Sweet Home Alabama

The episode that I was able to watch of Sweet Home Alabama was of Season 2. Former Clemson Tiger quarterback Tribble Reese is the bachelor in Season 2. He is from Birmingham, Al (the south.) This really reminds me of The Bachelor but with the added north/south stereotypes. Nonetheless, it goes farther by stereotyping the different classes of southern people. In this case it is southern women. In the beginning of the show two southern women, Ashley and Mandy, were yelling at each other. Ashley felt like Mandy is the “hillbilly” or “white trash” and Mandy felt like Ashley is “fake.” This represents the two different types of southern people. The show already has the division of the north and south but this added Southern stereotyping blew my mind. However, is this just how people act? Do southerners classify people within the south and tear itself apart? Or is this all premeditated, as in the show producers tell the people on the show to spice things up for ratings?  I noticed that when someone speaks on the show and they put their names up that all of the southern girls had their job title plus what type of southern element they have. The northern women were only introduced with their job title. The categorizing of north/south women in the show is unmistakable. It is almost thrown into your face, as if the accents aren’t enough. This makes me think that the producers have some kind of hand in what they want the viewers to see of the south and of the north. The dress of the women is questionable as well. The southern women dress VERY southern. Is this intentional, or really how these girl’s dress? That was just another thing that caught my eye and made me wonder how much did the producers manipulate in this reality show. Furthermore, Tribble goes on a date with a northern woman, then a southern woman. The differences in the two personalities are humongous. However, Tribble seems to like both women equally. Tribble gives this long speech about how he was raised in a Southern family. He hits almost every Southern stereotype there is. He is a football player, he says he was raised to go to church on Sunday’s, and to sit around the table with the family for every meal. Nevertheless, these Southern qualities were subtly placed in between kisses and the girl telling the camera how she lets the guy know that she really likes him.

The next part of the show is a group date where he takes them to his alma mater, Clemson. This part of the show is very stereotypical of the South. Also, they have the Northern girls commenting on the moonshine and tailgating. This show really points out the differences of the south and north. Furthermore, this show pretty much sets up the preconceived notion of how southerners are, which is not actually true for all southerners.  - Autumn McMunn

Duck Dynasty

I am the type of person who usually doesn’t watch television, so I had no clue where to begin my search for a television show with southern elements. Thanks to Facebook, I settled on Duck Dynasty. For those who have not watched Duck Dynasty, the A&E show revolves around the daily challenges of the Robertson family, who all live in Monroe, Louisiana. The Robertson's started their own business, Duck Commander, of making duck calls; as a result, they recently became a multimillionaire family. For this blog post, I will focus on the episode “Spring Pong Cleaning.” Why this episode? 1) It was difficult trying to find a full episode online, so I chose the first one that I found. 2) Unfortunately, I do not own Netflix.

The episode begins with the Robertson guys, Willie, Jase, Phil, and Si, along with some coworkers shaking trees and collecting muscadine berries to make homemade jam. As I watched the opening scene, I couldn’t help, but think of how the wilderness accurately describes the men of the Robertson’s. They act untamed, display wild beards, and are not afraid to get a little dirty. Even though the audience knows that they’re multimillionaires, they choose to stick with their true southern roots. It is interesting to observe and compare the southern reality television shows of today, such as Ducky Dynasty and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. These shows follow the lives of southern families, who realistically are filthy rich, yet they do not act any differently than when they were dirt poor. They still live in the same small houses, wear the same non-brand clothes, and live the same lifestyle. Apparently, viewers enjoy these types of shows, and I hope to see, or in my case hear, more shows like these ones that display positive, authentic qualities of closely knit families.

Anyways, going back to Duck Dynasty. This particular episode describes some normal everyday tasks, such as cleaning out the warehouse and going to the eye doctor. However, the characters put their own Robertson twist on these tasks. For example, as the guys are cleaning out the warehouse, they find a ping pong table and begin playing on it. To make the game more violent, they add in a “red belly rule,” where the loser of the serve lifts up his shirt to receive a hard hit from the ping pong ball on his bare belly from the other player. Crazy? Yes. Out of the ordinary for the Robertson’s? No. Some of the Robertson’s actions can be questionable, but no matter what they do, they always enjoy spending time together as a family. The Robertson’s may not appear as the average southern family, but average never describes the Robertson’s.

