Lost and Found by Mark Gevisser

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The city of Johannesburg was established in 1886, when gold was discovered in the area. Soon after many flocked here to find jobs in the mines and other forms of work as this ‘gold rush’ boosted the economy thereby making it the ideal place for job opportunities. Since 1886, the city of Johannesburg has grown both physically and in population size. People from rural areas are constantly coming to Johannesburg seeking jobs, but this has only lead to overpopulation, which has lead to crime, illegal activities, urban decay and many other urban problems. Johannesburg’s past, especially the Apartheid, has created what this city is today. Born in 1995, I am referred to as a “born-free”, yet I do not feel free at all. Johannesburg has created an everlasting fear and paranoia within me- always watching my back and running when I hear noises at night. I cannot experience freedom like children from other countries, I cannot walk in the streets, I cannot drive at night and I cannot go to most areas in my city alone because it is unsafe. In this essay I will be discussing how Johannesburg has shaped me by bringing in the tensions of crime versus materialism as well as danger versus opportunity. I will be analyzing and drawing from the text “Lost and Found” by Mark Gevisser, the movie “Material” directed by Craig Freimond as well as the poem ‘Johannesburg” by William Plomer in order to give you an greater understanding as to how the city of Johannesburg has shaped myself.

In Mark Gevisser’s novel, “Lost and Found”, we learn of a young, Jewish boy living in the upper class suburb of Sandton. He has an indescribable fascination for maps, and we learn of the many journeys he creates in his head by simply opening up the telephone book, finding...

... middle of paper ...

...here is nothing to do in this city because we have done it all and seen it all, it is monotonous.

In conclusion, the city of Johannesburg has shaped me into the person I am today. I am fearful of everything around me due to personal experiences as well as statistics and things I hear on the news. From this I have learned to be very vigilant and cautious wherever I go. Johannesburg shaped me into caring more about material objects than politics and news. This is because of “the Jewish bubble” that is always covering me to protect and shelter me from my city. The parents of this bubble use it to blindside their children from the dangers of this city. And finally Johannesburg has influenced me to do and become part of illegal activities due to the lack of law. This has thereby forced me to grow up a whole lot faster than children from other cities would have.

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