“Fat, Drunk and Stupid is no way to go through life, son.”
Dean Wormer
That was the type of behavior that was immortalized and celebrated in the classic movie Animal House. In the last few years, the same behavior was demonized in a way by the TV show Jersey Shore. I love the movie Animal House and it still holds up after all this time. I want to make this perfectly clear. I have never watched one single episode of Jersey Shore. The power of this country’s mass tabloid media and late night talk show jokes have made sure I am aware of who is who in that cast.
Here is side note about that. I think when I die I will not have to testify for “my sins”. Instead my brain will be scanned to show all the crap that accumulated in it. Then I will be shown what I could have known instead. Example, Maybe I could have figured out a method in which no TV remote was ever lost again. Instead the brain cells need for that solution instead was occupied with knowing “The Situation”. And then I would be reminded that several of the cast members “wrote” Best Selling Books. In even the afterlife, salt will be shoved into my “wounds”. The fact that indeed happen makes me think that the Chinese might have had an idea with their 1950’s Cultural Revolution. They just decided to fill their “re-education camps” with the wrong type of readers. The problem was you cannot make a society “smarter” by eliminating the ones with all the knowledge. However, as “oppressive government” it is easier to manipulate (I mean govern) the later.
The story line for Animal House follows the members of the Delta House who want to be a group together they just do not want to go by the “mandates” of the fraternity system. Nothing causes more the “System” to be upset then “not playing along”. It is kind of funny that colleges exist to expand your mind and opportunities. And yet they spend a lot of time demanding “conformity” over anything else. Now, back to boys in Delta House who the Dean of the school wants to eliminate so he puts them (Unbeknownst to them) on “Double Secret Probation”. This leads to this showdown scene.
The scene shows how “power” is really arbitrarily assigned and how it is applied too in almost the same manner. This shows that just because the “System” is set to screw you that you do not have to sit there and take it. Otter (Tim Matheson) makes one of the funniest “pro-democracy” statements. And it is true when you think about it. He knew they were determined beyond a “reasonable” belief to screw them over. He was not about to do “The Dance with the Chicken Shit” with them.
Animal House is an example of why you should “fight the system”. Although in “Over-the Top” way. And that makes it funny. Now Jersey Shore loaded the house with a bunch of real life people who had more hormones in quantity that was significantly higher than their brain cells. They then loaded with alcohol and low expectations. And wonder why bad things happen. Jersey Shore makes an argument that if these people are in this society then we need “The System”.
So which model do you want to live by?
DISCLAIMER: This post does recommend or endorse “overconsumption” of any substance or “bone headed behavior”. To borrow a catch phrase “Know your limits and stay within them”.
I also think the education models that keep teaching “How not to make any mistakes” does not work. Ever. It should be this. “Look you are human. You will fuck up from time to time. That is why you have insurance and lawyers.” Then teach methods on how to admit to it and then make amends. And how to do it long before you need “12 Steps”.
High Schools need to be teaching more about how to read a credit report. And fill out an auto insurance form. Education needs to get a little more on the “practicals” then the “theoreticals”.
I have never had to perform an “emergency” geometric proof. And yet that got brain cell space. Which I lost and have no idea where it is my brain.
Watch the end of the movie….The Deltas turned out alright despite their college time.
“Don’t let college interfere with your education”
Mark Twain
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