It's not out of character for the series that doing the right thing doesn't make life any easier. Lyla and Tim have (seemingly) broken off their relationship; Tim is actually being the friend he's supposed to be; and, accordingly, the roof falls in as Jason figures out what really happened. The repercussions are going to be big; those offensive linemen who visit Street aren't going to buy Riggins an Alamo burger, and Tyra has informed Lyla that rumors are flying. Meanwhile, Smash, like Boobie in real life, sees his way out of the ghetto and ability to provide for his family tied to football, leading to his injecting steroids. And there is the cameo by Lucas Mize, the former Panther great, who can still rocket the football down the field but is reduced to begging for an assistant coaching job, which Eric either can't or won't give him (it's never clear if Eric really did ask his superiors about Lucas's request). Again, the metaphor and importance of football in this world: it's the one place in this universe where one can unambiguously win. And losing is never as bad as the losses everyone seems to suffer off the field.
A few questions:
1. What moment or scene from what we watched today has stayed with you, hours later—and why?
2. Go back to yesterday's blog and the definitions you all came up with for what the show is "about." Look them over again, yours and everyone else's, and say which definition you think works the best for this show. It may be yours, it may be someone else's. And say why you picked this definition.
3. As I wrote yesterday, we are going to go back to the book for a bit tomorrow to talk about Chapter 7, "School Days." For me, it's the most important chapter of the book, for it gets us, finally, inside the place which is central to every teenager's life, school. And it's not a pretty picture that Bissinger paints. What struck you about this chapter—what is the most important, for you, part of this chapter? Why? Go ahead and quote three times from the book in your response. And, finally, have we seen any of this in the series so far? I think we have—but you might disagree. There's a lot here, so please, don't simply repeat what others have said before you, okay?
Finally, without giving anything away—no real plot spoilers—below is the wisdom of Tim Riggins through the entire series. Pay particular attention to his explication of "The Scarlet Letter" to Tami.
The scene from today that has most definitely stayed with me is the scene where Smash is in church, and the minister or pastor tells the congregation about how he needs their help in order to pay for SAT prep classes. Of course it is not true that Smash is taking classes, he just needs the money for steroids. But, that is his lie to get the money, and the whole church pulls together in order to help him. My heart just sank watching this scene, as I am religious and I also enjoy a congregation at my church who is looking out for me. It is bad enough to lie to a group of people in order to get money for something that is wrong in the first place, and I feel awful because it is wrong, and also because I feel the pain, the guilt that Smash must feel for doing this. But the fact that it is Smash's church, his religion, makes it that much more disturbing. I could not imagine ever lying to the people at my church whom I love so much, especially not so I could then go do something else wrong. I think this scene in church goes hand in hand with the scene where Smash is in his car taking steroids, looking at a cross out the window, and putting a bible in his lap so no one can see what he is doing. This scene bluntly brings up that not only is he lying his church and community, but he is also blatantly lying to God. I'm still affected by this scene hours later because Smash takes the decision between what is right and what is right for winning and football a giant step farther. He makes a decision against his religion and against God so he can take steroids to win, and personally I think that is simply taking it too far. One can talk about the decision between morality in a situation as opposed to winning football being a difficult one, but when it comes down to God I feel that it is not a difficult decision at all.
ReplyDeleteWhile looking over all of the different ideas about what the book is about, I noticed that every single one falls into the category of growth. The show is about every aspect of growth, everything from the struggles of growth to the outcome of growth. Growth is shown mainly through the relationships and through the football. As far as the football, there is growth in winning and there is growth in losing. Players and coaches alike take something from both outcomes. Also, football provides a huge look at the growth of morality in this show. There are countless situations where the coaches or the players have to make decisions based on what is right as opposed to what they have to do to win. These decisions are difficult and the right decision is not always made. I think that is part of the show as well, the fact that there is major struggle in simply doing the right thing. I sound like a broken record, but I feel it is important and that I should talk about it quite a bit when it comes up. And then, besides the football, there is major growth shown in the relationships. There are strong relationships and there are extreme problems in some where the growth is in learning how to deal with the situation. Some characters have a very difficult time with there relationships, but the struggle is part of growth. Especially as a teenager, when most are just learning about themselves, and growth is inevitable.
