Little Eyes by Schweblin: Giving Dystopian

Hmm well this book definitely separates itself from the previous ones we have read. And I like that! It moves away from the pain experienced by women and instead focuses on a more diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds. I found this change interesting, because the novel explores a different kind of vulnerability. It examines the human desire to connect with others, and how far people are willing to go to fulfill that desire.

I found the dynamic of the kentukis, little stuffies with built-in cameras, and how they connect users on both sides, very interesting. I believe that from each end, users are gaining access to another person's life while also giving up their autonomy:

1. With regards to the "keepers": they gain control over the physical object that represents a "dweller", while losing their personal privacy in the process. 

2. With regards to the "dwellers": they gain access to the private lives of "keepers", yet become essentially a non-autonomous sort of pet in the lives of keepers. Keepers can simply stop charging their kentukis or throw them out, thus ending the connection on their own terms. 

I think that an important thing to note about kentukis is that they offer a sort of illusion of connection, but I would argue that they do not necessarily offer true connection. Although those participating gain access into personal aspects of one another's lives, this not guarantee they are bound to develop a meaningful relationship. Simply being able to observe someone's private life does not mean that we truly know them, even if we feel as though we have become part of their world. This dynamic actually reminds me of the world we live in today: one flooded by social media, influencers, and online content in effectively every domain. Social media influencers willingly expose aspects of their lives to be perceived and analyzed, potentially sacrificing their privacy (like keepers), while consumers gain access to these details but may find their own autonomy affected by constant comparison (like dwellers).

Now, while I recognize that the image I chose for this novel seems quite innocent and cute in contrast with what I believe is a terrifying world, I think that the little figure poking outside the woman's jeans is representative of the way that kentukis are small, yet present and watching, in the lives of the keepers.

My question for the class: If you HAD to choose, would you be a keeper or a dweller? I'd be a dweller. I don't want a mysterious little thing rolling around my house watching me. That is so scary.