William Wood

Keeping up Appearances

When viewing through specific lenses, especially when observing culturally expressive

mediums such as animation and literature, we see that even though the subject material is different

common themes and messages can be understood. When comparing two stories like "The American

School" and the episode of "The Boondocks", "The Story of Thugnificent", one is able to see many

similarities in how the characters think, act, and the way they present themselves to other characters.

Performative characters are a prevalent theme that is utilized throughout the entire series of "The

Boondocks". A person who plays roles, and puts on airs, for other people in order to fit in or coexist is

not only represented through African Americans throughout the Thugnificent episode, but also the

Caucasians as well. Upon Thugnificent's overly flamboyant explosion onto the "Woodcrest scene", you

see all of the white people running up to be blessed by the fountain of champagne that flows forth form

the efforts of "Thugnificent", most of whom claim to be there because their children like him. Also by

welcoming Thugnificent, while in turn being reticent to the arrival of the grandfather character in

season one, you see the characters attempting to be politically correct for both their children, and the

community of other white people. Yet when he throws a first party, they complain about, "noise" and,

"people eating outside when they think they should be eating inside" in a forum where anonymity

allows them to obstinate without having their morals called into question. The "Tom" character, being

a political figure, must be accepting of all aspects of his community. Also being an African American

in a predominantly white community means he must maintain a balance between his black side, and his

white voters. You see the shifting when in the beginning he comments, with Uncle Ruckus, on the

"negradation" of the community, and how it will more than certainly have an adverse affect. He

retracts this mentality once he goes and introduces himself and finds out that they are, “a nice bunch of

guys". The most performative character in this particular episode is the younger of the two brothers,

Riley. He is so anxious to be accepted by the Lethal Interjection crew that he at first questions whether

even introducing himself would be "dick-riding" or in lames terms being to forward with someone who

already receives notoriety (also known as "pole-jocking"). He then decides that in order to not be like
the others who blatantly run up to him and give him instant praise because he is on TV, that he should

go whoop his ass first in order to send a "message that this is his turf". When he actually approaches

Thugnificent, his introductory speech entertains the idea that, "[He] is the man around here, and he is

holdin it down for all the little homies", which he is trying to show that he even though he is a child, he

can still hang with his crew if need be. Although this is an animation and most of these "expressions of

acceptance" are exaggerated, they are realistic reflections of the modern, multiracial society in

America. Comparatively we see the instances of acceptance and presentation of personas in "The

American School" by Nobuo Kojima.

Dealing with the American occupation of Japan immediately following World War II, "The American

School" displays the subtle performative characteristics of a, at the time, largely conservative culture.

We can draw comparisons between the manners of dress, in which Isa, the protagonist of the story,

decides to wear leather shoes in order to be more appealing to the American occupiers, very choosing

the combat boots, which would have made more sense in terms of the long walk. This insinuates his

desire to be accepted by those with a certain status above his own. Isa also uses correctly structured

English language to have a greater appeal to the American soldiers, which in turn has the opposite

affect, because at the time of occupation American soldiers, especially soldiers of a lower rank,

displayed little natural respect for anything other than their own superiors, whom they must perform

for. In the instance where Isa meets the first American soldier for transportation he says, "I am truly

very sorry to have kept you waiting"(Kojima 2897) which is met with silence, and a cold and

incomprehensive stare. Yamada, the complete suck up, who prides himself with his ability to speak the

English language also encounters this, disdain for the formal English when he says, "you might also

say our English is better than theirs"(2916). Yamada presents an interesting dualism, by attempting to

both conform for the American occupiers, but also attempts to remain culturally grounded with his

Japanese peers. This dualism is presented in situations like the one where he is talking about cutting

off officers heads from the American army with his "buddies" and when he sees that it is causing

discourse among the American troops he retracts his comments. Yet when he is around his peers, he

comments on Isa's shoes saying that since he is wearing leather shoes, he is attempting to conform to
Western ideals. This contradicts his own conformity through his dress, mannerisms, and language that

he uses to impress the American Soldiers.

Every day in school, in business, and in public certain "social norms" are expected of individuals in

order for an individual to fit in with the community that he chooses to surround himself with. We see it

with women, men, adults, and children and it is difficult not only to not perform, but it is also difficult

not to expect others to perform as well. In comparing this piece of literature and this animated

metaphor, although set in different time periods and about completely different situations containing

completely different people, we are able to draw common conclusions about social performance that

are deeper representations of some of the larger flaws that are prevalent in modern society.