Tyler G. L. Newman ‘25
“I hate small parties, they are too intimate,” says Jordan Baker in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless classic, The Great Gatsby. Despite the character’s detestable morals, she has an undeniable point. With that, truth lies in the fact that when people crowd an event, one may protect their privacy, never having to tell their story to anyone.
I consider myself a well-traveled man. It is by far my favorite material aspect of this life as we live. However, my exploration experience while traveling is based on an outstanding theory and a personal hero of mine, Anthony Bourdain.
Undoubtedly a troubled soul, Bourdain spent a lifetime exploring the world while placing an important emphasis on the people that make up the places he explored. Bourdain’s emphasis was grounded in immersion, empathy and humanity; his thoroughly traveled life was spent loving and caring for those he met. To me, Bourdain’s most impactful quote is as such: “Do we really want to travel in hermetically sealed popemobiles through the rural provinces of France?”
In this, France is a simple example, but we as Americans may liken it to Cancun. We may liken the people of Cancun to no more than servants to our “all-inclusive” vacation needs. To me, most tourists are aware of the places that they go. Not just the Western culture but the “Civilized World” (a phrase of which I morally detest), will not walk in the streets of New Delhi, or see the Kasbah in Marrakech for instance, simply because it is not as domesticated as Paris or Lyon. These fabricated places are shameful and an insult to what the country has to offer, not only in terms of geography and cities – but the more important factor: people.
I experienced a peculiar phenomenon during a seminar in Italy. We arrived back at Orvieto after about a twelve-hour day in Siena. After dinner, my instinctive reaction was to throw on my jacket and walk amongst strangers, free and solo. None of my friends were with me, though I felt companionship in the company of strangers. Earlier, I was asked by a close friend in the class why I waited to go out until later in the night, especially when there was extensive reading material and other work to finish for the next three-hour class period. I said to her, “I wanted to hang out with the strangers.” A confused, and an interested shock went through her, “That’s beautiful,” she said, which I was delighted to hear. I was not ambitious to observe those around me, rather to potentially interact with them and observe the mannerisms in which they live their daily lives. She understood that and had also felt the intoxicating energy that comes with just being near people, especially during our time in Italy. The streets carry laughs and sobs, arguments and intimate moments; you may never even say a word or meet these people, but you feel the commonality in humanity.
From another friend: “Anonymity of crowds is why I love New York [City] so much. There are too many people around to be concerned with others which is why it’s so private and personal despite what some may assume,” They went on to say, “In urban communities there’s so much going on and nothing to focus on, other than those around you. It gets to be very intimate very quickly.” This notion is fortified upon the sheer volume of people and law of large numbers. If you seek a deep connection and personal relationship built upon virtue and trust, it becomes impossible in this environment.
However, this concept does not have to be solely experienced in a foreign country or even a foreign city. In any major metropolis in your country, you can experience this universal anonymity. In a crowd of thousands of people where you may not know a single person, beauty lies in the experience of being a stranger among others.
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