Professor Pritchett
EXPOS: Section QH
December 5, 2014 Social Connections: Fantasy vs. Reality
Throughout society’s development, individuals have grown to make connections based off of past experiences. Connections can have various meanings such as association with development, or a relationship between groups of people. In Azar Nafisi’s writing of, “Selection from Reading Lolita in Tehran,” she describes the creation of her reading group, and how it provides the type of education she desired to provide as an educator but was restricted based on the Iranian regime. Similarly, in Susan Faludi’s “The Naked Citadel,” Faludi examines the unique culture of a nonaffiliated military school, which highlights the clash between The Citadel’s historical cultures and its present conflicts. Lastly, in Sherry Turkle’s, “Selections from Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other” she comments on how children learn to make unrealistic personal connections with technology. Evolution of society and tradition, seen within the readings allows for the changes seen within the environment. The environment in which one lives in either inhibits or creates the ability to experience new connections within society. Through the discussion of reality versus fantasy, the ability to make connections is inevitably controlled by one’s surroundings.
The reality of an individual’s environment, can inhibit the ability to create connections. In “Selection from Reading Lolita in Tehran,” Azar Nafisi discusses prejudices her students face in Tehran because of unequal gender rights. Under a totalitarian type of government society is forced to conform to traditional societal rules and beliefs. This results in the loss of their individual identities and conform to their societies beliefs. Nafisi states while looking into a mirror that, “In its reflection, I could see the mountains capped with snow even in summer, and watch the trees change color. That