Christopher Lasch & Narcissist Nancy

        Niya here: Reading Professor Nerio’s notes on The Culture of Narcissism by Christopher Lasch I found to be one of the most unabashed critiques on today’s society. Written in 1979, Lasch’s word may be over thirty years old, but many of the ideas have only become magnified in today’s society. The narcissist described by Lasch functions not from a place of “self-love and self aggrandizement, but inner emptiness”. While reading Dr. Nerio’s notes, I found it easiest to imagine a girl, my age living in New York City, and where she would find these daily narcissistic outlets. This girl, Narcissist Nancy as I named her, is 21 and living in the heart of New York City. While she may have more money than she will ever need, she still finds herself in constant search for herself, and finds reassurance in all the places Lasch suggests she will.

        Coming of age in a tech-savvy era, Narcissist Nancy is never one to be found without her phone. Always trying to stay ahead, she has her smartphone linked with her email, her social networking websites, and filled with contacts of people she could never actually call if there was any actual emergency. She cannot live without this technology. She belongs to every social networking websites she can find. She feels a miniature rush each time she signs on and they beg her to leave comments illustrating the banalities on their everyday lives is only further nourishment for the narcissist.

       

        That is not all Narcissist Nancy loves about these websites. Lasch cites the narcissist as a person obsessed with their age. Nancy is so enthralled with the idea of capturing these moments of youth and agility. Her camera, the second object she could not imagine her life without, is there to capture those late nights and early morning in which she is intent on showing the island of Manhattan that she has arrived. This ubiquitous item, so descriptive of my generation, is essential is Nancy’s arsenal. These images, which she daily uploads to all of her websites works to examine herself, and those around her, for “signs of aging and ill health […] blemishes and flaws that might diminish [our] attractiveness” (6). This obsession with posting and viewing pictures, Lasch would argue, is more a way to check that we reflect the youthful image we aspire. In this same aspect, analyzing these photos is a means to analyzing yet another narcissistic goal, “to be envied rather than respected” (6). In Nancy’s eyes, it is just to make sure that outfit looks just as cute in pictures, as is did in the fitting room of Forever 21.

        The desire to be envied, Lasch argues is a major piece of the narcissist goal. To Narcissist Nancy, it is just another part of life. She cannot remember a time when she was not the center of most conversations, and the top of everyone’s ‘It List’. The flock of girl who she affectionately calls ‘Team Nancy’ may say that they hate her, and would never want to be her friend. However, in Nancy’s mind these girls just envy the fabulous lifestyle she leads. And while it may be nice, to have a group of friends she could trust, she will settle for a group of girls who will follow her posts, and look through all of her photos, because as Lady Sovereign put it best “love me or hate me it’s still an obsession”.

        Stepping back, I wonder how Narcissist Nancy would feel reading the Lasch’s harsh words. Would she shudder with embarrassment of this depiction of her life? Or would she accept that without these things in her life, she does not feel whole? It is quite saddening imagining how Narcissist Nancy’s life would actually play out. I would hope she had someone, somewhere to read this and help her, help herself.