Don't Do That

I often think that my life would be a lot more simple if I would just stop thinking so goddamn much. Maybe if I just started listening to music that simply sounded good, as opposed to getting absorbed into music that says something to me or bands and songs that have some idealistic quality that makes it more than just sounds that sound good when going through my ears. I think that I would probably be a much happier sports fan if I would just root for teams with players I respect, as opposed to constantly rooting for the underdogs because of the metaphoric nature of those teams. I think life would without a doubt be a lot more simple if I would just stop thinking about things so much and start treating movies, sports, music and TV shows as simple entertainment.

That being said though, I wonder if my life would be any more or less meaningful.

Generally speaking, popular culture, when taken simply at face value, is pretty much worthless. The only time there is any value in the TV Shows and Movies and Albums and Sports Events and etc that consume the American Popular Culture is when we examine these within the context of the “big picture.” Hank Aaron setting the new Home Run record back in 1974 was obviously about something more than a guy hitting baseballs out of the ballpark; Hank Aaron’s homerun chase embodies triumph over adversary, especially under racial tensions. Cary Grant’s mistaken identity in North By Northwest is more than just a thriller spy movie. Similarly, NBC’s hit show The Office is something more than a comedic mocumentry about the office work environment. The Office isn’t really worth examining unless we look beyond its narrative and premise and examine what the characters and their interactions really mean, and, more specifically, Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly.

The Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly relationship, obviously, is more than just a cute love-story shown on Thursday nights; Their relationship a visualization of the old cliché that “nice guys finish last.” Every guy whom has ever fallen into the “just a friend” category will instantly fall in love with the show, regardless of their affinity for Steve Carell’s comedic style. However, those who get roped into the show because of this relationship will almost always find themselves instantly rooting against the Pam/Jim union. Every “just friend” kind of guy out there does not want to see Jim finally get the girl, because Jim finally getting the girl of his dreams is not reality. In reality, Pam dates Jim for a couple weeks before Roy re-enters the picture, causing Pam to leave Jim to try and work things out with Roy. This is what really happens, and people invested into these characters for this reason do not want to see Jim finally get what he wants, and, sort of pretty much deserves. Because, like as I just said, that never fucking happens.

Season 4 of the Office is just around the corner, and if Pam and Jim hit things off and start a successful and loving relationship, then I am done with this fucking show.