In this day and age, communication between people is limitless. Through radio, TV, and media, continents and cultures feel closer than ever. Yet with this, media has a greater impact around the world than I believe most people realize. This is explored in "Cell One". In the story, the narrator introduces the presence of the West felt by Nigeria through showing that the materials stolen from their house in the initial robbery were the "Purple Rain" and "Thriller" videotapes that Nnambia's father had brought from America. Additionally, the narrator states the effect American rap videos had on the university students causing "swagger" to course through their veins and commencing the season of gang like "cults". The violence that occurs in the town are horrific. "It was so abnormal that it quickly became normal" (p.34). The violence that occurs escalates to almost mirror the same violence the students see in their rap videos. And its ridiculous. Adichie does a great job showing this large presence Western culture holds to those around the world by showing the events of her Nigerian University city.
I was thinking exactly the same thing while reading. It seemed like the Western culture that permeated their communities resulted in an ugly sort of graft vs. host disease. But the Nigerians inability to effectively and justly eradicate gang violence reflects our countries own failure to do so.
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