What struck me about this chapter was the hopelessness in the school system. Everything about it seemed hopeless and useless, from the teachers and their attitudes to the students and their commitment. The students do not care about an education, and the teachers do not care if they get one. The teachers simply give up and put no effort into teaching these Permian students. "Many teachers felt that no matter how creative they were in the classroom, it wouldn't make a difference anyway," (pg. 131). "There was a time when she had unflappable faith in her profession, when she had encouraged the best and brightest to spread the gospel of literature. But not anymore," (pg. 133). And then, on the other side of the hopelessness and the reason for the teacher's attitudes, there are the students. The students of Permian simply do not care about academics. Or, the majority I should say, as there are some who take them seriously. It is about football and social aspects, and the academics fall by the wayside. "School was just there for Don, a couple of classes to fill up time that offered virtually no challenge whatsoever, and he was the first to admit that if he was learning anything his senior year it was a miracle," (pg. 129). They are not going anywhere, they are staying in the small Texas town of Odessa, so academics do not really have any importance. After high school, there lives will carry on as they get mediocre jobs in Odessa that do not require the academics offered in high school. Why this struck me is the fact that this hopelessness and uselessness in school is so commonplace and accepted. I personally can't comprehend the fact that kids would be ok with all throwing away the futures that would come with their academics. I think we have seen all of this a few times in the series. Every once and a while a character will go in to Mrs. Taylor's office to talk about something not academic, and the fact that they are failing a class or switching to an easier one comes up in passing. I think the fact that it comes up in passing and is not really acknowledged shows how it is simply not as important as football or the relationships and problems that these characters are dealing with.
ReplyDeleteSmash’s unintentional role as the catalyst for the intersection of his faith and his use of illegal steroids, whose purpose is to aid Smash in garnering the recognition of college recruiters, leaves the most lasting impression in my mind. Faith and football are the sole two pleasures granted to a sizable portion of Dillon’s inhabitants, and Smash’s indirect manipulation of his faith to satisfy the illegal measures he has taken in order to spur a surge in his appeal to college teams may yield potentially ruinous results on the few liberties he is granted within Dillon. It will be interesting to see what the outcome will be for this harrowing predicament Smash is faced with, as he has been forcibly placed in a position where he must choose between a continuation of his relationship with his family and church or his personal advancement as an individual.
ReplyDeleteAfter reviewing the posts, I definitely agree with the notion that while Dillon yearns to be a homogenous, cohesive town, behind the thin façade of omnipresent unity there are complex individuals who often deviate away from society’s seemingly unwavering instituted norms and practices. This is, in my opinion, applicable to the entirety of Dillon and exemplifies the often caustic instability brought upon by the unquestioned compulsion of a society as a whole attempts to homogenize to the point where every member of the community is the embodiment of a sole individual, an individual who’s standards are not feasibly attainable by the vast majority of Dillon.
In my opinion, the most important aspect of the reading was its exemplification of the near entirety of Odessa’s individual’s incompatibility with the outside world, yielding a potential explanation for a sizable number of individual’s inclination to return to Odessa following their departure. The complete lack of academic emphasis is overt, displayed by Don Riggins comment that stated that school’s sole purpose is “’socializing’” (142). This lack of emphasis appears to eventually transcend into sentiment, with Bissinger stating, “Eddie Driscoll, a wonderfully articulate student ranked number two in the senior class, loved to read and debate and throw out ideas. He stood out in class like a sore thumb” (135). The community’s fervent emphasis on the advancement of their football program is arguably preserved by the vast negative connotations drawn towards individuals who succeed academically, as to deter and sway the opinions of individuals who prioritize academics over football. “Girls had a combined score of 840 [...], 75 points below their male counterparts at Permian and 35 points below the national average for girls” (138), exemplifying how individuals may choose to return to Dillon due to the fact that exploring the outside world only yields menial jobs due to a lack of a substantial college education and academic record, and thus many relocate back home in order to obtain a more substantial job, allowing for the perseverance and preservation of Odessa as a whole, characterized by an overwhelming class disparity, indirectly caused by an unwavering dedication to football and its respective culture.
The scene that stuck with me throughout today was the first moment when Smash injected steroids into his body. Right there and then I had a shocked expression, and now that I think about it, I don't how I didn't see it coming. The scout said he needed to become stronger, and there was no way of that happening naturally any longer. So there was only one thing to do according to Smash, use performance enhancing drugs. That moment stuck with me because I had been feeling bad for Smash, I was almost saddened at the fact that he didn't impress the scout when it was time to. I really thought that if he had worked at it, he could make that list. Instead, he took another approach, leaving him as the villain almost.
