So last week I was lucky enough to get a free ticket to see
The Social Network at the movie theater down in Harvard Square. Getting to see a film about Harvard while at Harvard was certainly a fun experience and overall I thought the film was excellent. Not surprisingly, however, is that this film's popularity has of course caused a lot of nation-wide interest in
final clubs, and
Mark Zuckerberg's creation of
Facebook during his time at Harvard as noted by the fact that years-old articles from
The Harvard Crimson are some of the most read this week. Hollywood has a fixation with Harvard, but that obsession does not always result in the most accurate portrayal of what Harvard is actually like. This certainly is the case with this film, emphasized by the reactions of
students and
faculty alike here at Harvard. These myths and stereotypes continue to permeate mainstream culture, but speaking from my own experience (albeit limited as I am a graduate student) I think people would be disappointed to find out how normal life is here. I certainly came in expecting something different than what I've experienced. While I have found many undergraduates here are a bit reserved, the few I have talked to outside of Mather House while waiting for the shuttle have been friendly and no different from those you'd find at other colleges. The outrageous displays of wealth I was expecting has been limited to a few sightings of Chanel's classic flap bags and a very lovely camel colored Birkin. No Bentleys, Rolls Royces, or chartered helicopters have been sighted yet. As for the obsession with final clubs, the only people who seem mildly interested are tourists who seem to have read a bit more about Harvard before coming here or maybe that has to do with the fact that the Porcellian is located next to a popular souvenir store. Perhaps the fascination and mystique are not completely unwarranted, but the things I enjoy most about Harvard are not the things emphasized in films like this.
