John Doe
posted by:Jeremy Hessing-Lewis // 02:08 PM // June 02, 2006 // Commentary &/or random thoughts | TechLife
Douglas Coupland's newest novel, JPod, features the usual assortment of quirky characters. One in particular is especially clever. His name is John Doe and he is obssessed with being unremarkable. In contrast to the other characters who subvert their bland cubicle environment with endless self-identifying customization, John is determined to be statistically average.
John's birth name is "crow well mountain juniper" (all lower case). He grew-up in a lesbian commune, was home-schooled until the age of fifteen, and never saw a tv-set until the age of twelve. His desire to be statistically normal is an attempt to counteract his "wacko upbringing."
His attempts at being normal are a brilliant jab at the way we identify ourselves in a consumer society. He drives a white Ford Taurus and is flattered when people tell him that it looks like a rental car. He keeps himself 9 pounds overweight (stastically average). His wardrobe consists of khakis and plain corporate golf shirts.
Essentially, his personality is defined by his desire to not have an identity. Hilarity ensues.