ReplyDeleteAfter going over all the definitions, I still believe the show is about growth. The series goes on, the characters are growing more and more. There's the development of Jason Street, physically and mentally. There's the minor growth of Tim, realizing he needs to quit the abuse of alcohol and growing together with his brother, Bill. The growth of Tami and Eric of letting their daughter date. Matt Saracen is growing in to his position as a leader. There's many other characters developing and characters that are growing up.
The biggest part that struck me about chapter 7 is the whole money ordeal. "Moore's salary, with twenty years' experience and a master's degree, was $32,000…Gary Gaines, who served as both football coach and athletic director for Permian but did not teach any classes, was $48,000" This is highly alarming, relating to the fact that Permian's primary priority is football. A high school, who rather focus on football than academics. Gary Gaines also receives a new sedan every year and the football department has two computers, but the english department has only one for 25 teachers. This is just sad. More focus is put on a high school sport than a child's future. Now the argument can be made that football is a lot of these kids' future, but they won't be successful for long if they have no education.
What stayed with me most from what we watched today was the scene where Jason punches Tim in the face. It was clear something like that would happen, I thought Jason would just scream at him, but it was startling when he punches Tim. Their relationship had just been revived, Tim told him he loves him like a brother, and now it is has been killed. Many people accuse Tim of being a coward, and his reaction was very cowardly. Jason’s life collapsed on him when he got paralyzed, and now it got even worse. Now all Jason has is wheelchair-ball. His best friend and girlfriend are out of his life, and it’s really sad how much worse his life got since the series started. The moment when Tim takes down the picture of him and Jason in his locker also stayed with me.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading over the definitions, it is clear the show emphasizes growing up in small-town Texas, but Rachel makes a good point that the show is about escape, and using football as a way to escape. Smash wants to get away and even uses steroids to try to do that. Tyra obviously wants to get away. Julie and Tami insist on Eric coaching football somewhere else. Voodoo is using Dillon as an escape-route to play professional football. Billy Riggins wants Tim to use football to get away from Dillon. A large number of characters want to escape small-town Texas, and football is their only escape.
What shocked me about this chapter was how much these kids lived in the moment. Most high schoolers do, but most people have some type of plan for the future. The kids in Odessa had no plan for the future. “These kids don’t take responsibility, or don’t know how. Kids used to worry about where they were going to fit into the world. Kids today don’t seem to worry if they are going to fit in society, because they don’t give a hoot.” (133) These kids in Odessa only worried about their social life. Elodia Hilliard, an English teacher at the school, “wondered if they say any point at all in being well read and intelligent.” (132) “In her mind, students seemed in search of only one thing: ‘Having fun is what it’s all about.’” (133) The students didn’t want to learn, and in turn, many of the teachers lost interest in teaching. That makes for a crappy learning environment.
The scene when Smash goes to the gym and uses the money the church gave him for improving his education for steroids instead. It just really hit me how much pressure Smash feels to get on lists and play pro football. He looks at it as his only possible way out for himself and his family. For example when he talks to the scout about his plans and he says that he’s going to play pro and then buy his mom a nice, big house and his sister a pony. I feel awful for him yet, the moment he goes to give the gym lady the money, I completely stop feeling bad for him. I know that may sound harsh but he uses the money his church gives him and that feels wrong on so many levels. He’s not using it for SAT prep and he is lying to the whole congregation about that. A church is where you are supposed to act on your best behavior and try to be a moral person. Smash just can’t face telling his family and friends about what the money’s going to and why he feels he must use the money to buy drugs. I hope he will redeem himself and stop using steroids and tell his family what’s wrong.
ReplyDeleteI think Megan’s definition of the show is good. The show is about the lives of the people in this small Texan town, and not just their life on the football team. It shows each of the characters struggles and challenges in their family, academic, football, social lives. And that’s what makes the show interesting, not just the Friday night football games, but what people’s lives are like apart from that. It shows the community, the racism, the faith that this town has and the daily lives of the people who make up the town. The show encompasses each aspect of the lives of these kids and the coach: the parties, their relationships, their friendship, their struggles, and of course the football team.
