First of all, I would like to state that The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis is, by far, my favorite screening so far. This is largely due to subculture that the television show was targeted for. Dobie was one of the first television shows that focused on the teenage/youth audience and culture. This was very evident in the episode we viewed because of the focus of the plot and the characterization. Dobie is the star of this show, and unlike past television shows, Dobie is young and attractive. The plot of the episode we watch is focused first on Dobie and his mishap with a man who is important to his father. Then the episode continues with Dobie attempting to help his father gain approval by acting as his friend, Manyard Krebs. Therefore this show is not about the nuclear family, but rather focuses directly on Dobie. The teenage audience would be much more involved in this show due to the teenage mindset that the "world revolves around me". This show is just about Dobie and the typical teenage adventures. More specifically, one area that affects teenagers the most is the idea of finding love. Dobie himself is very attractive and the show often involves Dobie dating, in which almost every episode he has a new girlfriend. However, there is one girl Zelda who loves Dobie, but she is seen as nerdy and not Dobie material. Therefore another element of teenage life is portrayed, popularity. These ideas of popularity and love strongly interest the teenage community. Therefore, this television show addresses the teenage subculture through characterization and elements of plot that are relevant to the teenage life at the time.
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, by focusing on plots revolving around a teenager and his friends instead of the nuclear family, begins the process of representing subculture on television in the late 50s and early 60s. This episode, in particular, looks at two more subcultures within the teenage community: the preppy yet rebellious archetype that Dobie represents and the uncivilized, hippie community that Maynard, his friend, belongs to.
The comedy of the narrative is pulled primarily from the switcheroo between Dobie and Maynard identities. Dobie, intelligent and mannered, is forced to impersonate Maynard, a clown with little decorum or social intelligence, and vice versa. The episode draws specific focus to the stereotypical traits of both of these youth subcultures, which are portrayed as having positive and negative attributes. The episode is able to end with a conclusion that places a value on respecting both subcultures and their strengths and weaknesses by showing that Dobie and Maynard, at the end of the day, value their friendship the most.
By playing off of different demographics comedic similarities and differences, this episode of Dobie shines a light on two developing subcultures in 1960s America while placing the nuclear family firmly in the background.
The subculture is uniquely foregrounded in the screening of Dobie Gillis, as the old fashioned (read: upper class) train of thought becomes outdated. The episode itself revolves around two teenagers, Dobie and Maynard, as they switch lives in order to appease the leader of an upscale club that Dobie's father wishes to be a larger part of. The counter culture is beginning to become recognized by two separate, yet intertwined characters: Dobie as the popular heartthrob, and Maynard as the beat washup. These two characters show their agency throughout the episode and show a new culture on television. It is most interesting to me that Maynard's character is the catalyst for the episode, as well as the subject of primary success, despite his being a "low-class" citizen according to the typical upper class male (the leader of the national club). His story is his love for jazz, and his opportunity to play with his idol. The episode follows the tension around this opportunity closing if Dobie's dad cannot be promoted quick enough. However, in the end, Maynard is able to play drums in the show, and demonstrates how he, and therefore his beatnik type, can be successful in their own ways despite his inability to have proper manners and behavior according to the main train of thought. The counter culture also prevails over the high class club leader in this episode, showing an increased importance to teenage agency. Dobie's father ultimately sides with his son and his friend over the club leader. This man placed the typical nuclear family ideals at the highest accord, while Dobie, his father, and Maynard sided with individualism and expression. This type of thinking reflects the more "with it" thinking of the counter culture.
In the episode that was screened in class, there is a clear set-up distinction between Dobie and his friend Maynard and his parents and his dad's club leader. Dobie and Maynard belong to the youth of the 1960s, a group that did not get much screen time in television shows because subculture and counterculture were not quite as accepted as they later would be. Dobie's parents and the club leader represent the old fashioned culture that revolved around a nuclear family that was for all intents and purposes perfect. Dobie messes up in the very beginning of the episode by knocking over the club leader, unbeknownst to him, who was going to Dobie's house to meet with his father and assess his readiness to become a leader himself. Maynard is already a screw-up, living the life of a layabout and probably not even going to school. Dobie's dad wants nothing more than to impress his brother bison and become a leader of his ridiculous club. His wife only shows support for his endeavors as a "good wife" should do. A conflict arises as Dobie reveals it was him who angered the club leader, and his is forced to switch places Maynard while Maynard acts as the nuclear family son (why Dobie couldn't simply be disguised to avoid ruining his father remains a mystery), which is something he never had dreamed of doing. There is a clear clash between the two worlds: the upstanding family culture that pervaded the 1950s and the new subculture of hippies and protesters. In the end, both worlds find a happy medium as Maynard is accepted into the nuclear family and still gets to live his dream of playing the bongos with some dude. Dobie also learns a lesson about Maynard's culture and comes out a better person. Each culture can learn from each other, and neither one should be in complete control.
