Today in class, the conversation stuck with me. I wondered if there really were and if so who were the Jerry's and who were the Peter's in this world and more specifically of the North Shore and New Trier. It seems that there often is a dominant narrative (or in this case a dominant character) in our daily lives. It is easy to see Americans as the Peter's of the World, while other countries such as 3rd world countries are seen as the Jerry's. We often say: "Why can't they better themselves?" Yet it is not always up to them. It seems to me that on the North Shore, white, upper class citizens tend to make up the majority of the population, where as some parts of Chicago are seen as poor and black. These examples are rather obvious, yet I found New Trier a bit more intriguing.
Who is the typical student at New Trier? Looking back, I remember an exercise we did where we designed the average student, Taylor's life. Using the example Taylor, I believe that the average New Trier student is either white or of Asian ethnicity. According to Jonathan Kozol's The Shame of a Nation, 98% of New Trier students are either white or Asian. So what else makes up Taylor? Or in this case: The Peter's of New Trier. Well, I've observed that many kids are wealthy or have lots of material possessions. Most New Trier kids can be found with an Ipod or cell phone on them at any given time. I think that Taylor often would wear a T-shirt and Jeans because some kids (like those with purple hair and all black apparel are seen as the Jerry's or the zoos).
So why does this happen? What calls for this social hierarchy in each and every environment? I'd argue that it is human nature, but why? Why do people have to judge someone, like Peter judged Jerry, solely based on appearance and/or lifestyle and/or differences from "the norm"? And why do those like Peter sit back and say to themselves things like: "Why... why do you live there?" (Albee 22). It's not always a persons choice where or how they live, so why do they have to be scrutinized for it?
3 comments:
Nice job tying things back to the text in this post, David. Are there any stereotypes we use here at NT that capture the "Jerry's" of this environment? "Goth kids," "Emo," others?
I think we, as a people, like to make up groups for ourselves. These can be called "classes" on a larger scale, but in terms of NT, each person belongs to a group. Like Mr. Lawler said: "Goths", "Emo kids", etc. As for the question you (David) raised, I think that it is BECAUSE we make these groups that we compete for the dominant character. Once we are labeled (Theatre kids, Jocks, Techies, the list goes on) each group wants respect and authority over other groups. That is why it is so hard for the "dominant character" at NT to relate to other groups. Their lives have been completely centered on their own group, they forget that there are other people with different interests.
That is a fantastic point chip! Everyone wants to better themselves and their friends forming a cut-throat environment called New Trier High School. There is so much competition with grades, extra curriculars, going to certain colleges, etc. As for more on the Jerry's of New Trier, in my personal opinion the Jerry's of New Trier are the lazy students. Those that don't work to better themselves and focus on other activities ranging from partying and hanging out with friends to playing xbox until 4am every morning. It is easy to say: "why don't they just study more?" but maybe that just isn't what they want.
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