A response to a response of a response

Fiction is way more important as a socially influential genre than people give it credit for. Yes, reading history and non-fiction can give physical facts about the who, what, and where but gets a little flimsy when trying to describe the whys and hows. In order to understand how cultures think, studying literature of fictional media should be a prominent part of any sociological research. Two of the greatest series' of the past decades have been the Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as the Harry Potter heptology (which, surprising as it is, is actually a real word). Lord of the Rings represents the Western fantasy with its Eurocentric ancestry, alluding to the roots most noticeably from Irish and British nationalities. Harry Potter on the other hand has been debated throughout the United States for its connections with blackmagic practices of witchcraft and wizardry. Yet, the fact that it has sold millions of copies may reveal the more secular outlook of Western culture.

Naomi's review of Yehuda Amihai's book Not of this Time, Not of this Place gives us a better look into the mindset of those with a connection to Jerusalem. It's interesting how correct Hasan-Rokem was in her analysis of Jerusalem in literature in that it is always represented in a transcendant fashion. Throughout this Naomi's paper, she talks about how the different characters in the story view the city in contrasting ways (ie. celestial, terrestrial, or full of a terrifying past), yet always with the same transcending apperance. A protagonist full-heartedly states "I admit loving it" in context of Jerusalem. Hasan-Rokem would have a field day explaining the feminist perspective of this statement but I think it would suffice to say that there is an obvious humanization of the city.

Many other passages help to illustrate an image of the unknown that the city seems to symbolize. One passage describes Jerusalem vaguely as a "mosaic of love". This fantasy lacks realism, expressing the omniscience that is believed to envelope the city. Even the physical actions of the protagonists are presented as transcending reality where a character goes back to the city narrating "I wandered aimlessly- as though in a dream". Amongst the dense religious history lies a sense that Jerusalem, although now separate, was once the bridge to the spiritual realm. This has instilled upon its inhabitants a sense of unattainability that is most often a part of the city's image in fictional literature from the area.

I hope I do not sound like a broken-record here, but I think that this point needs to be nailed into the frontal lobe of every citizen in this generation. That is that in order to make serious gains toward an efficient globalized system, of which has been expedited by the use of social media, everyone must achieve a better sense of respect for fellow man (and woman of course). Human rights has been brought up many times before within our class, and although some of the arguments may have strayed from the discussion, this is a key point that must be included in any political debate. Because what is the purpose of a nation without the support of its people?