StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Gidget by Frederick Kohner and Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "Gidget by Frederick Kohner and Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin" states that in 1970th it is characterized by larger freedom of sexual relations, higher dynamics of urban life, and lower mortality. Local culture is tightly connected with local infrastructure and personal needs…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.1% of users find it useful
Gidget by Frederick Kohner and Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Gidget by Frederick Kohner and Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin"

California Culture “Gidget” by Frederick Kohner and “Tales of the City” by Armistead Maupin are dedicated to different layers of Californian sub-culture. This is a distinctive and influential part of the US cultural map, that’s why it is worth of being examined. Social and cultural trends, readers have identified in the novels, are both general and peculiar. Frances Lawrence lives at the end of impetuous 1950th and Mary Ann Singleton comes to San Francisco in the middle of 1970th. Although both heroines dwell in different parts of California, it allows following development and dynamics of local sub-culture. Surrounding of Frances (Gidget) and Mary Ann varies and it has impacted their psychology, behavioral patterns and life priorities. Gidget is a pretty sixteen-years-old girl, who has never faces serious difficulties and is absolutely inexperienced in love. Gidget is distinguished among her female friends and helpmates, who are keen on male hunting. This imaginary heroine embodied a real life prototype – Kohner’s daughter Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman. The writer described and analyzed his daughter’s summer, spent on the beach of Malibu. The Lawrences can be regarded as an example of usual middle-class American family of 1950th; they are united, happy and self-sufficient. Mary Ann is older than Francie and seems to be more experienced in life. She decided to live her native Cleveland and find a permanent job in San Francisco. On her arrival she rented an apartment at 28 Barbara Lane and suddenly came across socio-cultural diversity and dynamic urban life. Thus, two worlds of Francie and Mary Ann create a sharp contrast between Californian cultural layers. The author placed Frances in sea and sand romance and separated her from temptations and noise of Los Angeles. Major part of the plot developed on the beach in hot Californian summer. To spend summer, vacations or at least weekend in Malibu became popular and fashionable. “The story, set on the beaches of Malibu, told of the adventures of a young American girl and a group of surfers. The surf-star myth was under way, and, while late-1960s students were up in arms, a whole generation of surfing enthusiasts was crazy to brave the waves.” (Augustin 1998) Thus, story about Gidget and her adventures laid foundation of a new surfing trend in Californian sub-culture. Film with the same name with Sandra Dee made surfing and summer holidays in Malibu or any other beaches of California especially popular. In the novel Frederick Kohner had described generally accepted framework of surfers’ lifestyle and leisure time, which further spread all over the world. Readers come across so called “beachfront” lexicon, which includes Hawaiian words, original nicknames, specific words and phrases of local youth. For instance, nickname “Gidget” is a shortened version of “girl in midgets”. Young people address each other mainly by nicknames. Despite of their age and sex, everyone calls Betty Louise B.L. Sub-culture of Californian youth implies informal communication, superiority of males above females, flirting and idleness. Steady rituals and ceremonies of surfers’ clubs spread thorough California. They include specialized parties, songs, music and dress code. Surfers wear T-shirts, Levis jeans, tennis shoes. Often the wear clothes of similar color with special emblems, signs. These features appeal to me, because they are associated with aspiration for beauty, high physical and social activity, equitable communication among representatives of different social and ethnic categories. Francie’s friends Moondoggie, the Big Kahuna and other members of the surfing group spend the whole summer on the beach, bathing, listening to the music and having fun. Sea and sand romance does not promote heroes thinking about future; Moondoggie is not going to return to college and the Big Kahuna seems to be satisfied with his present employment, although once he has had bigger ambitions. They are trained surfers and, thus, feel themselves by a head taller than other youngsters. In San Francisco Mary Ann found herself in totally different environment. Here life went in accordance to urban laws. Ann’s decision to stay also was impulsive and affected by huge external pressure. She “came to the city alone for an eight day vacation. On the fifth night, she drank three Irish coffees at the Buena Vista ... and decided to phone her mother in Cleveland.” (Maupin 2001, p. 12) In 1970th California was saturated with spirit of freedom, dynamic urban life and cross-cultural influence. Armistead Maupin gets target audience acquainted with diversity of local sub-culture in dialogues and narrations of the main heroes. Mona Ramsey, DeDe, Anna Madrigal and others mention names of popular singers and groups, local places of interest (the Parrots, the Castro), various cultural events (concerts, theatrical performances). DeDe is a woman of the world, that’s why she is well-aware of Californian high life, main cultural and fashionable trends. “The Grove (a thinly disguised Bohemian Club), the exclusive retreat of white males (threatened in this volume by a counter-retreat for a wimmin's music festival), and glimpse the foibles of California's rich.” (Einstadter and Sinclair 1991) Job hunting, learning at the university, clubbing, parties, and love affairs, tangled social and family relations are an integral part of this sub-culture. The topic of sexuality and love is core in both novels. “Gidget” is primarily intended for American teenagers, school-leavers and students as the most dynamic and sensitive part of target audience. The plot is developed around relations of Moondoggie