Book Fest Blog, Aug 16

Gary Younge, a Guardian journalist and award-winning foreign correspondent, spoke this afternoon on the theme of identity, which he addresses in his new book Who are we - and does it matter in the 21st century. He started by reading extracts from his book, which explores the meaning and the consequences of identity construction, using examples from across the globe. 

Younge observed that all of us have many different overlapping identites, which change over the course of a lifetime. Some aspects of our identity, such as our skin colour, we are born with, but others we perform, consciously or unconsciously, depending on our circumstances. He noted that some identities are thrust upon people arbitrarily, such as which side of the US/Mexico border a baby happens to be born on, but that this arbitrary difference has far-reaching consequences by affecting access to education and healthcare.

Younge argued that shared identities can form bridges between people as much as different identities divide them. He stated the importance of using empathy to identify with others, rather than define ourselves against them. “Our human differences are real,” he said, “but they can be embraced in the understanding of our common humanity.”

Are Friends Electric? explored the possibilities and the pitfalls of the new world of online friendships and digital communication. Jason Bradbury, the Gadget Show host, and Mariann Hardey, a researcher in social networking, debated the various issues raised by the popularity of Facebook and Twitter.

Where is the line between public and private when it comes to uploading photos, or telling the world what you got up to last night? How many friends can you actually maintain online? The speakers did not pretend to have the definitive answers to these questions, but gave their own personal view on the issues that affect everyone with an online presence. 

Bradbury, a prolific tweeter, said he realised he had crossed the line when, in the middle of a caesarian section, his wife asked him to stop tweeting about the birth of their third child. He described Twitter as a “way of externalising your internal life”, but accepts that there are some moments in which this is inappropriate. 

But both Bradbury and Hardey are unashamed fans of social media. “Ultimately, we are social beings,” Hardey said, “and technology is good at bringing people together.” Tweets from the audience were displayed on a large screen behind the speakers, bringing an element of digital interactivity into the talk itself.

But some members of the audience remained unconvinced, questioning the value of having hundreds of Facebook friends, or troubled by the privacy implications of sharing massive amounts of personal data. The speakers and the audience discussed the evolution of a social media ettiquette, which would govern online interactions. Until such an ettiquette is agreed upon, these questions will remain.

The End of the American Dream is the first of a series of debates across the festival, which aim to reflect and explore the changing world in which we live. Chaired by BBC special correspondent Allan Little, David Vann, author of Legend of a Suicide, and Gary Younge discussed the meaning of the American dream in contemporary American society. 

Younge discussed the American narrative of relentless progress and optimism, and how politicians must tap into this narrative if they are to win over the American people. As a British-born man now living in America, Younge provided many objective insights into the way Americans use this national myth. He argued that Obama’s campaign slogan, “Hope”, fitted into this narrative, whereas the Republicans dealt in fear, which did not. 

As an American, Vann described himself as “disappointed” in America’s role in world affairs, and attributes American’s belief that they are a force for good in the world to the legacy of World War II. He is especially critical of American’s failure to address the problem of climate change, which does not fit into the belief that tomorrow will be better than today. “The American voter has an incredible ability to ignore facts,” he said, to laughter from the audience.

Although remaining true to the central theme, the talk was wide-ranging, encompassing the role of the right-wing media in America today, lobbyists, corporations, and the neighbourly spirit still felt in American communities. Although predominately pessimistic, the speakers agreed that American culture and the American dream remains very seductive, even amongst those people who dislike the country itself.