I'm showing the pilot episode of Samurai Jack today in my 11th grade class. Yes, it is relevant. I'm using it to demonstrate the hero's journey and the whole principal of "show, don't tell" and also I am sleepy and don't have the energy to talk to hyper teenagers right now.
So I'm showing Samurai Jack. And that is why I love my job.
I figured most of the kids had never heard of the show, but the second I pulled it out one kid was like "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! That show's BORING." And that set off other kids who were like "Really? I don't wanna watch something Boooooooriiiiiiiiiing........."
So I told them we'd either watch Samurai Jack or do some worksheets. They opted for the show but I was just bluffing. I don't have any worksheets.
Most of them are now watching intently anyway.
Anyway, I was thinking about how attached people get to things they love. I love this show, so when a kid says it's boring and gets all whiny about it I kind of take it personally.
And just about everybody does that. Whenever someone says your favorite movie sucks, you probably get all mad and defensive. But it's not your movie - it's not like you labored over it for years or anything, but you still get all bent out of shape if somebody doesn't love it. I know I do.
Why do we do that?
Could just be the content and your audience. What high schooler is going to look cool saying he/she watches children's cartoons?
ReplyDeleteI mean you are in LA. :p
I used to do that in high school too. I was way into comic books and cartoons, but would bash them if they came up in class. I'm too cool for those kiddie things :p
Just watch...
They'll hit their mid 20s and 1/2 of them will be artists, drawing stuff similar to Samurai Jack. The other half will simply settle for a Samurai Jack tramp stamp tatoo'd on their back.
:p
Uh-huh. I, who love all things Buffy, especially the episode in question, made a not-completely-positive observation about Hush the other day as my fiancee and I were watching with our roommate. Fiancee immediately defended the show, which apparently I was attacking. News to me.
ReplyDeleteBut you're right, we all do it. When she watched Rushmore and Iron Giant and didn't immediately fall in love, I got all pouty and pissy. Because it's fun.
In my UCLA class this past weekend the teacher showed us "Once More With Feeling." It felt like half the room didn't like it. (Or for that matter hadn't already seen it.)
ReplyDeleteI was flummoxed. But I held my tongue, hunkered down, and giggled at Xander's jokes.
And my fiancee hates Bottle Rocket. And I'm still marrying her. Just goes to show that we can bridge these divides... :)
I think it's a psychological thing: when we like something, we relate to it (or we like it because we relate to it). Thus, it becomes a small part of us, and we a small part of it.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone says, "noes that sukks!" It's as if they're insulting us. It probably all ties back into tribalism and our group mindset, which now has less of a community aspect, so we project more onto objects and things we love.
and that's why we (teacher) ALWAYS have worksheets or a stack of Warriner's grammar books handy. 'Oh, you don't like experimental German cinema? Okay, you choose: 'Das Blaue Licht' or Review Exercise D!'
ReplyDeleteI might show 'Grapes Of Wrath' this week.
To answer your question (?)
ReplyDeleteI don't know, I really don't know.
To comment on your (cat) photo...
that is So my cats!
I'm still laughing. That is SO them!