uses pathos to appeal to emotions of suspense, hopelessness, and compassion when describing the story of  Leigh Fazzina. Fazzina was in the midst of the biking portion of a triathlon when she got lost in the woods. After the sun had set, she crashed her bike and she received a serious shoulder injury. Fazzina yelled for help but there was no answer. She then tried to make a phone call but there was no signal. But, despite having only one bar of service, her Twitter App was working. Fazzina tweeted, "I've had a serious injury and NEED Help! Can someone please call Winding Trails in Farmington, CT tell them I'm stuck bike crashed in woods.” At least six of her Twitter followers had called the police within minutes. EMTS arrived less than 20 minutes after her tweet. 

The author then goes on to explain multiple way a cellphone can be used to save a persons life or the lives of others. Cellphones can be programmed to show your current location. Carriers like Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T can be used to locate yourself or members of your family in case of an emergency. You can also use a “In Case of Emergency” contact to store the contact information of a person that knows your medical history. Cellphone apps by groups like the American Heart Association can walk people through the steps of CPR. Others apps like DocGPS can direct you to the nearest emergency room in the event of an emergency. 

I think that Cohen's article will provide more quality support for my own paper but I am ready to move on and begin researching a different perspective. I think that it will be interesting to move forward and read about the many different aspects of the argument. How can cellphones be considered detrimental to our relationships? Are our lives dwindling away as we spend hours staring at our phone screens?