Mediocre Man

♪ Faster than an amateur jogger

More powerful than a 12-year old

Able to leap trash cans in a single bound ♪

♪ Look! On the street!

It’s a guy. It’s a guy staring at his phone. It’s MEDIOCRE MAN! ♪

“What’s it like to be Mediocre Man?”

It’s like being alive.

An ordinary experience

beyond your mildest dreams.

Of course, my powers are great:

Setting high expectations!

“I am above average! I am special and unique!”

Taking the path of least resistance!

“I watch YouTube and eat cereal for hours because it’s easy!”

Subverting circadian rhythms!

“They were stopping me from getting heart disease!”

Living in denial!

“I stay up late to pretend to myself that I am working!”

I am Mediocre Man!

And I always BE MYSELF™!

I saddle the middle of the bell curve

Like a grown man on a tricycle.

I am mediocre

And this is where I stand.

Status vs. Character

This image represents the disparity between status and character, and how neither one defines the other. The cars on the right represent the higher social class in Afghanistan, which is rich enough to afford a luxurious mode of transportation that requires them to do nothing but press on the gas pedal. Because of their wealth, they are all revered by the rest of society, which is shown by how the cars are illuminated by the sun. However, this light also shows all the character flaws they possess. Their higher status makes them feel inclined to reassert it and permits them to commit sins with impunity. These imperfections are represented by the broken windows and broken engines. Meanwhile, the bikes on the left represent the lower social class of Afghanistan, which can only afford to buy bikes, a manually powered mode of transportation. Being put in the shadows, the darkness hides their strengths and flaws, and they are often ignored by those of higher status. They are also chained to racks, which prevents them from ever moving out into the sunlight.

The Sole Truth

Sijie uses the symbol of the Little Chinese Seamstress' pale pink shoes to illustrate the personality of the Little Chinese Seamstress, namely her openness, determination, and her purity of mind. The shoes, described as homemade and simple yet sturdy and eye catching directly reflects upon the character of the Little Chinese Seamstress. As she grows and matures, she will grow out of both her shoes and the values and beliefs attached to them.

"The princess of Phoenix mountain wore pale pink canvas shoes, which were both sturdy and supple"(21).

"There was nothing out of the ordinary about the cheap, homemade shoes, and yet, in a place where nearly everyone went barefoot, they caught the eye, seeming delicate and sophisticated" (21).

How Real Are Our Memories?