Jul 21, 2023·edited Jul 21, 2023Liked by Jenna Stocker
Thanks for this "Fifty Years of American Graffiti" post! I was in High School in 1962 and remember the time fondly. Sadly, it was in 1962 that prayer was taken out of our public schools. The United States Supreme Court ruled that school-sponsored prayer in public schools violated the First Amendment and was unconstitutional. It has been all downhill since then. 1962 was the last good year, but then 1963 marked the JFK assassination, followed months later by LBJ's decision to send combat units to Vietnam... leading to the chaotic mess we are in today. I just restacked this post!
You are much too kind and generous Jim, thank you! I hadn't thought about the school prayer aspect -- that's a very important point and one a lot of people would rather not consider when looking at the moral state of our country. Amazing how certain events cluster together to form our history.
I was a young teenager when the '60s nostalgia craze, powered by "Happy Days," hit. I didn't get it then, but I do now.
Pair this film with 1993's "Dazed and Confused." I am of the generation D&C was about. In fact, I would be one of the rising sophomores in that film. Richard Linklater gets the mood and feel of that time exactly right. After Watergate, we really didn't care about much, and lost the confidence in the government and the nation portrayed in "American Graffiti" (and alluded to in "Happy Days").
Of the two films, I like "Dazed and Confused" much better.
I appreciate the feedback, Dan. You bring up a good point that I just couldn't get to in my essay: that AG launched the genre of empathetic and realized snapshots of teenagers in a specific moment of their lives. Every generation has it, from Dazed and Confused to The Breakfast Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High to Superbad.
Where else is this piece besides here? Because it belongs in The Atlantic or New Yorker. It’s time to reckon with American Graffiti. Your essay is so well done.
A thing that came up for me: I’m constantly searching for a definition of home, whether the pristine, ever fleeting home, the curb-appeal home, the over the next hill home, or this home I’m in right now, to feel its actual weight. You seem in search of an American definition. I liked the White Nights quote.
That's much too kind, Theo. You make me blush. No, it's only here. I was actually raked over the coals for it in a different forum -- a real scathing review! We have that in common, wandering pilgrims in search of America. Just don't ever stop looking.
If we’re not seeking, then what? I have a well-loved copy of A Pilgrim’s Progress, never taught in any of my English courses, but I love it, every bit of its chapter descriptions and layout drawings. Also, big fan of Dostoevsky. Glad to stumble across your Substack. Hope the discouragement lifts! You’re doing great!
Saw your post early this AM. The title made me want to wait until tonight when I had more time to savor your considerable writing skills. I really enjoyed this essay. I “lived” a lot of that movie in real life. (I still have the grill shell from my 1932 Ford roadster. I hope my kids don’t throw it out.) Like most things in life, you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone. (There’s a song lyric there somewhere.) I made the mistake of reading many of the posted comments that followed the American Graffiti trailer you included. Many comments were written by people born after the movie was released. Most were sorry they missed those days. Most likely that is a natural phenomenon.
Today — we live in a world that is a far cry from the era of American Graffiti. Many think our best years are behind us. The news is full of gloom & doom. Few reading this have a frame of reference — before the teenagers in that wonderful movie got their driver’s license they practiced getting under their school desks in case of a nuclear attack. So far we’ve survived. We are constantly under attack. It started with some tea & a king in England, some unfortunate internal divisions & followed by a number of tyrants over the years. Recently it seems, even from our fellow citizens. As someone who has been around awhile it is important to remember — at some point our patience runs out & we respond. With a few good men & a few good woman, we right the ship. We are Americans. God bless America.
Noah thank you for sharing your story and insight. It's informative to hear from people who lived this experience and remember it clearly. History is complicated, made so by memories, nostalgia, emotions, and probably too much analysis from "experts." We already see what happens when generations are lost and how easily history can be rewritten or just plain lied about.
What's important is that America -- as we remember it to be, as it was founded, and how we see it in our idealism -- lasts only as long as we let it and fight for it. We are under constant attack, most deceitfully maybe, by those who put political ideology and selfish power-mongering ahead of what this country strives to be and always has: a haven of freedom and a force for good in a world full of evil. Thank you again for your thoughts.
