The trouble with "Seeing Devices"

I think Crichton does a great job in showing how dependent we are on “seeing devices”. I remember seeing Al Gore’s large chart with the statistics going off into oblivion with how much temperature/CO2 levels have risen. That “seeing device” was a huge part of his argument, and I love how Crichton decides to use a “seeing device” on pages 106-112 in the same manner. He uses that same familiar chart, but switches it on us to make it mean something different.

We identify with the main character/narrator of this particular chapter, where the grad students in this lawsuit project are interviewing him. We have the opportunity to read what he thinks and his reactions to these “seeing devices” presented before him. Like the character, we start to believe in these charts that show us global warming needs to be questioned. Towards the end of the interview when asked if he was familiar with temperatures change and land use he says, “Frankly, you people are working at a level of detail that is beyond me. I just listen to what the scientists say—“. By saying this, we identify with him more. Most of us would agree that we take what scientists say at face value. In Appendix II we see the actual sources of data allowing us to further buy into this global warming questioning.

The use of this narration, where we are able to read the character questioning what he’s known all along, is a great way to engage us to question our beliefs along with him. Top it all off with the “seeing devices” provided in these pages, make this novel particularly engaging.