and Gidget, who has any experience in this field. At the beginning of the novel Francis Lawrence encountered with an insuperable problem, because she was not keen on male hunting. That was a popular type of activity on bathing places and resorts California. On the contrary from Francie, BL and Mary Lou felt themselves comfortable with young men; they were easy-going and flirting. “I’m writing this down because I once heard that when you’re getting older you’re liable to forget things and I’d sure be the most miserable woman in this world if I ever forgot what happened this summer.” (Maupin 2001, p. 22) This recognition of Gidget proves that author uses an artistic device of heroine’s self-immersion into the world of free love, romance, and sexual relations. On the example of Gidget Kohner demonstrates successive development of the teenage girl within Californian sub-culture. “Shifts in the texture of youth culture are impossible to pinpoint with temporal precision, but by the beginning of the 1960s a recognizable surfing subculture existed among (mainly middle-class) Southern Californian youngsters.” (Osgerby 2001, p. 104) Such places as Trestles, Paradise Cove, Mile Zero, Zuma Beach became pilgrimage shrines for local surfers. Many surfers clubs were created in California and throughout the United States. “Gidget” turned into a universal hymn for all of them, in spite of cross-cultural differences. Surfer infrastructure also broadened, because potential customers required new boards and other sports equipment. The novel promoted emergency of popular songs, films, stories, related to surfing. On the one hand, Gidget mingles with surfers and strives for active development and outdoor sports. This is a natural need of any teenager. On the other hand, her friends and surrounding impact and promote her spiritual evolution, i.e. sexuality, passion, sympathy towards young people, psychological instability. The Big Kahuna is an informal leader and embodies general manhood. Moondoggie is full of contradictions, because he resists his own sympathy to Gidget. She tries to be independent from her parents, makes serious decisions and freely communicates with male friends, although she persuades herself she is not able to fall in love. At the same time rituals and rules of surfer’s sub-culture just quicken this process. “All things considered – maybe I was just a woman in love with a surfboard.” (Maupin 2001, p. 82) In “Tales of the City” represents readers a picture of human relations from adultery point of view. Moral map of San Francisco is freer than morality of “Gidget”. All tenants of Anna Madrigal are independent personalities, employed and unemployed, of different social, ethnic origin and sexual orientation. Large variety of heroes allows demonstrating variety of Californian sub-culture. Beauchamp Day is an unfaithful husband and philander, Brian Hawkins is busy with clubbing and women clubbing. Ann Madrigal opens the world before the main heroine, using her life experience and contacts. “In fact, while both gay and nongay characters have numerous sexual exploits, once in a permanent relationship, the gay characters are monogamous, the others are not. The most giving and caring character of an, the catalyst figure in the series, Mrs. Madrigal, is a transsexual.” (Einstadter and Sinclair 1991) Close friendly relations of Mona Ramsey and Mouse approve how non-traditional sexual orientation harmonically interweaves with local sub-culture. Describing festival females’ festival “Wimmihood” in the fifth part “Significant Others”, Maupin pays attention to absurdity and disorder in lesbian relations. Another breakthrough was inclusion of such forbidden innovative topics as AIDS and transsexual relations. Thus, he emphasizes the fact that these issues can not be ignored and denied in local sub-culture. For instance, from Michael Mouse’s experience readers get to know that in 1970th bath houses have been places of sex patent hunting for gay men. Above novels represent two layers of Californian sub-culture. Frederick Kohner depicts surfers’ sub-culture and its influence on development of US youth, local infrastructure, popular culture and social life. Gidget exemplifies psychological difficulties and opportunities of American teenage girls in 1950th. Armistead Maupin represents second layer of sub-culture, which has prevailed in 1970th. Urban world of San Francisco sharply differs from beach romance of Malibu. Problems of heroes are related with love making, employment, family life, employee-employer relations, job hunting etc. They are older and more experienced than Gidget and members of her surfing group, that’s why they have larger opportunities and decision-making capabilities. They exist in highly active and diverse sub-culture. In 1970th it is characterized with larger freedom of sexual relations, higher dynamics of urban life, lower morality. Local culture is tightly connected with local infrastructure and personal needs of potential customers. Bibliography 1. Augustin, Jean-Pierre. “Emergence of Surfing Resorts on the Aquitaine Littoral.” The Geographical Review 88. 4 (1998): 587 - 590. 2. Einstadter, J. Werner and Sinclair, P. Karen. “Review Essay Lives on the Boundary: Armistead Maupin's Complete Tales of the City.” Journal of the History of Sexuality 1.4 (1991): 682 - 687. 3. Giltz, Michael. “Tales of the Tales.” The Advocate 22 May 2001: 54 - 57. 4. Link, Matthew. “The City and the Writer.” The Advocate 29 Jan. 2008: 30 - 34. 5. Kilmer-Purcell, Josh. “The Stealth Warrior.” Out 15.12 (2007): 52 - 58. 6. Kohner, Frederick. Gidget. New York: Pocket Book, 1995. 7. Maupin, Armistead. Tales of the City. New York: Penguin Books, 2001. 8. Osgerby, Bill. Playboys in Paradise: Masculinity, Youth and Leisure-Style in Modern America. New York: Berg, 2001. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“California Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/social-science/1574076-california-culture
(California Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
https://studentshare.org/social-science/1574076-california-culture.
“California Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/social-science/1574076-california-culture.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Gidget by Frederick Kohner and Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

