Carr and Twenge

Anna Stolina

Alexis Sellas

Expository Writing 101

November 6, 2012

Golden-middle in Individualism

Throughout the past few decades, the concept of individualism has blossomed in many different countries. In previous generations, collectivism was the strict norm- there was really no focus on one’s individual growth and accomplishments- but more and more countries are now realizing and accepting the growing notion of the “individual”. This concept doesn’t only need to be applied to human civilization though. In her essay, “Rewilding North America”, Caroline Fraser discusses the need for a larger system as the foundation for individuality. Although Fraser refers to animals and their need for a certain structure, her concepts are easily relatable to human problems as well. Fraser’s warnings echo throughout John Krakauer’s “Selections from Into the Wild” as he follows the journey of a young man, not only into the depths of Alaska, but also into the recesses of his own shaky individualism as a result of his problems with society. His isolated state is the perfect environment to explore narcissistic individualism and the reasons it fails for both him and the GenMe generation as discussed by Jean Twenge in her essay, “An Army of One: Me”. While Fraser focuses on the necessary base for individualism, Twenge explores the implications of individualism without that proper foundation. She portrays an apparent stagnation in our society as a result of unnecessary praise that only perpetuates our narcissistic individualism on top of our rocky foundation. As the broad concepts from both Fraser’s and Twenge’s essays intertwine with Krakauer’s narrow and specific descriptions, it is apparent that a solid structural foundation is crucial to one’s identity as it allows for a smooth transition into a “golden-middle” region of individualism when one needs to reach a point of self-actualization but allows one to revert to a ground level for support and stabilization.

In today’s...