What struck me about this chapter was how Permian High School isn’t about progress and learning, it’s just about the success of their football team. I felt so depressed reading the budget of the school that Ms. Moore, the head of the English department talks about: “The cost for boys’ medical supplies at Permian was $6,750. The cost for teaching materials for the English department was $5,040.” Also the fact that the school spends $70,000 for charter jets for their football team: “During the 1988 season, roughly $70,000 was spent for chartered jets.” It’s so ridiculous yet it’s the reality of this town where the football culture is so engrained that everything else seems insignificant and that the school knows this yet does nothing about it: “The value of high school football was deeply entrenched. It was the way the community had chosen to express itself. The value of high school English was not entrenched… it did not evoke any particular feelings of pride.” And that is the issue the book brings up. Education is devalued while football is the town’s only source of pride and happiness. It has to change and yet, it never will. It’s an endless desperate cycle and the school really can’t do anything to change it, no matter how hard individual teachers try. I think we’ve seen some of this in the movie so far, like how Lyla has all A’s but is almost embarrassed by them when talking to Tami and doesn’t care about her own future, just wants to marry Jason. It shows the attitude of the school and connects the book too: “’Where do you want to be in five years?’ asked Fowler of a female student. ‘Rich,’ the student replied. ‘How are you going to achieve that?’ ‘Marry someone.’” Also, how the football players are treating like gods and are excused from studying is exemplified in the show too.
The scene that stayed with me was the last scene of the last episode when Smash, after the scene in the church, walked into the gym to get more steroids. Although there is uncontrollable pressure on Smash to not only do well in football so he can provide for himself but also so he can provide for his family. Before the Homecoming game Smash had never doubted himself, he knew he was the best and told people that he was often. However, he cracked under the pressure and, knowing that the only thing wrong with him was his size, he resolved to do anything to achieve his goal. While it was not okay under any circumstance for Smash to take steroids, I was even more shocked when he used the money that the church gave to pay for more drugs. It’s a very different thing to use your own money to, basically, destroy your career but it is another to use other’s money to do so. Not only did he try to lie to his mom to get money but he also lied to his entire community that was probably in the same financial circumstance as his family.
ReplyDeleteI think that Adria’s definition, cause and effect, works best for this show because it’s all about how the mistakes one makes can change your entire life. This works especially for the football players who are under so much scrutiny already and have so much expected from them that any slight mess up is amplified tenfold. Also, due to the smallness of the town, everyone knows everyone else’s business so if one person makes a mistake then everyone hears about it.
One of the things that struck me from this chapter was that it was so academically unchallenging that even Bissinger wasn’t doing too badly in a couple of his classes and admitted that it was almost no work whatsoever: “”All I do in class is show up. They should make these classes fifteen minutes long. Last year in English I had to work. This year it’s like, teach me something before I go to college.’” (130). It was also interesting (or horrifying) that the one or two smart kids were thought of as freaks: “Eddie Driscoll, a wonderfully articulate student ranked number two in the senior class, loved to read and debate and throw out ideas. He stood out in class like a sore thumb. There were some who...considered him a pompous windbag.” (136). Lastly I was shocked how even the teachers noticed that their school was certainly lacking and, in most cases, simply gave up: “Many teachers felt that no matter how creative they were in the classroom, it wouldn’t make a difference anyway.” (131). Also, the scene in which, I feel, the chapter “School Days” is exemplified is when Lucas Mize is kicked out of college and revoked of his scholarship because, without football to back him up, his grades were to low to keep him in.
The scene that struck me the most was the one in which the football players came to see Jason. They tell him that they have his back. They figure out that Tim Riggins slept with Lyla and say to Jason that they will take care of Tim, implying that they will beat him up. This stuck out so much because Jason doesn't want them to hurt Tim, yet they are going to. I also don't think Tim deserves to get beaten up. that would be like kicking him when he's down. He already feels terrible about the whole thing, like Lyla. We can see that he cares deeply for Jason. However, the teamates are still going to beat up Tim. It's cruel.
ReplyDeleteI think that the definition that works best for the show is a tale of growing up and coming of age. I chose this because the show follows many teenagers facing adversity in their high school lives and dealing with tough decisions. In the episode we watched today, we saw Matt and Julie both grow up; Matt asked a girl out for the first time, and they both got in their first real relationship. The Taylors freak out because this is such a step up into adulthood.
