Blog Post #2 - Richard Bisso

Richard Bisso

English 346

Professor Simon

Blog Post #2

Super Sad True Love Story Vs. 21^st Century America

            Upon reading Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart’s, I couldn’t help but notice some glaring similarities between the two. As discussed in class, no one is really sure what time period this novel is supposed to take place, although based on the context of the reading, we can assume that it’s not too far into the future just yet, as there are some recognizable places that maintain familiarity for the readers. 

            The first of the similarities was the äppärät that the author references. The notion of being able to see what someone else is doing at anytime, in real time –although interesting, does create this sense of claustrophobia for the reader. Every time it was mentioned, I was thinking how Shteyngart might’ve modeled it after the iPhone and how ubiquitous it has become in everyone’s day to day lives (or smartphones in general). But I think that just being able to stream something real time pushes the boundaries, as evidence by Eunice and Lenny throughout the story.

            In regards to the device, there mentioning of ratings and tying it in with fuckabiliy—definitely is a reflection on modern day social networking. Although not explicit, the idea of rating people based on looks has become entrenched within our modern day society. Sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter—all of them have become a badge of validation, some by friends and family, many by people who we have never met in real life and probably never will. This was probably the most intriguing of the ideas that Shteyngart used, as I could definitely see real time ratings becoming a popularized commodity. As it is, social networking sites have become more prone to keeping up with the time, and because of that, videos have become increasingly shorter (from YouTube to vine), and ideas circulated in a similar manner (from discussion forums to 150 character word counts on Twitter).

            Our society, although Shteyngart has clearly been inspired by modern day America, I don’t quite see our society becoming the way he thinks it may delve into. Yes there is a fascination with social media, but as any modern day reports show, teens are fleeing from Facebook and twitter at an alarming rate, going towards the next thing that’s popular. Not only is there a decline in interest (at least it seems that way), privacy has also become a cornerstone conversation with regards to these behemoth sites known for data collection. Now that leaks have shown Facebook, which now owns Instagram, and Twitter all being complacent with handing over their data servers to government requests (FISA Court), many people have shown concern, flocking away from American located servers, in hopes of trying to maintain any sense of online privacy possible.

            Whether Shteyngart intended for America to become this idea he has depicted or letting it roam as a mere idea in an of itself is hard to say. Based on my own reading of the book, I think Shteyngart was more or less inspired by today, rather than leading his readers to believe this was his vision of America in the future; either way, there was subtle commentary about technology and the roles it plays in our lives—one in which Shteyngart and myself both agree: too much of it can and will be a bad thing.