The Fundamentals of Play by Nathaniel Barrett https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc "Walmart Gatsby" en-us 2022-04-27 17:35:56 UTC 2022-05-19 05:10:07 UTC hello@padlet.com Metaphor: Wall Street as a Game cj1003103 https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2160846170 An extended metaphor used throughout the book, as well as seen in the title, depicts the dynamics of business and society on Wall Street being a game where there are both winners and losers. This is crucial for the reader to fully understand how certain characters use sometimes deceitful tactics to achieve their idea of the American Dream, as well as encountering obstacles along the way. It is these obstacles of the game that help the author to reveal how the characters and setting are shaped by their present-day society. 

George describes how Harry "reminded [him] of an aging athlete recounting their big game" further reminding the reader that the characters are all parts of a larger system that is Wall Street (39). This is also a crucial excerpt because it characterizes Harry as living in his post-success world; from his place observing, George sees Harry as a reminder of what has been done, not a figure to look out for in the future. George goes on to say that he "loved to hear the stories of the players, the winners and losers, and the allowances made for the eccentricities of the former" (39). George is desperate to achieve higher social status and by using his strategy of listening to anyone who had worked on Wall Street, he finds himself in a better position to play the game than most.

George reflects on his generation's experience with Wall Street concluding that "that's how people [his] age wanted to play it: 'wild' but safe" (178). Understanding that this book takes place before the Internet explosion, George's generation was in a relatively good economic place, allowing them to experiment financially and socially. This also led the characters in the book into a competition where they had to figure out the balance between offensive and defensive tactics; the balance between a wild and safe environment.

For the duration of the book, characters were described in relation to machinery or as being controlled by something else. During one various dinner part, Kate seemed to be operating "as if a string in her back had been pulled and she was mechanized into conversation" (102). Kate is just another product of social standards, being forced into playing a part that she does not want to play. However, Kate fits into her generation for "like all surviving clans, [she's] had an instinct for self-preservation, it was often said that Kate was a 'smart girl'. Nobody doubted she would pick a winner" (225). This terminology lends itself to the extended metaphor, revealing how survival correlates with the actions of a character, for Kate was heavily influenced when making decisions in her love life. This sort of facade encourages ideas that promote the question: where is the line between true and fake personas?

Finally, it is important that we note that the last line describes how the characters "picked up our hands and began to play" (289). In this scene, they end by playing a game of cards, which promptly concludes the reader's insight into the game. The author, by ending with this, is emphasizing the importance of being dealt with a good hand in society, relating to wealth, connections, etc, as well as who you are playing with.]]> 2022-04-27 17:49:49 UTC https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2160846170 Historical Lens nb1010248 https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2176120676 Caitlin Macy employs literary techniques within interactions between characters – most commonly through dialogue – to constantly remind the reader that the text takes place in 1990's New York City without explicitly redirecting the reader to the setting. Deb groans that she left the store but "fagotaget cigarettes" (151). Macy spells Deb's declaration in a classic New York accent, subtly reminding the reader that the novel is set in NYC. This interaction, later involving Nick, reveals just as much about the time period in which the text occurs as its location. As Deb discusses the origins of her baby's name amid her cigarette crisis, Nick suggests that she "shouldn't smoke... not with the baby" (151). The '90's was an era of developing health and science research, even regarding familiar devices like cigarettes. While studies in the mid-20th century confirmed the previously hypothesized health risks affiliated with smoking, the National Library of Medicine's article titled "Cancer Among Adults from Exposure to Secondhand Smoke" cites studies from 1981 and 1986 as the first major studies to connect secondhand smoke to lung cancer. These studies demonstrated that non-smoking women contract lung cancer at a much higher rate if their spouse smokes cigarettes. With under a decade of research separating the studies and the period in which the text is set, secondhand smoke and other potential consequences of smoking were certainly relevant and controversial issues. This perfectly explains Deb's reaction to Nick's suggestion: "F*** you" (151).]]> 2022-05-09 17:15:25 UTC https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2176120676 Wealth pl1005929 https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2183209971 A commonality between many of the 'old money' characters in The Fundamentals of Play is an overwhelming sense of purposelessness. They regurgitate the ideals and culture of previous generations. George commentates that "we weren't making it new" (185). Despite following the goal of 'The Game', whether it be the pursuit of love or wealth, they all are trapped and purposeless.