As I watched the show, it was hard to miss the obvious closeness and family values of the Robertson’s, which are traditional characteristics of southern families. Except for Thanksgiving, in America it is rare to find the whole family sitting down to share a large home-cooked meal with no cell phones or technology as distractions. However, the Robertson’s set a prime example of this forgotten tradition. In the closing scene, the whole clan gathers at the table to eat a large southern dinner together. When I say “southern,” I mean crispy fried crappie, cornbread, homemade muscadine jelly, and large ice-filled glasses of sweet tea. The patriarch, Phil, says the prayer before dinner, which displays another aspect of the South: religion. Southerners are known for their strong, religious beliefs, and the Robertson’s do not try to hide this aspect.

Duck Dynasty displays positive southern qualities and teaches America some valuable lessons. The men’s appearances and vocabulary may appear redneck and uncultivated, but a deeper look into their actions and values makes viewers revise their persona. As momma always said, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” -Paige Pack

True Blood

 

I’ve been watching True Blood for almost as long as it’s been on the air, and it’s hard to find a lot about it that isn’t Southern.  True Blood is set in the rural Louisiana town of Bon Temps and is filled with the standard set of stereotypes along with vampires and other supernatural beings.  There are the “whitetrash” Rattrays, the bumbling deputy Andy and the main character Sookie, a blond waitress with the unusual ability to read minds.   At the heart of the story are romantic entanglements of Sookie and Bill, the 150 year “Southern gentleman” with fangs.  However, it is the characters that are obviously not Southern who pose the biggest threat.  The Southern characters while dangerous and occasionally unpredictable are understood.  Eric, the vampire Sheriff of the area, is obviously not Southern; he’s a 1000 year old Viking.  To the characters in the show he is the most dangerous and unpredictable menace to Bon Temps.  True Blood asks the viewer whether the familiar stereotypes we know are safer than the ones we don’t.   Eric has the power and authority in the vampire community to threaten the sleepy life and status quos of Bon Temps. 

The setting in Louisiana makes the appearance of vampires and other supernatural beings more believable.  Louisiana has a long history of supernatural stories and legends.  Southern gothic stories were basically born in Louisiana.  The definition of Gothic is the emphasis on the mysterious and grotesque and barbaric; all of which True Blood embodies.  Violence, death and mysterious people and situations pervade season 1 and subsequent seasons.  Without giving anything away the end of the season introduces a new character from a “good” “Bible thumping” family whose life is completely turned upside down by the vampire community.  While the vampire community contains “Southern” members it is, like Eric not safe.  The Southern community Sookie lives in rarely surprises.  Only the “other” characters offer anything new to Bon Temps and Sookie, but they also offer danger and change to a stagnant culture. 

True Blood shows the South at its best and worse.  Sookie’s grandmother is kind and nuthuring but another member of the community is a killer.  Bill is a “Southern Gentleman” but has also killed and the end of season 1 brings a complication to his “mainstream” life.  These “Southern” characters are not, however, leaving Bon Temps anytime soon.  The vampires and other supernaturals bring change and newness to Bon Temps.  While the Southern characters seem much safer than vampires, True Blood poses the question that only something as drastic and different as vampires can alter the stagnant culture Sookie Stackhouse inhabits. - Lauren Daley

Doctor Who & the South: Daleks in Manhattan

The presentation of an American-Southerner stereotype is not something one necessarily expects when settling in to watch a British television production such as Doctor Who. However, as the show features extraterrestrial and supernatural beings of all sorts, the portrayal of an American-Southerner may come as no surprise after all. The Southern character in this instance is Frank, portrayed by Andrew Garfield. Set amidst the harsh times of economic despair surrounding Hoover's presidency, we first meet Frank in the impoverished setting of a "Hooverville." Frank's role lasts throughout two episodes of Doctor Who, but his identity and ensuing Southern stereotype are introduced within the first twenty-three minutes of the first epiusode. The director achieves this through dialogue and semiotics.

