Unlikely Stories: Commentary on The IKEA Paradox by Rob Rosen

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The IKEA Paradox
Comments

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To: Jonathan Penton
From: Rob Rosen
October 27, 2003

Jonathan, Here's a new story for your site. It's called "The IKEA Paradox". Hope you like it and can use it. Enjoy!

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To: Rob Rosen
From: Jonathan Penton
December 1, 2003

Dear Rob,

I can only assume that this is some sort of joke. Because I fear being perceived as uncool, I will publish it so that you think that I'm in on the joke.

Yours,

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To: Jonathan Penton
From: Rob Rosen
December 1, 2003

Jonathan, no joke. Why do you think it is? I posted it on Zoetrope, where writers get critiqued by other writers, and it got a huge and positive response. In any case, I'm glad you're gonna publish it.
My best, as always,

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To: Rob Rosen
From: Jonathan Penton
December 6, 2003

Hi Rob,

Sorry about the slow response time, I've been spending a lot of time on the Greyhound lately. The Ikea story is polished, funny, and flawless. I'm sure we all know that french fries cannot be kept warm once cooked, but that's a small detail that I'm sure readers will forgive. I accused it of being a joke simply because it is a nine-page story about Ikea furniture.

To most of the readers and writers at Unlikely Stories, Ikea is the epitome and latest symbol of the capitalist machine's ability to convince us that a worthless item has value, and that we should measure our self-worth by our ability to acquire this worthless item. Ikea symbolized empty materialism long before Brad Pitt used it as such a symbol in "Fight Club."

I do have two writer friends (one of whom is both talented and progressive) who own Ikea furniture, and they own it with a great deal of self-mockery. Of course, the rebellion against Ikea is also open to mockery, as few of the people I know who hate Ikea actually involve themselves in progressive politics (though there are exceptions, such as yours truly). Anyway, I'm rambling. The symbolism, and not due to any flaw in the story, is why I said, "is he kidding?"

I hope my frankness does not offend; it is not intended to.

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To: Jonathan Penton
From: Rob Rosen
December 8, 2003

Jonathan, thanks for the email. Here's a related story you may find interesting and, perhaps, unsettling:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031119/od_nm/retail_sweden_ikea_dc_2

Have a super week.