In Things
Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and “How Generation Z Works”, an article by
Lance Looper about the temperament and abilities of the individuals born
between 1991 and 2001, the authors strive to present the communities of the Ibo
people and Generation Z in their entirety rather than focus on the groups’
associated stereotypes. In the beginning of both texts, Achebe and Looper explain
the circumstances that mold the religious beliefs of the Ibo people and the skills
of Generation Z. Next, the endeavors of the characters in Things Fall Apart and the facts in “How Generation Z Works” indicate
the progress and accomplishments of the different communities that contradict
the common perceptions of the Ibo people’s primitiveness and violent tendencies
and of Generation Z’s short tempers, laziness, and lack of awareness. By the
end of the texts, the authors justify particular stereotypes to fairly
represent the Ibo and Generation Z communities in their glory and with their
flaws, and they describe the interactions between the communities and the
outside world to thoroughly depict the different groups. Through storytelling
and the presentation of data, both Achebe and Looper fully and accurately depict
the Ibo and Generation Z communities with their inclusion of relevant stories
and facts that represent all of the communities’ characteristics as opposed to
merely the characteristics according to bias.
Initially in Things Fall Apart and “How Generation Z Works,” the authors set out
to present holistic views of the different communities by explaining the
origins of the communities’ beliefs and skills. Before the advent of
imperialism in Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo
inherits nothing from his father due to his lack of success, and the village of
Umuofia tells the story of how Unoka “[has] gone to consult the Oracle of the
Hills and the Caves to find out why he always [has] a miserable harvest… [Unoka]
has a bad chi or personal god, and
evil fortune [follows] him to the grave” (Achebe 18). By emphasizing the importance of abundant harvests and how
the Ibo people associate agricultural success with their religious figures and
beliefs, Achebe indicates the origin of the villagers’ piety, and he
consequently gives insight into the villagers’ priorities and values. In “How
Generation Z Works,” Looper justifies Generation Z’s characteristics when he states
that the community “has
lived their entire life with instant access to mountains of data on any topic that
flutters through their imaginations… [and] they're also coming up in a world
shaped by 9/11, Columbine and the War on Terror. They have a sense of social
justice, philanthropy and maturity that comes with growing up during one of the
most severe economic recessions in history” (Looper, “How Generation Z Works”).
In the same way that Achebe attributes the Ibo people’s religious devotion to
the importance of their unpredictable harvests, Looper attributes Generation
Z’s good nature and maturity to their influential environment. Achebe and Looper
similarly explain the reasoning for the Ibo people’s spirituality and
Generation Z’s social qualities to thoroughly disclose the backgrounds of the
communities.
After disclosing the influential
circumstances and environments of the communities, Achebe and Looper challenge stereotypes
by focusing on the cultural and intellectual achievements of the Ibo people and
Generation Z. As the white men become a part of the Ibo villages in Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo becomes
determined to achieve success after seven years of exile and thinks that “the
first thing he would do would be to rebuild his compound on a more magnificent
scale… Then he would show his wealth by initiating his sons into the ozo
society” (Achebe 171). While stereotypes applying to the Ibo people suggest
primitiveness and lack of structure, Achebe implies in Okonkwo’s plan to
succeed that the Ibo people have motivation, ambition, and a complex economy
and social order. Similarly, in “How Generation Z Works,” Looper challenges the
stereotypes of Generation Z when he asserts that “they're growing up fast and
developing sensitivities beyond their years. They see themselves as the
solution… [and] are more likely to pursue careers they think will help society”
(Looper, “How Generation Z Works”). Like Achebe contradicts the stereotypes of the
Ibo people, Looper contradicts the common opinion that Generation Z has apathy and
a lack of awareness with his assertion of Generation Z’s mature sense of
responsibility. With their implications and assertions, Achebe and Looper
effectively challenge the ideas that the Ibo people lack evolution and
complexity and that Generation Z does not care about the future or global issues.
In order to depict not only the
attractive attributes of the communities but also the imperfections, the
authors embrace the validity of particular stereotypes. After the advent of imperialism in Things Fall Apart, the Ibo people seek
revenge on a man who killed a member of the egwugwu, and a band of villagers
“[move] like a furious whirlwind to Enoch’s compound and with machete and fire
[reduce] it to a desolate heap. And from there they [make] for the church,
intoxicated with destruction” (Achebe 188). While Achebe presents the
respectable qualities of the Ibo people, he also justifies the stereotype of their
occasionally violent behavior in order to provide a credible and balanced portrayal.
As for Generation Z, Looper also presents evidence of flaws and admits, “One of
the challenges the constant flow of information presents is that when tasked
with solving a problem, [Generation Z looks] for the quick answer rather than
work toward solving the problem on their own. Their instinct is to pursue speed
instead of accuracy” (Looper, “How Generation Z Works”). His claim that
Generation Z students pursue speed over accuracy promotes the stereotype that
Generation Z struggles with laziness and therefore describes the community
completely and in a trustworthy manner. By acknowledging the truth of specific
common stereotypes, Achebe and Looper represent the Ibo and Generation Z communities
holistically and righteously.
By the end of the texts, Achebe and Looper
discuss the juxtaposition of the Ibo people and Generation Z with surrounding
external communities to clarify the roles of the different groups in the
greater world. In Things Fall Apart,
as the Ibo and Christian communities try to coexist, members of the Christian community
“[try] to overstep the bounds. Three converts [go] into the village and [boast]
openly that all the gods [are] dead and impotent and that they [are] prepared
to destroy them by burning all their shrines” (Achebe 154). The apparent
resentment and violence between the two communities implies a mutual
intolerance that clearly shows the position of the Ibo village relative to neighboring
groups of people. In “How Generation Z Works,” Looper also strives to depict
Generation Z relative to other communities when he states, “[Previous
generations have] to learn technology as it [is] developed, experiencing these
advancements as they happen while [Generation Z] are "digital
natives," meaning they've been raised in an environment where every piece
of technology is intuitive, logical and mature” (Looper, “How Generation Z
Works). Looper suggests that Generation Z, when compared to older communities, demonstrates
a natural ability to utilize technology that previous generations require more
time to master; this comparison implies the digital authority that Generation Z
commands over other external communities. Descriptions of the interactions
between the Ibo people and Generation Z and the outside world provide a
complete picture of not only internal characteristics but also external roles
and positions of the communities.
In summation, Achebe and Looper do not
provide mere alternate views that simply praise the Ibo people and Generation
Z, but they depict the communities completely and holistically by discussing their
origins, accomplishments, flaws, and roles in the greater community. When
readers encounter texts regarding the characteristics of communities, they must
judge the quality of the material and whether it describes a group entirely or
only partially. Partial descriptions only damage communities and promote
ignorance, so writers must also write with caution so as not to perpetuate a
cycle of intolerance and naivety.