One thing that shocked me in this chapter is that most football players are just at school for football, and don't care at all about their classes. Don Billingsly takes the easies schedual possible and "was the first to admit that if he was learning anything senior year it was a miracle" (129). Another finding from this reading that shocked me was the attitude toward football players, that they were better than everyone else. Even the smart students who have futures outside Odessa are envious: "Despite all his academic accomplishments, Eddie himself often wondered what it would be like to sit in those two front rows at the front of the pep rally each friday in a brotherhood as supremely elite as Skull and Bones at Yale" (136). The social status of football players is so high, that everyone is enticed by it. I was also struck by how little some of the teachers actually taught. In Boobie's creative writing class, "there were five minutes of instruction that day...They pretty much could do what they wanted" (151).
I am lingering the most on the juxtaposition of faith and drugs seen in today's episode. Smash's despondency has bruised his accustomed confidence so much, that he is willing to delve into the corrupt domain of steroids. And I am, to say the least, disappointed in his lack of morality and self-control. Despite seeing his disposition coated in self-glory, I always admired Smash's perseverance to coax the team forward from its hindrances. But the hypocrisy I saw him enact today instilled an unsettling feeling within me. It's interesting to see how Dillon's two most prominent communal attractions, church and football, have perilously collided in this dilemma.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emma's notion that this series is focused on the process of growing up, and how it can have its definite perks and drawbacks. Hannah's comment, about how the show "examines he social structure of America through the lens of football and its effect on a small town" is very accurate as well - facets of American society as a whole are implemented in the small society of Dillon, Texas.
"Hopelessness" is arguably the best word that can be used to describe Odessa's school system. I felt an immeasurable amount of empathy for some of the teachers, probably because both of my parents are teachers, and I would never wish to see their careers drag them down the way it does to Permian High's teachers. Jane Franks' statement describing her loss of faith in her students and herself was perhaps the most dismal: "I'm tired. I think I'm tired of being ineffective. I must not be doing it right because I don't have a sense of satisfaction. I don't have the close friendships with the kids I used to." Some of the teachers, however, frustrated me, with their lack of attentiveness and concern for their students. Bissinger states, "It was not uncommon for teachers at Permian to teach for only a quarter or a third of the period and then basically let students do whatever they wanted to as long as they did it quietly." This chapter delineates the negativity that the obsession with Permian High football brings to the Odessa society. It was alarming to read that "If they [the students] had to think about anything, make critical judgments and deliberations, the cause was hopeless. The best they could be expected to do was regurgitate." What's additionally unsettling is the alienation of the more astute students, such as Julie Gardner: "And because she was intelligent, she also felt ostracized." Instead of being acclaimed for their academic achievements, the smart kids are estranged from the majority of the high school demographic. And to prod even further, Gardner said that "she new girls who privately were quite intelligent and articulate, but were afraid to show it publicly because of the effect it would have on their social lives." At Permian High, intelligence is equivalent to embarrassment, and this, I think, commences a resounding disturbance.
I think the scene that has stuck in my mind the most is when some of Jason's old teammates visit him in the hospital. This is the first time boys from the football team have come besides for when the whole team came to see Jason. I find it a little sad that these boys only make time to visit Jason when a girl conflict is involved. It seems like they want to appear as good friends and teammates, but if they were truly good friends they would have been in sooner to see Jason. Lyla and Tim should not have been there primary reason for seeing Jason. I find it interesting that they would risk the success of the team by making Tim an outcast. The Panthers definitely need Riggins, yet these boys are willing to mess that up for Jason. It is an odd balance between football and Jason especially because Jason's injury hadn't seemed very important to them previously.
ReplyDeleteReading through the posts I think the definition that works best for the show is the “inevitability of cause and effect.” Every action taken by the characters in the show has repercussions some good but often bad. Whether it’s Riggins and Lyla’s hookup coming back to bite them in the butt or Taylor’s coaching decision, everything action has a result that the characters must learn and grow from. I think this theme will be even more evident with the new development of Smash and the steroids.
One of the things that struck me about this chapter was just how bad the situation at Permian truly was. I don’t think I quite grasped how poor the situation was in Odessa. The chapter made it appear that the teachers did not even want to be teaching. “It was not uncommon for teachers at Permian to teach for only a quarter or third of the period and then basically let students do whatever they wanted as long as they did it quietly” (130). I think it is very difficult for any student to be motivated when the teacher is not motivated. One teacher said “I’m tired. I think I’m tired of being ineffective. I must not being doing it right because I don’t have a sense of satisfaction. I don’t have a close friendship with the kids I used to” (134). I also found it disturbing when the teacher tries to ask Boobie about his notes, and he just smiles at her and shrugs.
