Though themes of environment, apathy, advertising, resistance, and consumerism are prevalent in Feed’s futuristic world, this novel reminds us that today’s society is not so different from the society depicted in M.T. Anderson’s world. The rise of social media, advertising partnerships (the likes of which can be seen on Amazon and Facebook today), and environmental debates are at the forefront of national and worldwide conversations today. This novel therefore serves as a tantalizing, sobering, and frightening reminder that we, as a society, do not stand too far apart from the dystopian futures we read about in books and watch on television.
The titular Feed dominates life in this futuristic world. Though the Feed offers roughly the same services as today’s modern computers, it exists as an implant, rather than a stationary box or network. The implantation of the Feed results in constant stimulus. Titus and his friends are permanently bombarded with advertisements, promotions, and commercials—all of which are tailored to their specific needs and likes. So present is the Feed that when Titus and Violet momentarily lose their Feeds to the hacker, they struggle to entertain themselves. This intense dependency on the Feed is reflective of our own dependency upon technology and our phones. With entertainment, news, and social media permanently available, the parallels between Feed and our current world are not difficult to notice.
In addition to themes of technology and availability, Feed toys with the idea of big business. The political and social environment in Feed is completely dominated by big businesses, which have trademarked and copyrighted things such as “clouds” and “school.” The introduction of the Feed has essentially made schools obsolete. As the Feed offers its users access to unlimited amounts of data, facts, and information, there really is no need for students to study for exams or answer homework questions. (Once again, M.T. Anderson presents a world that is not too far from our own. Search engines and online study guides have transformed education; with the Internet at our fingertips, all information is only a few keyboard taps and mouse clicks away.) M.T. Anderson also subliminally approaches ideas of class/socioeconomic systems. We learn that Violet’s Feed was not installed as early as Titus’ because her family could not afford it. Additionally, though her father was fundamentally against the idea of the Feed, we learn that he choose to have it installed to help Violet advance in life; he knew that her opportunities for success would be severely limited if she were not on the Feed.
Though it is implied that Titus and his friends are privileged and upper-class citizens, there is little mention of citizens that are lower-class and unable to afford the Feed. It is suggested, however, that the Feed directly correlates to access, affluence, and opportunities. The implications of class and the role that it plays in M.T. Anderson’s world are once again very reflective of our own class divides. Today, education and workforces are dominated by technology. Technological savvy is critical for survival in the educational and professional realms. The tech that is often required for this survival and success, however, does not come cheap. Poorer or underprivileged families—like Violet’s—are therefore severely disadvantaged by systems that place primary importance in access to technological resources.
In addition to political and social degradation, the environmental impacts of the Feed are heavily implied. Overpopulation has resulted in the destruction of forests, which has subsequently lead to the creation of “air factories" (buildings which quite literally produce breathable oxygen). Due to the reckless and negligent disposal of waste, the seas have become so toxic that beaches are hazardous; characters can only visit the beach with a hazmat suit.
Consumerism and capitalism run rampant in Feed. Due to the Feed’s constant displays of advertisements and promotions, citizens in this futuristic world have become nothing more than consumers. In this world, a person’s only purpose is to buy products and then funnel money into the big business corporations that dominate and control the country. Everything is marketed, itemized, and purchasable. The plausibility of this world—part of which has already come to fruition in our real world—is what makes M.T. Anderson’s novel so tantalizingly eerie. Perhaps the book's most powerful message comes from its closing passages. In the final pages of the book, as Violet is expiring and malfunctioning, Titus finally appears to show genuine emotional depth for her. Though he had previously viewed her as a nuisance—an embarrassment that was detracting from his ability to enjoy the Feed—Violet’s imminent death has helped Titus to gain some perspective on his consumeristic lifestyle.
In the final pages of the book, Titus finally stops viewing Violet as a product—as something to be used and then discarded after its usefulness has ended. Rather, Titus attempts to connect with Violet by telling her a story. The story, which is based off of their own tumultuous relationship, suggests that Titus is going to attempt to resist the Feed as much as he can—just as Violet once attempted to do. The novel’s conclusion—a Feed ad that slowly fades away—can be interpreted in a few ways. It could be suggestive of the inevitable annihilation of this unsustainable society. It could represent Violet’s death. Or, it could represent Violet's and Titus’ collective attempt to escape the Feed’s constant and overbearing influence. The uncertainty and ambiguity of this final passage is powerful, as it is suggestive of both Titus’ uncertain future and the uncertain future of his society.
Anderson uses Feed as a plea to his 21st century readers. Though it may be too late for Violet or even Titus to save their world (or themselves), Anderson clearly hopes that this dark tale will inspire readers to resist the controlling and potent culture of consumerism.
