Nathan McDowell: THE GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL IS OLD PEOPLE MEMES ON FACEBOOK

We recently asked a number of writers to nominate a cultural phenomenon as "the great American novel", with the caveat that the were not allowed to nominate an actual novel. This nomination comes from the terrific Nathan McDowell -- The Editors

THE GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL IS OLD PEOPLE MEMES ON FACEBOOK.  I KNOW YOU TYPE LIKE THIS BECAUSE UPPER CASE LETTERS ARE EASIER FOR YOU TO READ, MARYAM.  I ASSUME THAT YOU'RE ALSO HARD OF HEARING, SO I LOVE READING YOUR POSTS AS IF YOU'RE YELLING THEM.  THAT IS TO SAY YOUR SELF-EXPRESSION HAS A VARIETY OF INTERPRETATIONS AND THEY'RE ALL BEAUTIFUL.  YOUR STRUGGLE IS PERFECT IN IT'S PROSAICNESS AND IT'S DEPTH.  YOU ARE THE ANTIDOTE TO THE NEUROSES AND POSTURING THAT IS KILLING ME AND ALL MY FRIENDS.  YOUR SINCERITY IS NOT DECONSTRUCTABLE, IT IS MORE PURE THAN THE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES I DARE NOT UTTER HERE.  WHO COULD POSSIBLY POST SO MANY MINION MEMES AND GIFS SHARED IN A VIDEO FORMAT, IF THEY WERE NOT AS SELF-ACTUALIZED AS YOU.  PEOPLE SPEND LONG HARD HOURS TRYING TO CAPTURE SOMETHING YOU EXPRESS EFFORTLESSLY BETWEEN JEOPARDY AND COOKING DINNER

Nathan McDowell is a poet from Rock Island, IL who's work can be found in publications such as Buffalo Carp and Off Channel.  When he was younger he was convinced that old people were ruining Facebook, but it's now become very clear to him that they've saved it.