In addition to the academics issues at Permian, the view of girls at Permian is disgusting. “It was very important to have a boyfriend and look a certain way. You couldn’t be too smart. You had to act silly or they put you in a category right away. It was the end of your social life if you were an intelligent girl” (138). The girls at Permian who are smart and don’t want to be Pepettes are ostracized. I think the information the chapter gives about girls is the most important because it seems at Permian girls are viewed as solely there to help the football team. All they are good for is baking cookies and cheering. This is a terrible message to send to high school girls and scares me to think that at a school like Permian I would be totally ostracized for embracing my education. I definitely think we see the girls problems to some extent in the series. Lyla’s life revolved around Jason. When she went to see Tami her whole college plan was based off of Jason, and she didn’t know what to without him. The series also shows the Peppettes giving treats to their players and that's one of the few appearances of girls besides for the main characters.
The scenes between the Riggins brothers really struck me as outstandingly done. Their fight was extremely cliché, but at the same time was deeply painful for both of them. Life hasn’t handed them the get out of jail free card, but it has given them each other, which though at times doesn’t seem ideal, is the best they could ask for. When Tim and his brother were beating each other up, I couldn’t help but to expect them to suddenly turn the strangle into a hug. While it took a few minutes for that display of love and affection to happen, inevitably it does, and when it does, their connection is powerful. They are surviving the same ordeal, and only each other knows the other’s deeply rooted pain. I found it moving that after such a brutally violent fight, they could recognize an unspoken apology and admission of love and turn and face the challenge of their life together.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rachel’s and Adria’s ideas of cause and effect and escape. However, I’d like to add that this desire for escape is ever-present in the show’s landscape, but at the same time, the viewer knows, and the players do too in their deepest of hearts, that there is no escape. No one gets out, and the few who do are the exception. Football is only rarely the reason of escape, but Dillon’s citizens continue to place their blind faith behind their powerhouse football program. In their hearts, they know this is not the solution, but what else do they have?
The corruption of the school system in Odessa really struck me, but not just because of what it does to Odessa, but also what it has the potential to do everywhere. It may not be football somewhere else, but every school has those exceptions, the ones who are allowed to slide through the cracks, and in Permian’s case, arguably because of the football team, it has become the entire school that is beginning to fall through the cracks. What stuck out to me was Boobie Miles’ essay: “Zebras are one of the most unusual animals in the world today. The zebra has many different kinds in its nature. The habitat of a zebra is in wide open plains…” (150). The look into the work of this high school senior is just depressing. The fact that there is a twelfth grader being recruited by top colleges, but who can’t write at the level of a normal fourth grader shows how corrupted our school system can, and readily does, become. It is not only that Boobie (and many of his teammates) is in low level courses, but that, “While other students casually worked to complete the worksheet, Boobie ate some candy and left blank the entire second page, which asked for definitions of certain genetic terms… Boobie seemed uninterested” (152). These football players are not only idolized, but also extremely uneducated. What kind of role model does an uneducated high school athlete make? One with the ability to continue the unfortunate tradition of slacking off academically. I think that one aspect of the tv show and the book that are indeed similar is the idea that, as presented in plain wording in the book, “’Having fun is what it’s all about’” (133). The book, movie, and series all portray the endless partying, the pep rallies, and the preoccupation with fun.
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The moment that stuck with me from these episodes was when Jason was confronted by the linemen about what happened with Riggins and Lyla. After that scene it is obvious that shit is about to hit the fan. Where we left off was such a cliffhanger. I really want to know what will happen next. It is also interesting to see the linemen who we have never really seen before in the series have such strong feelings about it. This along with the scene with Lyla and Tyra shows how fast rumors travel. Everybody knows what is going on in the lives of the football stars and wants to have their backs which kind of surprised me, because Permian is such a big school.
ReplyDeleteI think that Jonathan’s idea of maturity best defines the series. As many other people as said yesterday all of the characters are learning to stand up for their own values, making mistakes and in general growing. I think that maturity sums all of that up the best.
