Animal House is one of my all time favorite movies, and it is not arguable that this movie changed how the world saw fraternities. It is also not arguable that fraternities and secret societies are part of the collegiate experience for those pursuing a WASP like life. But how did Animal House influence us? Well, for one it gave us a since that fraternities were about insane and intoxicated fun. This new persona replaced earlier thoughts of every button being buttoned, and every shirt being pressed. The opposing fraternity to the Deltas to me symbolizes what was being replaced, and in a sense it was the WASPs being phased out. The WASPy guys were much more upper crust and selective in their pursuit for pledges, and the Deltas (though led by two upper class guys) took average Joes. Second, I think it was the beginning of Trad or WASPy clothing being worn in a less formal way. Though the Deltas mostly dressed as preps, it was in a non caring kind of way. Furthermore, the movie forever characterized the fraternity experience as a womanizing and boozing collegiate experience. Could this movie have contributed to the downfall of the true WASP....I guess, but let's not place too much blame on the film. I actually still enjoy watching it. Have a great weekend!
16 comments:
Speaking of WASP movies, I recently watched "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie." Even though it is a 1969 Academy Winner, the DVD quality is excellent. You'll fall in love with the WASP, trad decoration and clothing.
Animal House is based on a fraternity at Dartmouth, as any eager alum will tell you.
A movie, movies,should not seek to change
anything.
Rather they should stick to what they are.
Storytelling in picture form.
Animal House.....at face value ,supposedly
based on some dimwit's experience at
Dartmouth circa 1969.
Underneath,it's the same ol' lets take the
stinking anti -authority,anti -establishment
scum bucket counter culture mentality
and present it through "charming" characters
who really "speak for us all".
YES its a comedy ,but it's the same'ol
LAUGH IN SYMPATHY TO THE WAY I THINK
BS message the counter culture types can't get
enough of whether through their asinine
stand up routines of"social commentary"
disguised as comedy or movie scripting.
Basically ,yeah,shit on yesteryears staightlaced
WASP types who are the stuffy class of
greater wealth who hold the rest of us down.
Truly ,plant seeds of this perception into those
in the world it portrays,create a healthy
SLOB attitude toward establishment.
IT'S COOL......recreate for yourselves on your
campus the message of Animal House.
WHY-you are the good guys.....
Yes you-the pot smoking alcoholic dirtbags.
You are the good guys.
The pro establishment, pro family, straight
lacers??? Fascists of the highest order.
How evil they all are.
Now...WASP 101?? Whomever you are......
are you you planning some type of book?
It appears you are fishing for contemporary
attitudes for all things WASP as some sort
of personal sociological research.
It is fair to have a healthy interest into
any particular subject matter one wishes
to research but you are OBSESSED.
Will you please stop being so utterly
fascinated by the WASP culture.
What the hell is wrong with you???
This "Richard" character,this "Worthington"
character..........
Whomever you are behind this WASP 101,
I take it you have really been rejected by
WASP "society" so to speak ,in your real life
haven't you?
And now some sort of downward spiral of
psychological release,this....WASP101.
WASP 101??? REAL WASPS DON'T CARE.
I mean real WASPS don't spend an ounce of
their time refelecting on their identity,status,
obsessed with who they are.....your behavior
is pitiful.......
Getting back to the fraternity secret society
thing,you are -the biggest loser- to
feel good or "great" about yourself
if you consider it an honor to be
humiliated through abuse,otherwise
known as hazing,seeing that as some
sort of legitmate bond you can share with your
fellow ass of a man as if not only you
have an ounce of dignity left but that
somehow you have enhanced your dignity
by belonging to such a higher class of......
what??? Absolute asinine fools......
What a bond to share....yippee!!!
A WASP is the last person on earth who should
ever lower themselves to joining such a group.
I do say if there is a blemish on the WASP
culture ,it certainly is the asinine frat/secret
society traditions.......
Words cannot describe the amount of self
worth you as a WASP do not have,any WASP,
if you feel you need to add anything
such as a god-forsaken self worth
adjustment to your life as the"fraternity"
or "secret society".
First:
That's a hell fo a lot of flagrant grammatical errors in one short post. I thought WASP's were supposed to be better educated than that.
Seriously, "since" for "sense"?
Second:
"Furthermore, the movie forever characterized the fraternity experience as a womanizing and boozing collegiate experience."
That's a good thing? I live in Boston, college town #1. Frat boys are considered a scourge around here.
Third:
"The opposing fraternity to the Deltas to me symbolizes what was being replaced"
So, what's the opposing frat called? You've seen the movie a hundred times, right? Or are you just saying that because you feel that you are supposed to have watched it, you know, being a WASO and all.