Like The Great Gatsby, the characters in the Fundamentals of Play tend to value tangible items over personal relationships. When describing his past to George, Harry recounts how "A lotta [the] kids weren't cool in high school" but he "was cool in high school. [He] had a car" (181). This interaction demonstrates how the East Coast socioeconomic "elite" of the 1990's (equally to the upper class of the '20's) classified their peers, without hesitation, into caste-like social groups based solely on their wealth and belongings. This classification is problematic because it prevents the ultra-rich from venturing socially outside of their bubble of wealth, forcing them to create one-dimensional relationships with only those "worthy" as determined by their financial prestige. These relations deliver no true value to the involved parties because they are not true friendships, derived from commonalities in their personalities, but rather superficial connections to one another through possession of intriguing items, like a car in the case of Harry.

The true shallowness of these materialism-based relationships is evident in George's final chapter thoughts and dialogue, in which he ponders how he will miss his peers, explicitly mentioning Kate and Chat. When delving into the traits that he will miss most, George settles on the "silent tribute they have paid [him] all of these years – of recognizing [his] name" (280). Shows that all he values in his relationships revolve around the ideals of materialism and that these relationships do not satisfy or complete him in any form aside from recognition and affirmation of his societal power.]]> 2022-05-13 17:18:23 UTC https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2183209971 Lit Crit pl1005929 https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2183231022 Critic Penelope Green reviews and critiques Caitlin Macy's The Fundamentals of Play, paying particular attention to how gender impacts the story. Green comments "what a book Macy might have made of Kate's inner life," but sadly, the book focuses on the bland Carraway-lite George Lenhart. Green wishes that the Macy would have chosen a female narrator, which would have better illuminated the confluence of gender and class in the 1990s.]]> 2022-05-13 17:34:47 UTC https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2183231022 cj1003103 https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2186740255 The "Fundamentals of Play" written by Caitlin Macy describes dynamics within New York City in the 1990s, just as the World Wide Web began to emerge. There are many parallels between F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" relating to the shared characters, themes, and settings. It explores what role the American Dream plays in a character's past, present, and future, and delves into how a person's origins and relationships with others impact their successes and downfalls. Overall, this is a book that explores a generation faced with economic and societal change, causing each of them to always be thinking ahead, on to their next move.]]> 2022-05-17 02:12:13 UTC https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2186740255 The Gender/Feminist Lens jp1008811 https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188577133 Macy's use of the gender lens is specific to the character Kate, as she is characterized by her attractive, effortless charm, but is silenced by the narrator as he refuses to portray her depth. George himself disregards the details of Kate's interactions, making statements like "When it was over and she said no" (227) to establish his lack of interest in what she actually has to say. Additionally, Kate is never subject to confrontation, even though she acts carelessly and is extremely problematic. In ignoring Kate's faults and maintaining the "Don't get mad at Kate"  (184) narrative, Macy presents the men of this society as so belittling to women that they can't even hold them accountable for their actions. Presenting women as aloof and careless and men as dismissive is purposeful, as it reveals the issues in society regarding gender, that can be revealed through the use of the feminist/gender lens. 