I feel like we see glimpses of the school’s hierarchy in the show. When Saracen is confronted by Landry about crossing over to the “other side” during the issue with Reyes, it shows that there is obviously a distinct line between football players and everyone else. Everyone wants to know the football players. Another time this is shown during the show is when Riggins is handed a copy of homework from one of the pepettes in one of the earlier episodes. The book goes into more detail about this type of special treatment. The football players don’t have to be good at school. Nobody cares about how they do academically; they only care about how they do athletically. Bissinger sums it up when he writes, “being a football player opened doors that other students could only dream of. All other achievements seemed to pale in the face of it.” (135) One of the things that struck me while reading this was the part about girls having to “dumb down.” (138) One of the girls said that “It was the end of your social life if you were an intelligent girl.” (138) I think that is so stupid and sexist. There are only two ways for girls to get anywhere in Odessa, and they are academics or marrying someone. Unlike the guys were there is also the possibility of a football scholarship, it seems to me that girls don’t really have much going for them in Odessa. Dumbing down really cuts the amount of options girls have. Odessa objectifies women. In order to be popular, girls have to just be a pretty face. As Rachel says, this is such a bad message to send to high school girls.
The moment that really stuck out to me was the fight between Tim and his brother. It has been painful to watch Tim at home, he appears to do nothing but eat, drink beer and sleep. His brother spends so much time and energy to give Tim the life that he has, to be a parent and a brother for Tim, and he feels as though Tim does not understand or appreciate all that he gives him. The scene after Jason punches Tim, and Tim goes home after walking out to his brother yelling, “If you leave, you’ll be just like Dad”. The house is trashed from their previous fight, but the brothers sit next to each other at the table, not saying a word, but sharing the grilled cheese sandwich and a beer. To me this speaks so much about what it is like to be a sibling, how they hate and love each other, but no matter what, they are the only thing that the other one has in this world. That stuck out to me a lot because I think I can relate to it personally having a sibling, but I also think it says a lot about society in this town. Here is a brother who cannot be more than his young twenties, working as hard as he can for his house and raising his little brother to have some sort of a life and an opportunity, something that he never got himself. That whole scene really stuck out to me because it shows just how alone these two brothers in Dillon would be without each other.
ReplyDeleteTo me the show is about growing up in a small town, one where they are completely isolated from the bigger world. As people said above, the show is about escape too, but I would argue that a need for escape is part of growing up. We experience that as we think about college and our futures, so I think that the two go hand in hand. The small town component ties in the role of the community and the societal structure, but really the whole show is tracing the lives of these kids as they play football and figure out the next places in their lives. I chose this definition as mostly my own because I feel like all of the comments tied to above are all parts of a common theme: growing up in a small town.
To me, the most important part of the chapter is everyone’s lack of drive and belief in education. The students had given up, the teachers had given up, and the school had given up. It says, “It was not uncommon for teachers at Permian to teach only for a quarter or a third of the period and basically let students do whatever they wanted as long as they did it quietly” (130). The teachers blame the influx of minorities enrolling in the school, the lack of drive of students, the lack of materials, the bad economy and the bad home life of the children, but yet with all of this blame, nothing gets done. I think the key problem is said, “Despite the litany of possible reasons, it was hard not to wonder if the fundamental core of education—the ability of teachers to teach and the ability of students to learn—had gotten lost” (132). It appears that everyone in Permian High School is focused on the wrong things. The kids are focused only on football and social status or image, which is a very sad role for girls, and the teachers are focused on passing their kids and moving to the next bunch. “Having fun is what it’s all about” (133), says a teacher. It proves to be completely correct. Having fun and fitting in are what everything at school is all about. In the series, we definitely see the role of the school. We see Lyla prancing around the halls and Tyra confronting her saying “the rumors are flying”. We see Lyla in the guidance counselor’s office not even thinking about college for herself. We see that girl in the guidance counselor’s office who is in a tough situation as a Peppette. I would argue that we see the amount of social drama and importance with all of those cases.
The scene that stayed with me the most from today was the extremely comical scene when Smash is working with Matt at the Alamo Freeze, and Smash tells Matt to tell people what they want as a form of flirting. The way Matt tries to emulate Smash is so incredibly awkward it's hilarious. And it perfectly emulates the life of a normal highschool guy who is just hanging with a buddy trying to pick up girls. This scene attests to the insane amount of realism within the show.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading through the blogs, I agree with Adria that the show has a huge central theme of cause and effect. One simple event in the show creates a snowball effect that leads to many different events. Jason's injury was perhaps the biggest cause in the show, spiraling out into a innumerable number of effects, such as Matt being thrust into the spotlight and Lyla and Tim's relationship.