But what do I know? I'm just a greasy, degenerate Catholic, right?
Restraint and understatement, friend. Look 'em up some time. I may be an outsider, but they seem to be the cornerstones of what you would call "WASP life".
Giuseppe -- You are not a nice guy, I like your blog, but.......
Perhaps I have fallen into the childish trap of shameless bashing that tends to go on around here. For that I'm sorry.
I don't want to be rude, I just think it would help you to pay a little bit more attention to detail.
Another great movie....."Heathers"
Woooah, what's with all the hatred toward fraternal organizations?
Sure, there's booze, drugs, and attempts at getting laid, but that's perfectly normal behavior for 18-22 year old young men, despite affiliation (or even attending college). Fraternal life also entails scholarship, community service, friendship, responsibility, networking, and camaraderie that all you frat-haters will obviously never understand.
I think it is rather small-minded to broadly generalize fraternity members as drunken retards that are a burden on society.
When I went to college in the early seventies frat rats did indeed have a clean-cut apperance with their blue OCBDs, their khakis, and their Bass Weejuns.
Below the surface however, they were racist, womanizing boozers.
The exchange between Richard and Giuseppe highlights the difference between their two blogs. AAW gives the reader an idea of who Giuseppe is, what his priorities are, and how his clothes may reflect an approach toward life. This blog really only shows the reader who Richard is trying to be. Even where he does share certain aspects of his life which are genuine, his credibility is tarnished by the overarching ridiculousness and the inordinate effort he puts into portraying himself as something that he most clearly is not. For example, a post like this has the potential to raise some interesting points on the role of college/fraternities in WASP culture, but the blog is so saturated in Richard's lack of authority on the issue that it becomes just another poorly written post with superficial observations.
Guiseppe is WAY hotter than Richard to boot. Have you seen those tats peeking out from under his shirt sleeves....so daring... I bet he could whup Richard's you know what any day...
I agree that Animal House is hysterical and highly rewatchable.
I think you're missing the point and that an argument about whether or not it was a groundbreaking movie that spawned an entire genre of similar movies would be a far more interesting discussion than this post.
I don't think that Animal House did anything to change the perception of fraternities unless you count people who didn't attend college and would have no experience from which to draw a conclusion. This is a common error among GDIs.
My fraternity experience certainly included alcohol, but it also included men of great character who have become lifelong friends, charity work and a camraderie that I'm not sure non-greeks experience. It is the latter that I value the most 15 years later, though I won't lie and tell you that I don't have some really fun memories involving my fraterity brothers and intoxicated hijinx.
I hope my son pledges when he goes to college so that he too can build similar relationships and memories because that is what fraternity life is truly about.
Please Richard, tell us more of what you've learned about WASP culture from television shows and movies. Have you ever been on the Upper East Side or inside a fraternity house?
I'd like to hear what Worthington has to say about fraternities, having attended a southern school and all. You are clearly a GDI and are not to be trusted.
Richard,
It is official, you are the most hated man on the Internet. You have an odd collection of followers on this site, and a lot of them call you a wannabe. In fact, I am not sure why you put up with them. Heck, I would just tell them to kiss my you not what ol' chap. Anyway, I appreciate your hardwork, and don't worry about the grammar attacks. I know you are a genius.
I had to laugh at the anonymous who never hesitates to ram it down our throats that 'wasps don't care.'
M' deah, EVERYONE reflects on their identity, etc. etc. EVERYONE!!
As the saying goes, Anon - you protesteth too much.
Ramming it down your throat Mrs Truitt is
necessary because as you so wonderfully
demonstrate you MISS THE POINT.
WASPS DON'T CARE-meaning-WASPS aren't
obsessed lying on a bed of insecurity
seeking daily re affirmation of who they are
what they are,what they mean to society.
Traditional WASP character.Laugh at yourself
long and loud dear.heehaw HEEHAWW....
Enjoyed a good laugh with yourself ?
If the level of confidence I speak of is
so foreign to your nature ,and it
OBVIOUSLY IS, you'll never get it.
An example.
I don't brag or take pictures,or ask other's
opinion's,or "care"what they think,or approve
of my Aston Martin......I JUST DRIVE IT.
ANY PART OF MY LIFESTYLE.
I SIMPLY JUST LIVE IT.
Inherited? Recent purchase? A classic
discontinued model no longer
available? To discuss with one who is
knowledgeable about cars for the sake of
conversation is one thing.
I don't blog about it.I don't go looking for
ATTENTION MS TRUITT.
You don't ACT THROUGH LIFE
Ms TRUITT you can just be.
As the saying goes Ms Truitt....
THINK BEFORE YOU TYPE....THINK.
Tis a gift apparently you weren't born with.
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