The first interaction the audience has with Frank is an interesting enough scene in itself: the Doctor and Martha are conversing with Solomon, the unofficial leader of this particular "Hooverville." Frank bursts in and relays a message to Solomon, an African-American. This hierarchy shows a reversal of traditional Southern stereotypes as Frank willingly reports to and obviously respects the African-American Solomon. Past this point, many of the traditional stereotypes are enforced. When the antagonist of the episode appears seeking help with "tunnel work," Frank is the first to question the man and take a stand against going. As the Doctor the volunteers, Frank quickly changes his position and volunteers as well. The audience infers two messages from this: 1) Frank contains an admirable amount of courage as he follows the Doctor into a precarious position 2) Frank appears malleable as he immediately reverses his position based on nothing but a whim from the Doctor.

The next time the audience sees Frank is below the city, in the tunnels themselves. After brief dialogue with the antagonist, the party sets off into the darkness. Each member of the four-person party bears an electronic torch, but the physical arrangement of the party is interesting here. As the Doctor and Solomon walk together, Frank sticks close to the Doctor's companion, Martha. A woman in her early mid-twenties, she has seen great adventure with the Doctor and needs little protection from Frank. Frank remains by Martha's side though, going so far as to tell her, "You stick with me, and you'll be alright" in his thick Southern drawl. As the two walk, Martha remains bundled up due to the cold while Frank walks just a step ahead of her to remain the image of defense against danger.

Frank's courage quickly fades though as the group wanders upon an inanimate extraterrestrial substance, appearing similar to a brain. Unmoving, the brain appears harmless and non-threatening. It simply appears as an "unknown element." However, Frank quickly falls to the back of the group and stands behind his three companions. A shadow falls across his face, coupling with his own expression of fear to show the audience Frank's dramatic swing from bravery to fright. As the creature shows no sign of danger, the audience assumes Frank is only scared because the creature is outside his sphere of "knowing." Solomon, the native Northerner, appears less rattled. Juxtaposing these two figures, the Northerner appears more able to cope with the unknown, as the Southerner seems scared and possibly even unable to comprehend that extraterrestrial beings may exist. The Southerner appears less advanced. The final stereotype is implemented when the four attempt to escape out of a manhole cover after being chased by a hostile group of "pig men." Seeing that the creatures are closing in, Frank picks up a makeshift weapon and valiantly holds the creatures off until all can escape, sacrificing himself in the process. Forgoing his previous fear, Frank appears brave and valiant once more. Within the first twenty-three minutes of the episode, the producers of Doctor Who show that traditional stereotypes of the American-Southerner do not end at American borders. It appears that many of the stereotypes have leapt across the seas and found themselves embedded in foreign cultures as well. - James Cochran

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

After weeks of bringing it up in class, it should come as no surprise that my television show of choice was Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. For those unfortunate souls who have yet to view this amazing show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo follows one of the highlights of TLC’s “Toddlers and Tiaras,” six-year-old Alana and her family during their daily routines.  Alana’s father, mother, and three older sisters are the “typical” backwoods Southern Georgia natives (according to the TLC portrayal) who have some pretty, for lack of a better term, quirky characteristics. For this blog post, I will look at the first season’s first episode, which, can be found on YouTube, by the way.

The premier episode of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo needed to re-introduce the Thompson family that America had all, supposedly, fallen in love with from Toddlers and Tiaras. The show also had to capture the viewers’ attention by introducing a new dynamic to the already well-known family. The producers choose to portray the family as one with deep, Southern values; however, the Thompson family’s values are offset by their unusual family activities and phrases. More importantly, the emphasis on the different characteristics between a normal American family and the Thompson family is what increased viewer ratings. Alana, for instance, introduced her three sisters as: Pumpkin, the craziest (Lauryn, 12); Chickadee, the pregnantest (Anna, 17); and, Chubbs, as her bff (Jessica, 15).  Furthermore, Alana’s dad is described by her mother as the “baby daddy” and reaffirms that none of her children have the same father. The lively introduction already sets the Thompson family as “other” against the stereotypical Southern family of a mother, father, and 2.5 children. In addition, the family is very overweight based on a diet consisting of soda and cheese balls. As a result, the family agrees to begin a family led weight loss program. The dynamic of a healthy, active Southern family is quickly replaced with the image of the redneck Thompsons.

