SSTLS Pages 154-156

In his article “Will China Surpass U.S. as a World’s Superpower?” in the Chicago Tribune, Varjavand argues that the United States will continue to holds its position as a world’s superpower due to its influential capitalistic economy and positive attitudes toward foreign policy, human rights, multiculturalism, equality, and education. Varjavand claims that China will take years to bridge the gap necessary to reach the world-status currently held by the United States because of its unstable political system. Further, the presence of many poor citizens also prevents China from growing as a superpower and despite any economic crises that the U.S. might experience ahead “there is light at the end of the tunnel” (Varjavand, 2015).  Varjavand’s position contradicts the futuristic happenings in SSTLS, where China is a global superpower with a very wealthy population. In the United States portrayed by Shteyngart China is seen as the driving force behind the American economy, but China’s citizens are parsimonious and won’t spend their money in America. In the story, in a meeting with the Governor of the People’s Bank of China-Worldwide, Wangsheng Li, U.S. president Cortez states: “The American people need China-Worldwide to become a savior of our last manufacturers, large and small. China is no longer a poor country. It is time for the Chinse people to spend”. In this dystopic world, the odds that China would become a Superpower came true, refuting Varjavand’s argument. Ultimately, SSTLS presents the worst possible scenario of what could happen if the United States wouldn’t recover from the Great recession of 2008.

Varjavand, Reza. “Will China Surpass U.S. as World’s Superpower?” Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2015. Web. 5 Oct. 2015.

In Super Sad True Love Story, social media interactions are the top priority of everyone in the world. The problem is so huge, people actually are willing to commit suicide when the networks shut down and apparati can no longer be used. It is an age where the world is completely dependent on social interaction through technology, and one that appears quite similar to our own. One effect of this social media practice seen in both our society and the novel’s is a waning in empathy. In an opinion article titled “Stop Googling. Let’s talk.” printed in the New York Times, author Sherry Turkle explains how empathy between college students has decreased 40% since the technological age, the majority of the decrease occurring since 2000, and how even five days without using technology, such as at summer camp, can show an increase in human connection and meaningful conversation.

Turkle’s ideas are an intriguing commentary on our world and can be added to Shteyngart’s arguments in his novel. First, characters don’t have much empathy for one another. Jenny doesn’t acknowledge Eunice’s heartfelt comments about friendship (176) and Eunice’s first encounter with David leaves her saying they aren’t all in together for David’s cause (146). In contrast to this, while following Turkle’s arguments, Eunice, cut off from technology after the Rupture, sends messages that cannot be received by anyone. In one message to Jenny, she says, “White people don’t really care about old people, except for David who tried to help everyone. And then they shot him like a dog” (265). Eunice changes her earlier seemingly apathetic comments about David to empathetic ones. After spending time thinking about the atrocities and having no connection to technology to distract her, Eunice is finally able to connect to David’s strive to help people and be angry with his death.