Frederick douglas

Running Head: NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDRICK DOUGLASS Book review: Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglass: An American slave The Douglass narrative, Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglass: An American slave begins with the few facts that the author himself is aware of his identity.... ...
5 Pages (1250 words) Book Report/Review

Frederick Douglass and His Activism

It is in this city that he started on his anti-slavery journey.... This paper ''frederick Douglass and His Activism'' tells us that slavery is an action against human rights.... frederick Douglass serves as a good example of a victim of slavery since he was born to face the reality of slavery in his times.... Since his childhood, frederick felt the impact of slavery in society.... frederick did not have a chance to attend school except for a little guidance from the wife of his master (Schmitt 6)....
5 Pages (1250 words) Research Paper

Life and Deeds of Frederick Douglas

frederick Douglas Name: Institution: frederick Douglas Born in the year 1818, Fredrick Douglass, was one of the most renowned African American leaders of the 19th century.... In the year 1845, Douglass wrote his initial autobiography and named it Narrative of the Life of frederick Douglass, an American Slave....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Frederick douglass question

1.... Why is Douglass first whipped by Mr.... Covey?... Describe the scene.... The Whipping came when Dogulass had a change of master in form of Mr.... Covey who sent him to the woods for cutting wood; he was provided the company and assistance of the oxen.... Being totally new and novice to this concept and field, he knew little how to handle them, and the oxen would go out of his hand on occasions....
12 Pages (3000 words) Coursework

Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey

the city slave, unlike the slaves in the plantation, is almost a freeman.... In the paper 'frederick Augustus Washington Bailey' the author looks at a son of a slave woman named Harriet Bailey.... The author states that in frederick's twelfth month, necessity called that he must be left behind by his mother at a young age, under the guidance of his grandmother who is at that time too old enough for field labor.... At the age of seven, his mother's body was found dead on one of frederick's master's farms....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Frederick Douglass

These three autobiographies; A Narrative on the Life of frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845), My Bondage and My Freedom (1855), and Life and Times of frederick Douglass (1881), were well acclaimed that many regard them Some others are of the view that his autobiographies and speeches were like his audacious attempts to publicly declare his renegade status.... Regarding his personal life, one can see that he was born in a slave cabin, in February, 1818, near the town of Easton, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland (A Short Biography of frederick Douglass)....
4 Pages (1000 words) Research Paper

How Alex Fuhrman Has Filed a Case against Frederick, Hibbs, and Uvex Corporation

Hibbs had worked Sacramento city as a book keeper.... The paper "How Alex Fuhrman Has Filed a Case against frederick, Hibbs, and Uvex Corporation" describes a conflict between Alex Fuhrman who was the director of accounting and finance, West coast division manager Fredrick Fontaine, Christoper Hibbs who is in Fredrick's department and new in the organization.... Alex has filed a case against frederick, Hibbs, and Uvex Corporation.... ase AnalysisProblem analysisThere is the lack of communication between Alex and Hibbs and that has gone to extent where Alex has filed a case against the company, frederick and Hibbs....
2 Pages (500 words) Article

Frederick II, King of Prussia

The paper 'frederick II, King of Prussia' states that out of all figures within military history, frederick II proves to be most fascinating since he was not only a military leader but also a soldier, strategist, statesman, musician, philosopher, and poet.... frederick II (the great), King of Prussia was a successful military leader and domestic reformer.... frederick II was King of Prussia (1740-1786) of the Hohenzollern dynasty and prominent for his brilliance in military campaigning and the organization of Prussian armies....
12 Pages (3000 words) Research Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us