First of all, I would like to state that The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis is, by far, my favorite screening so far. This is largely due to subculture that the television show was targeted for. Dobie was one of the first television shows that focused on the teenage/youth audience and culture. This was very evident in the episode we viewed because of the focus of the plot and the characterization. Dobie is the star of this show, and unlike past television shows, Dobie is young and attractive. The plot of the episode we watch is focused first on Dobie and his mishap with a man who is important to his father. Then the episode continues with Dobie attempting to help his father gain approval by acting as his friend, Manyard Krebs. Therefore this show is not about the nuclear family, but rather focuses directly on Dobie. The teenage audience would be much more involved in this show due to the teenage mindset that the "world revolves around me". This show is just about Dobie and the typical teenage adventures.
ReplyDeleteMore specifically, one area that affects teenagers the most is the idea of finding love. Dobie himself is very attractive and the show often involves Dobie dating, in which almost every episode he has a new girlfriend. However, there is one girl Zelda who loves Dobie, but she is seen as nerdy and not Dobie material. Therefore another element of teenage life is portrayed, popularity. These ideas of popularity and love strongly interest the teenage community. Therefore, this television show addresses the teenage subculture through characterization and elements of plot that are relevant to the teenage life at the time.
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, by focusing on plots revolving around a teenager and his friends instead of the nuclear family, begins the process of representing subculture on television in the late 50s and early 60s. This episode, in particular, looks at two more subcultures within the teenage community: the preppy yet rebellious archetype that Dobie represents and the uncivilized, hippie community that Maynard, his friend, belongs to.
ReplyDeleteThe comedy of the narrative is pulled primarily from the switcheroo between Dobie and Maynard identities. Dobie, intelligent and mannered, is forced to impersonate Maynard, a clown with little decorum or social intelligence, and vice versa. The episode draws specific focus to the stereotypical traits of both of these youth subcultures, which are portrayed as having positive and negative attributes. The episode is able to end with a conclusion that places a value on respecting both subcultures and their strengths and weaknesses by showing that Dobie and Maynard, at the end of the day, value their friendship the most.
By playing off of different demographics comedic similarities and differences, this episode of Dobie shines a light on two developing subcultures in 1960s America while placing the nuclear family firmly in the background.
The subculture is uniquely foregrounded in the screening of Dobie Gillis, as the old fashioned (read: upper class) train of thought becomes outdated. The episode itself revolves around two teenagers, Dobie and Maynard, as they switch lives in order to appease the leader of an upscale club that Dobie's father wishes to be a larger part of. The counter culture is beginning to become recognized by two separate, yet intertwined characters: Dobie as the popular heartthrob, and Maynard as the beat washup.
ReplyDeleteThese two characters show their agency throughout the episode and show a new culture on television. It is most interesting to me that Maynard's character is the catalyst for the episode, as well as the subject of primary success, despite his being a "low-class" citizen according to the typical upper class male (the leader of the national club). His story is his love for jazz, and his opportunity to play with his idol. The episode follows the tension around this opportunity closing if Dobie's dad cannot be promoted quick enough. However, in the end, Maynard is able to play drums in the show, and demonstrates how he, and therefore his beatnik type, can be successful in their own ways despite his inability to have proper manners and behavior according to the main train of thought.
The counter culture also prevails over the high class club leader in this episode, showing an increased importance to teenage agency. Dobie's father ultimately sides with his son and his friend over the club leader. This man placed the typical nuclear family ideals at the highest accord, while Dobie, his father, and Maynard sided with individualism and expression. This type of thinking reflects the more "with it" thinking of the counter culture.
In the episode that was screened in class, there is a clear set-up distinction between Dobie and his friend Maynard and his parents and his dad's club leader. Dobie and Maynard belong to the youth of the 1960s, a group that did not get much screen time in television shows because subculture and counterculture were not quite as accepted as they later would be. Dobie's parents and the club leader represent the old fashioned culture that revolved around a nuclear family that was for all intents and purposes perfect. Dobie messes up in the very beginning of the episode by knocking over the club leader, unbeknownst to him, who was going to Dobie's house to meet with his father and assess his readiness to become a leader himself. Maynard is already a screw-up, living the life of a layabout and probably not even going to school. Dobie's dad wants nothing more than to impress his brother bison and become a leader of his ridiculous club. His wife only shows support for his endeavors as a "good wife" should do.
ReplyDeleteA conflict arises as Dobie reveals it was him who angered the club leader, and his is forced to switch places Maynard while Maynard acts as the nuclear family son (why Dobie couldn't simply be disguised to avoid ruining his father remains a mystery), which is something he never had dreamed of doing. There is a clear clash between the two worlds: the upstanding family culture that pervaded the 1950s and the new subculture of hippies and protesters. In the end, both worlds find a happy medium as Maynard is accepted into the nuclear family and still gets to live his dream of playing the bongos with some dude. Dobie also learns a lesson about Maynard's culture and comes out a better person. Each culture can learn from each other, and neither one should be in complete control.