The It: by Donna Johnson

Recently I purchase my very first copy of a Synechoche: Literary Journal of Vanguard University, which to say I am very proud of. However, when I first found out I had to attain a copy of the book I was not to please. I thought of the book as being a collection of works by students that thought they were the next C.S Lewis or John Steinbeck or even Jack London. And for that i must apologies, the works that i found in it not only were greatly written but also made me as a reader think, and re-read (and for those who know me, know that for me to read it even once it good). When I was looking and reading poems, short stories and even plays to connect to my lens of my previous paper, which focused upond how we as people allow the media to have power over our lives, my eyes fell upond the title "The It". immediately I was intrigued. What is this "IT"? Is it some monster that's been pulled out of a Stephen King novel? Or perhaps its some religious paper on How God is neither a man nor women gender but both in one making the argument that God is an "It". In know that's a pretty far out there conclusion; but, if you knew me you know that this is not hard to see this happening. As I began to read the play i find out that its a story of a married couple and the wife has just arrived back home late from rehearsing for a play. As the play goes on I begin to find out that this is not the first time and that this a a reacquiring them. They begin to fight over why they are talking anymore. He blames her for not coming home and not wanting to spend time with him. She blames him for not wanting to live a exciting live and just wants to sit around the house and do nothing. Now you might be wondering how does this apply to power base culture? Well this is why. In today's society everything that is consider to be "hip" and "cool" for young single adults and adults alike is to go out have some drinks and go party. This is what the wife is doing instead of going home and spending time with the person that she loves and has married. The other part of out great society tells us to go and work an 8-5 job, come home spend time with the family, go to sleep, and repeat. Both of these individuals are doing what society sees as right, but they aren't doing them together. They are being riped apart from one another. Neither one is truly in the wrong, nor in the right. As the arguing persists the husband begins to ask her what is "It" that keeps her from coming home and being with him. She replies she doesn't know what "It" is. I believe that this is a very impactful play. What is "It"? For some "It" may be movies, or music. For others "It" may be fashion, or even another person. "It" is the culture that has consumed us and has taken over our actions. We know we should be doing this, or we should be there; but, "It" is to enticing. To unressitable to deny even when our little own Jiminy Cricket whispers in our ear, "Don't do It, you know that's not whats best for ya." After a few times of hearing that, the voice fades and "It" takes control.