He said that Serling saw TZ as an opportunity to voice his opinion on hot-button issues that wouldn't have otherwise been able to be addressed (due to censorship and the rules on what was allowed to be portrayed on television). He also described Serling as an auteur - a director/filmmaker/author whose work genuinely reflects his creative vision; his voice speaks the loudest, in spite of all the different processes that go into creating the work (producing, editing, etc.). Undoubtedly, this was Serling. And because TZ was a "science-fiction" series, the censorship/appropriateness rules didn't exactly apply because it seemed to showcase an alternate reality, not 1960s America.
It's cool that Brode uses this series in the classroom. I think there are many valuable things to be gained from the majority of episodes (a classic example that he cited was The Eye of the Beholder). He uses it for more than just moral lessons though; he uses it to teach students how to write. This is just one demonstration of what a profound impact the series has had on society. Pop culture references it (SNL spoofs, cartoon parodies, "It's a cookbook" references), there have been two attempted re-makes (twenty years apart! TZ really spans generations), and its morals are relevant even in our much advanced day and age (no more twin beds are shown in parents' bedrooms on tv shows, yet everyone can still learn something from episodes like The Obsolete Man).
I was happy to hear Brode's opinion on some less-insightful episodes. I hadn't really thought of it before, but Brode said Stopover in a Quiet Town lacked a good [moral] message. Of course the saying, "Don't drink and drive" is very important, but Brode doesn't believe the episode fit well within the TZ. Though it has an ironic twist, it was a little too out there for his taste. I have to agree.
As for the final bit of today's blog, I'm pasting in my notes from the episode my team presented today, Caesar and Me. We pretty much went over everything in class, but I just wanted to make the notes available for viewing.
Summary:
1. previous owner “left” Little Caesar; Mr. West promises to stick with him [ gives loyalty]
1. previous owner “left” Little Caesar; Mr. West promises to stick with him [ gives loyalty]
2. Little Caesar has mind of his own, so he could actually do routines for Mr. West
3. but instead, he lets Mr. West flounder and encourages a life of crime *red flag
4. Mr. West becomes downcast and easily influenced by Little Caesar *red flag
5. Mr. West goes to jail proclaiming “We’re a team.” hoping Little Caesar will back him up
6. Little Caesar tries to entice Susan by saying “We’re a team.”
4. Mr. West becomes downcast and easily influenced by Little Caesar *red flag
5. Mr. West goes to jail proclaiming “We’re a team.” hoping Little Caesar will back him up
6. Little Caesar tries to entice Susan by saying “We’re a team.”
Little Caesar quotes: “Your best stinks.”
“Ya couldn’t make it any other way.”
calls him a third-rate criminal and a bad ventriloquist
Mr. West quotes: “A man has to live with himself, even if he lives in the gutter.”
“We’re a team.”
Moral: Be careful who you trust; beware of betrayal; remember what the Bible says - “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (from Corinthians)
Questions:
1. Why do you think Mr. West stuck with Little Caesar?
He was in a bind. He thought Little Caesar had good intentions and would be able to help him get back on his feet. He bought Little Caesar’s lie that they were a “team.” Clearly, though, Mr. West was being manipulated (just men were by the mob bosses).
2. Do you think Mr. West saw Little Caesar’s bad side? Or was he somehow blind to it? Why?
No. I think he wanted to believe the best about his friend, so he chose to ignore the warning signs that Little Caesar was using him. Perhaps he didn’t have anyone else to turn to for companionship. In bad relationships, people can choose to ignore red flags.
3. Does anyone see a lesson to be learned?
Be careful who you trust; beware of betrayal; remember what the Bible says - “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
1. Why do you think Mr. West stuck with Little Caesar?
He was in a bind. He thought Little Caesar had good intentions and would be able to help him get back on his feet. He bought Little Caesar’s lie that they were a “team.” Clearly, though, Mr. West was being manipulated (just men were by the mob bosses).
2. Do you think Mr. West saw Little Caesar’s bad side? Or was he somehow blind to it? Why?
No. I think he wanted to believe the best about his friend, so he chose to ignore the warning signs that Little Caesar was using him. Perhaps he didn’t have anyone else to turn to for companionship. In bad relationships, people can choose to ignore red flags.
3. Does anyone see a lesson to be learned?
Be careful who you trust; beware of betrayal; remember what the Bible says - “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Note: only TZ teleplay written by a woman; notice Little Caesar's cheek scar and the way he calls Mr. West "Dillinger" - references to the mob
I really appreciate your insights, Kaitlyn. I have to disagree with you, however, on Stopover in a Quiet Town - I liked it, and think it fits perfectly with the genre. But that's also the beauty of a series anthology - lots of variety to appeal to lots of different people.
ReplyDeleteI can see that. Serling's ending remark just seemed very blunt in comparison to how he typically, somewhat mysteriously, ended episodes. This lesson was a very important one though, so maybe that's why he was so straight-forward. This one certainly had that classic twist too! Overall good episode.
ReplyDelete