An exemplar TED talk style essay for unit 5 of the Eduqas English Lang/lit A-level course, the chosen topic is the social construction and delusion of childhood in relation to gothic literature and sociology. This can be used as a structure example.
Do we live in a world of doubt? A deep dive into the delusion and construction of childhood.
Take a moment to reminisce with me, think back to your childhood, however long ago it was,
I'm sure there’s one thing you can remember, Fun! Whether it was poorly produced movies,
game consoles, the good old-fashioned outdoors or whatever capitalist plastic crap the big
bosses threw at your generation, we can all relate in one way or another: being a kid is fun.
Really think about this, what would you give to go back to it? To have no stress, to be allowed
liberty, to be entitled to happiness? Travel back in your mind, to that euphoria of slowed time,
of freedom and curiosity; of purity and peace, when no dream was too big, and pocket money
made you a millionaire.
Now stay there, hold it in the front of your mind. What if I told you, it was all a delusion? That
childhood was never real, a supernatural illusion? That all of it is a product of your parents, of
their gloating power? Controlled to the minute detail by the rich and powerful? By the media
we devour?...
Doubting everything yet?
Let me continue, according to leading sociologists, childhood is socially constructed and has
been for centuries, with evidence dating from before the Middle Ages. Radicalist Philippe Aries
even suggests that childhood did not exist in the 10th-13th centuries as there were no separate
spheres and no governmental policies or rights regarding children. He concludes that childhood
depends on the views of society: that rights and policies determine our life cycle and the
existence of childhood as a concept. So, in perspective, childhood simply isn’t real. And in our
modern age of tech and secrets, did childhood exist for any of us? Or was it merely an illusion?
The era of control began in the 19th century, according to Cunningham, as child regulations and
rights came into force and only strengthened up to the modern day. The sociologist Postman
takes over from Cunningham in our timeline, theorizing that media means no secrets, especially
for curious children. Believing that technology and information has infiltrated childhood and is
beginning to adapt or erase the experience. Ultimately, tech is the hidden puppeteer of our
kids.
Toxic childhood (accredited to Sue Palmer) spirals doubt even more as she likens tech to
toxicity, which rots our brains and ruins our lives. A firm believer that childhood should be
spent outdoors “like the good old days”, her views might be controversial to a few of us, but it
can’t be denied she holds some truth. The upcoming generation of “iPad kids” who live their life
glued to a screen are a prime example- with research proving shortened attention spans,
altered synapse signals and a differing recognition to the past generations, almost bordering on
transformations of literature, degenerating into a gothic-like mutation, Jekyll into Hyde,
Carmilla into Millarca. This generation of a “different breed” is a glimpse into our uncertain
future and a mirror of societal fears both past and present.
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