Is Google Making Us Stupid?

The two most salient instances of allusion are Carr’s framing device of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and his references to Nietzsche. His allusion to Nietzsche details an anecdotal account of how the typewriter altered the famous philosopher’s writing style, and therefore the character of his intellectual offerings. These allusions bolster Carr’s argument in both a cerebral and emotional sense. By alluding to cultural touchpoints whose influence and longevity speak for themselves, Carr hopes to bank on what his audience already knows to tell them what they may not: that the Internet is a force to be reckoned with.

Throughout the essay, Carr uses a first-person perspective and personal anecdotes from his life and his friends’ lives. This makes the essay much more accessible and emotionally affecting than a cold, scientific approach. As Carr’s central argument is that the Internet is overly mechanizing intellectual processes, this literary devices’ production of a humanized and warm atmosphere is especially noteworthy. Through his conversational and personalized writing style, Carr hopes to make a human connection that will produce more nuanced and passionate investigation of the Internet’s ill effects.