Thanks for this "Fifty Years of American Graffiti" post! I was in High School in 1962 and remember the time fondly. Sadly, it was in 1962 that prayer was taken out of our public schools. The United States Supreme Court ruled that school-sponsored prayer in public schools violated the First Amendment and was unconstitutional. It has been all downhill since then. 1962 was the last good year, but then 1963 marked the JFK assassination, followed months later by LBJ's decision to send combat units to Vietnam... leading to the chaotic mess we are in today. I just restacked this post!
You are much too kind and generous Jim, thank you! I hadn't thought about the school prayer aspect -- that's a very important point and one a lot of people would rather not consider when looking at the moral state of our country. Amazing how certain events cluster together to form our history.
A poignant reflection. A treasure from the lost and found.
Thank you, Derek. I really appreciate it.
Great essay Jenna.
I was a young teenager when the '60s nostalgia craze, powered by "Happy Days," hit. I didn't get it then, but I do now.
Pair this film with 1993's "Dazed and Confused." I am of the generation D&C was about. In fact, I would be one of the rising sophomores in that film. Richard Linklater gets the mood and feel of that time exactly right. After Watergate, we really didn't care about much, and lost the confidence in the government and the nation portrayed in "American Graffiti" (and alluded to in "Happy Days").
Of the two films, I like "Dazed and Confused" much better.
I appreciate the feedback, Dan. You bring up a good point that I just couldn't get to in my essay: that AG launched the genre of empathetic and realized snapshots of teenagers in a specific moment of their lives. Every generation has it, from Dazed and Confused to The Breakfast Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High to Superbad.
Great essay. You have a knack for analysis and explanation.
Where else is this piece besides here? Because it belongs in The Atlantic or New Yorker. It’s time to reckon with American Graffiti. Your essay is so well done.
A thing that came up for me: I’m constantly searching for a definition of home, whether the pristine, ever fleeting home, the curb-appeal home, the over the next hill home, or this home I’m in right now, to feel its actual weight. You seem in search of an American definition. I liked the White Nights quote.
Hey, have you farmed this out anywhere?
Theo
That's much too kind, Theo. You make me blush. No, it's only here. I was actually raked over the coals for it in a different forum -- a real scathing review! We have that in common, wandering pilgrims in search of America. Just don't ever stop looking.
Well, no, can’t stop looking.
If we’re not seeking, then what? I have a well-loved copy of A Pilgrim’s Progress, never taught in any of my English courses, but I love it, every bit of its chapter descriptions and layout drawings. Also, big fan of Dostoevsky. Glad to stumble across your Substack. Hope the discouragement lifts! You’re doing great!
That means a lot. Thank you.
Jenna,
Saw your post early this AM. The title made me want to wait until tonight when I had more time to savor your considerable writing skills. I really enjoyed this essay. I “lived” a lot of that movie in real life. (I still have the grill shell from my 1932 Ford roadster. I hope my kids don’t throw it out.) Like most things in life, you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone. (There’s a song lyric there somewhere.) I made the mistake of reading many of the posted comments that followed the American Graffiti trailer you included. Many comments were written by people born after the movie was released. Most were sorry they missed those days. Most likely that is a natural phenomenon.
Today — we live in a world that is a far cry from the era of American Graffiti. Many think our best years are behind us. The news is full of gloom & doom. Few reading this have a frame of reference — before the teenagers in that wonderful movie got their driver’s license they practiced getting under their school desks in case of a nuclear attack. So far we’ve survived. We are constantly under attack. It started with some tea & a king in England, some unfortunate internal divisions & followed by a number of tyrants over the years. Recently it seems, even from our fellow citizens. As someone who has been around awhile it is important to remember — at some point our patience runs out & we respond. With a few good men & a few good woman, we right the ship. We are Americans. God bless America.
Thank you very much for telling great stories.
Noah thank you for sharing your story and insight. It's informative to hear from people who lived this experience and remember it clearly. History is complicated, made so by memories, nostalgia, emotions, and probably too much analysis from "experts." We already see what happens when generations are lost and how easily history can be rewritten or just plain lied about.
What's important is that America -- as we remember it to be, as it was founded, and how we see it in our idealism -- lasts only as long as we let it and fight for it. We are under constant attack, most deceitfully maybe, by those who put political ideology and selfish power-mongering ahead of what this country strives to be and always has: a haven of freedom and a force for good in a world full of evil. Thank you again for your thoughts.
Nice post, Jenna. I listened to “Fast Car” as I read it (not by design) and it went perfectly.
Thank you, Nick. Good choice of music!