The family activities are also brought into question within the course of the show. For instance, the “Redneck Games” is described as being very similar to the Olympics only with a lot more butt crack. The viewers are given a crash course in redneck culture as the three sisters are found diving into a mud pit and using their mouths to pick up raw pig legs from within a bin full of water. The need for a family weight loss program (in which, physical activity is not addressed as a possible solution) opens up new doors for the rest of the season.  The family is not following in the footsteps of a family steeped in sports or religion (as many Northern men and women view Southerners) due to lack of funds. The family’s low income levels involve the girls all being more aware of their spending or wasting of money, as seen by the cheese ball spill fiasco, but, also, involves the mother teaching each of her daughters how they should love themselves for, well, themselves.

Although the Thompson family is not the definition of a true American family, it is one that illustrates the typical values that most Americans want within their home. Alana’s mom, Shannon, insists that her family stay connected and act as one unit, reliant on one another.  So, though many viewers could be watching the show to get a good laugh, the viewers may find that they are learning a few things from Alana and her family instead. –Corinne Beckinger

The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees is a coming-of-age tale of 14-year-old Lily Owens in rural South Carolina.  She, with friend and caregiver Rosaleen, escape to Tiburon, South Carolina in search of answers about her mother’s death at an early age.  The two find themselves in the home of the lovely August Boatwright and sisters May and June.  During a heated time of racial tensions in the 1960s South, Lily learns the true meaning of love and motherhood from the strong community of African American women.             

This movie exhibits many southern stereotypes including the abrasive white male and his attempt to preserve the purity of the white female.  Lily’s father T. Ray is repeatedly loud, abusive, and brash.  He maintains his fixed character throughout the film.  In the midst of Lily’s quest for answers, she begins to recognize her underlying feelings for Zach (an African American help on the honey bee farm).  When Lily and Zach attempt to see a movie together, they are met upstairs by 3 anonymous white men who strike Lily and arrest Zach on the scene.  The abuse of Lily here, is still consistent with the stereotype of the white male because of her new interest in an African American.  She is now considered “other” or, rather, “tarnished” because of her crush on Zach. 

As the movie a progresses, Lily finds that she is indeed loveable and that her mother did not leave her but left her father. This also lends to the idea that T. Ray was not just harsh toward Lily but to his wife as well. 

The Secret Life of Bees is a wonderful film with very highly acclaimed actresses.  I would recommend anyone to watch it and consider the many different southern elements throughout the film.  --Lauren Copeland

Doctor Who-"Daleks in Manhattan" and "Evolution of the Daleks"

Though Doctor Who majorly strays from Southern American culture during the first few seasons of its current reboot, the two episodes “Daleks in Manhattan” and “Evolution of the Daleks” give a slight glimpse into British views of Southern life via the character of Frank, played by Andrew Garfield. The beauty of these episodes lies in their ability to overlook Frank’s Southern-qualities. In fact, the only designation of difference his character ever really suffers is through his horrible accent (whether that is Garfield’s fault or the director’s remains unknown). All it really adds to the story, though, is some slight comic relief during the episodes’ darker moments, which refreshingly shows that Southern people can be just as normal as other character types.

The beauty of the episodes comes from how little “other” qualities Frank possesses versus the alien onslaught that The Doctor and the other Manhattan residents face. When everything from the Daleks, age old war machines, to their race of hybrid Pig-humans is considered, Frank’s Southern accent seems hardly like anything to fret about. Frank is poor and rural, like several stereotypes we’ve explored have been, but so are the other residents of Hooverville (a makeshift town of dirt poor individuals in the venter of Central Park) in the episode. In the end of the two episodes, it is Frank that convinces his fellow townspeople to allow Laszlo, a half pig half human, to live with them. His own experience as an “other” has contributed to allowing Laszlo’s even greater “otherness” to be deemed acceptable. Considering this is a British TV show, this could very well be a statement on how cultural lines tend to be pretty solidly drawn between North and South here in the U.S. In the grander scheme of things, those designations can be pretty pointless and trivial. A human being is, after all, just a human being.  - Michael Carter