Article - Fear and loathing at school
The story of David and Goliath has had several reinterpretations along the times, as usual with any story appearing in the Bible. But what makes this story somehow different from any other is the possibility to adapt it to new forms of expression, thus changing slightly the point of view in the consequent analysis.
“Three O'Clock High” is a very good example of this. Although some may quickly label this 1987 movie directed by Joanou as naïve or even childish, it has some aspects that can be reviewed at the light of recent events: violence at schools and american ingerence in other countries’ affairs.
Back in 1987, the term “bullying” did not even exist (Besag’s work dates from 1989), as well as the more brutal forms of this violent social practice, very in vogue today. In “Three O'Clock High” the bully/Goliath acts violently when touched. Our contemporary bullies are violent for various reasons still being studied by pschologists; in any case, these reasons are far from being clear, and the 2009 bullies outnumber considerably those of 22 years ago.
Also, this antagonistic relation between the characters Jerry Mitchell and Buddy Revell (surname deliberately chosen to demonstrate how the character apreciates, that is, revels in being violent?) somehow depicts the role os the United States in the wars the country has entered along the last decades. In this movie, as well as in Vietnam or in Afghanistan, the perspective in the beginning was clear: David is doomed, Goliath’s strength is enough to smash him, and all the others (schoolmates in the movie, rest of the world in real life) are baffled with the panorama of the quarrel.
But, just as in socialpolitical context, what happens is that despair plays an important role in the combat: after trying everything to avoid the conflict, David blindly throws himself in it. And he triumphs.
Although, in this comparison one thing is diferent – the mistakes. In the movie, David commits a series of errors and that makes him stronger; in the real war games of life, it is the USA (that is, Goliath) who has, war after war, made mistakes that undermine its possibility of victory: bombs are thrown in wrong locations, proofs of torture agains prisioners leak, popularity decreases as too much money is spent etc.
I am about to finnish (thankfully, some might say) this rather unorthodox article, which I hope have contributed to show that pop culture can also be object of reflection. But before putting the last period I would like to say that this movie’s relation to american society could be more deeply studied, for it has strong relation with the reality. The commerce of violence (the documentary of the fight some schoolmates want to film, the betting system on how many minutes the protagonist will endure the fight etc.), the perspective of dying as a motivation to live more intensively and many other.
Of course, it should not be forgotten: do not try this at home. If it were someone like me there, I would have be beaten up and would not have been kissed by the literature teacher.
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