The chapter "School Days' paints a very depressing picture of Permian high school, which honestly can be translated to how public high schools are nowadays, perhaps to an even greater degree. "It was also unusual to find teachers who demanded from students their very best, who refused to succumb to the notion that there was no reason to challenge them because they simply didn't care" (130) This describes a very depressing situation at Permian, which is a situation unfathomable here at Paideia. Bridgette Vandeventer, a cheerleader for Permian, recalls that "The most wonderful moment of her life, she said, was being crowned Homecoming Queen" (139) This shows how in Odessa, it was common, and pretty much the social norm was that your climax, or the best years of your life would be in high school, which sounds like a very depressing notion to me, to have your best years already behind you at such a young age. The gross miss-compensation of the faculty at Permian is exploited when it says "Moore's salary, with 20 years' experience and a master's degree, was $32,000. By comparison, she noted, the salary of Gary Gaines, who served as both football coach and athletic director for Permian but did not teach any classes, was $48,000. In addition, he got the free use of a new Taurus Sedan every year." This kind of uneven distribution of money is very striking and perfectly describes the priorities of Permian high school.
I love the scene of the Riggins' brothers sitting down together to share a grilled cheese. Not only has this scene stayed with me today, but it has stayed with me since I first saw this episode many years ago. Billy and Tim have a very complicated relationship; the dynamic is constantly changing from a sibling relationship to that of a father and son. Additionally, both men, who often seem to be more like boys, are very guarded and rough people. They've just had this emotionally trying fight, but their familial bond brings them back together. I think it's one of the most beautiful scenes in the entire series. I've seen it a countless number of times and it still gives me chills. The Riggins' are so similar and so different, and in this one moment they are on the same page--and it comes without either of them really speaking.
ReplyDeleteRachel hit the nail on the head when she described the show to be about escape. I originally defined the show to be about control and growth, but both of those things are encompassed in any and all of the characters' need to escape. I also really like this definition because it is vague enough to cover all of the parallel story-lines. The football players use the game to escape from their home lives, their school lives, from their stresses. Tyra attempts to use the out-of-towner to escape what she fears most, which is staying in Dillon. Tim and Lyla use each other as a way to distance themselves from what happened to Street. The characters may not all be running from the same things, but they're all trying to get away from something.
This was a very interesting chapter to read. Obviously, the school needs a ton of work; neither the students nor the teachers want to really be there. Even the teachers who seem to want to put the effort in don't think they'll be able to change any part of the kids lives. These teachers believe that "it wouldn't make a difference anyway"(131). On a non-academic level the message that the school seems to be sending to the kids is that what they are now is what they'll be for the rest of their lives. The girls are under social pressure to not be intelligent. Bissinger describes the girls “dumb down” themselves in order to keep their social status(138). If the girls are not educated, they'll have a difficult time finding a job, and most likely end up being a housewife who, if she's lucky, can use her marriage to get her out of Odessa. Similarly, the boys are under very little pressure academically because they know that they have the option to ride football as far as it will take them. Boobie is a perfect example of this:"..other students casually worked to complete the worksheet, Boobie ate some candy and left blank the entire second page..."(152). We may not think of it this way, but our educations are what will allow us to leave Atlanta and start a life somewhere else. We have various means for getting out, but the male and female "students" in Odessa are stuck unless they get married or a football scholarship. It all ties back to what the show is really about: escape.
I think that the moment that really stuck with me was when smash used the money from the church to pay for his steroids. After his bad performance in font of that one scout, Smashes confidence is shattered. He knows that the only problem about his football is his size, and would steal and lie from the church to achieve this, not to mention cheating in football by just taking steroids.
ReplyDeleteI think that the best definition of this show is that its about growing up. I choose this idea because the show fallows each of the characters problems and decisions that shape them into who they are going to be.
What stuck with me the most about this chapter is how little anyone cares about school. At Permian, sometimes being smart can even make you unpopular. "So desperate was she to ingrate herself with the football players that she bought one of a brand new backpack and then offered him fifty dollars to sleep with her." (141) The way that the high school is set up is tat no really cares much about school and it's very easy.
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