I found the section Dead at 30 Buried at 70 very interesting. Coupland tells a story of Dag in Matthew’s living room sitting by himself on the ground surrounded by pornography and bottles of Blue Sapphire gin with the stereo on full blast. He thought he was having a party but instead, he was in a depressive state. He later realized that for him, “Accidental eye contact with 7-Eleven grocery clerks became charged with vile meaning.” This loss of eye contact and human connection he talks about is similar to that of those who are so caught up in their own lives or technology around them that they fail to have this important human connection. This goes to display Walter Benjamin’s point about how storytellers find their material “in experience: his own or secondhand.” It appears Coupland has witnessed this in people and he does not like what he sees.
Spencer, Mckenzie’s feedback on the relation between texts feels helpful!
At the same time, I want to, not disagree with her, but say something about how you could use WB’s ideas in your analysis. You would need to show how the DISTINCTION between personal and 2nd hand experience is relevant. What if it’s not especially relevant to this scene, but rather relevant to your overall take on the book? (eg, think about what Andy writes at the end of the first chapter…)