How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
But the only paper was the foolscap, and when he wrote on it, his scrawling penmanship was re-formed into neat, fontified lines. That had been an irritation in days past, but never enough to force him to dig up real paper. Today, now... he could see that his soul was sucked out of the words before he could make them sing! It was the ultimate victory of automation over creative thought. (7.13)
Here's a complaint we sometimes hear (in real life) from old people (or people who just dislike technology), that technology interferes with creativity. Of course, it's easy to imagine someone from an earlier time period saying to Robert, "You write things down? That must ruin your creativity. We only memorize our poems orally." In other words, Robert sees the computer as technology that stifles culture, but isn't pen-and-paper just another form of tech? (Also, does Robert ever talk about souls except when he's whining about computers?)
Quote #5
The singers were louder. It sounded as if they were singing "La Marseillaise." But there were also chants that sounded like a good old-fashioned student protest. (11.50)
There's a cross-over here between culture and "change": Robert thinks what he's hearing is a good old-fashioned student protest. (He could just say "old-fashioned" but this is Robert, fan of the old-fashioned.) But when we see this protest more clearly later (in Chapter 12), we can notice some differences, like the fact that at least part of the protest is virtual. Computers have gotten into all kinds of culture here.
Quote #6
There was lots of noise and action, but if you listened carefully, you could tell that the kids in the bushes were actually playing in other universes, all choreographed so neither players nor equipment would get in each other's way. She had picked the right cover; classical anime was just too highbrow for these dorks. (13.11)
And here's a cross-over between culture and "community": as Miri notes, there are lots of kids playing games at Pyramid Hill, but they are playing different games. So is culture tearing communities apart? Or forming different sorts of communities? But if we had to be honest, we also pulled this quote for Miri's remark that "classical anime" is "too highbrow." Partly, that could just be the jerky streak she shares with Robert, but it could also be a reminder how culture shifts: anime, which used to be a fringe culture, has now become elite.