iLove my iPod

An article I recently read and found very interesting was 'The iPod: A Love Story Between Man, Machine' by Jose Antonio Vargas. This article expressed the idea that the iPod is a device which enables one to "listen to life's memories". It is described as an extension of ones self, like a window to the soul. This implies that when listening to a particular song, certain memories are reincarnated. Vargas writes that the iPod recreates these memories "faster than a mixed CD and definitely faster than a mixed tape". He also goes on to say that iPodders have easy access to their own personl memory bank, and refers to the technology as identity technology. Although the iPod is not the only digital music player around, it is the most popular. Through hundreds, perhaps thousands of songs, the story of our lives is reinacted in our heads, each song referring to an event, person, incident. With the iPod, these memories are accessible at all times, a personalised "collection of emotions and memories for yourself to carry around wherever". We are given a way of seeing ourselves through the mirror of the machine. Vargas goes on to reference a book by the english journalist Dylan Jones 'iPod, therefore I am'. Jones writes " it forces you to listen to your life in a different way" and recounts an experience with a song which "forced him to go back to somewhere I haven't been for a while".

As an iPod owner, I can shamelessly say that it is one of my most prized possesions. Whether walkin to the shop, travelling on the train, or just chilling in my bedroom, when I listen to my iPod I am reminded of my past, whether these memories be significant or trivial,positive or negative. For example, everytime I listen to the song 'Forever' by Chris Brown, I feel a flush of delight as I am reminded of the summer of 2008, a time in which I went to the Gaeltacht, holidayed to Orlando Florida and spent stress-free fun-filled hours with my friends. I am catapulted back to that time, and bombarded with memories. I can access anytime of my life and bathe in reminisence by the touch of a button. And for this reason, iLove my iPod.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/16/AR2005081601887.html