Referring to how society forces girls into attempting to achieve the beauty standard, Kate remarks, "New York does that to girls"(88). This is important to note, for the setting and  time period they were living in, had just begun to break the confining mold it placed on girls in the past, though not completely. Later, when George feels threatened by Harry and Kate's blossoming relationship, he says "[Delia] had great teeth when she smiled" (88). This is done purposefully to reveal that men are a major part of the society that implements these standards and see women as nothing more than their looks. When George feels disconnected from Kate, he looks to Delia to find the physical attraction he feels she possesses to support his own masculinity. ]]> 2022-05-18 01:28:00 UTC https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188577133 cj1003103 https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188711265 Having read The Great Gatsby with its magnificent writing and notable praise right before this, there were very high expectations for this book. The character dynamics were very interesting and each had a very rich history; their motives and stakes were evident, allowing them room to grow throughout the book. However, there were times where the book moved slower than preferable. If you are a person that enjoys a  narrator who takes their time, than this book will be a great choice for you! In addition, the book primarily takes place in New York City and as a result, the reader doesn't get exposed to other parts of the country during the time that the book takes place. This can be a positive thing, if you are someone that would like to dive deeper into the city's dynamics, or a negative, if you are looking for a more global perspective. ]]> 2022-05-18 03:00:11 UTC https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188711265 Summary of Connections to Gatsby pl1005929 https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188726405 While The Fundamentals of Play by Caitlin Macy does appear as purely a The Great Gatsby derivative, it offers a new perspective on the thematic concepts interrogated by Fitzgerald in his seminal work. The most striking connections are how both authors use similar character archetypes to comment on similar thematic ideas. For example, Gatsby and Fundamentals examine the purposelessness generational wealth creates, which is compounded by the American Dream. Both works ask: what happens to a person once they have succeeded in fulfilling the Dream? However, Macy’s depiction of this purposelessness lacks the detail and nuance Fitzgerald’s depiction does. Tom and Daisy Buchanan are complex characters, motivated by apathy and boredom as much as hatred. As literary critic Scott Donaldson puts it, “the Buchanans destroy people. Myrtle Wilson, George Wilson, and Jay Gatsby are dead because of them, and they do not even feel remorse.” While Kate and her father do inadvertently cause Cara’s death, it is not comparable to the carnage left behind by the Buchanans, which consequently dampens the thematic power of the book. Despite tackling the same themes of apathy and absurd generational wealth, The Fundamentals of Play lacks the complexity and narrative depth to deeply interrogate the topic. Due to its tame writing and lack of drama compared to The Great Gatsby, it doesn’t show the horrors of capitalistic apathy the same way Gatsby is able to.
In both books, the purposelessness caused by ‘old money’ goes hand in hand with the wealthy using social convention and decorum to hold onto power. In Gatsby, Nick demonstrates the power of social decorum, when he repeatedly attempts to meet and thank Gatsby for inviting him to his party. Additionally, Nick’s perspective is run through the filter of social rules: he describes how Gatsby’s party goers operated “according to the rules of behavior associated with amusement parks” (34). Similarly, the protagonist of Fundamentals, George, values social decorum to a fault. As a result of coming from “a family who lost its fortune but not its good name,” George “wouldn't have traded places with [Harry] for anything,” even though "Harry had dropped out of college and made bonuses I could only imagine.” George is confused and dismayed by George’s lack of social clout and inability to navigate the high class world of New York. Through this, similar to Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby, Macy shows how social decorum is used to hold down people like Harry who threaten the stability of ‘old money’. Additionally, George also ideolizes Kate, who “always remembers [her lines],” which is a major driving factor of the plot and his affection towards her (175). Kate is a symbol of successful adherence to social rules, and Macy uses her character to interrogate the use of social decorum as a tool of control through the lens of gender.
]]> 2022-05-18 03:11:30 UTC https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188726405 cj1003103 https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188730090 2022-05-18 03:14:30 UTC https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188730090 When was the book set? pl1005929 https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188740920 The book was set "the year they changed the name on the building that ruins the view down Park Avenue," referring to the MetLife building (1). This building, according to Wikipedia, changed its name from the Pan Am building to the MetLife building in 1992, meaning that the events of the book are set in or directly after 1992.]]> 2022-05-18 03:23:25 UTC https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188740920 Context on the economy of the 1990s pl1005929 https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188749797 As The Fundamentals of Play focuses heavily on issues of class and economics in 1990s New York City, it is important that we understand the real world economic context during that time period. According to "Retrospective on American Economic Policy in the 1990s", a paper analyzing the 1990s American economy published by the Brookings Institution, "The 1990s American boom, to the contrary, was led by private-sector spending and private-sector employment. And for the first time in three decades, productivity growth rose substantially in the late 1990s." Despite this "outstanding" economic success, "Personal bankruptcies climbed, the personal saving rate plummeted (as measured in the national income statistics), the trade deficit expanded dramatically, and the stock market may well have become substantially overvalued." This economic boom coincided with the rise of the dot-com bubble in 1991, which is reflected in Harry's backstory as a pioneer of early internet services.]]> 2022-05-18 03:30:45 UTC https://padlet.com/nb1010248/xq4pmdequuaie8lc/wish/2188749797