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Assignment One
HBOs The Leftovers

These observations take place during 3 separate episodes in season one of
The Leftovers. This show takes place in the fictional town of Mapleton, New York. On
October 14, 2% of the worlds population disappeared (about 140 million people).
The people of Mapleton do not know why this event has happened and they spend
the entirety of the show trying to justify why this could of happened. The show takes
place 3 years after the event and follows many characters as they try to return to
their normal lives again. This proves to be not such an easy task because of the
Guilty Remnant. The GR is a cult of about 200 people that live in Mapleton. Their
main goal is to continually remind the people in Mapleton of the departure. I got
hooked on this show by the first episode because it answered all the right questions
and left me asking some too. This show did seem confusing at first but from episode
one, I was sucked in.

Figured World
A figured world is a social group that has specific ways of communicating. Within
this figured world there are certain appropriate behaviors, defined by the
community.
In The Leftovers, there are many unspoken rules within the community. The
Departure affected every single person in the world, whether or not they lost
someone, they were still affected. In Mapleton, it is known to not bring up
the Departure around certain people. Each person in Mapleton has the same
goal, to forget about the Departure and move on. Appropriate behavior in
Mapleton is basically staying sane. If anyone shows that they are unstable, or
suicidal, they are sent to a mental hospital immediately. This is not only a
rule for citizens but also for higher-ups, including law enforcement and
town officials. A way that most townspeople manage to keep their sanity is
by pretending that the Departure never happened at all. All everyone wants
to do is live a normal life again so certain unspoken rules are set throughout
the town.
It is also a social norm to shun the Guilty Remnant. The Guilty
Remnant is a cult filled with people wearing all-white who dont talk. Their
main goal is to remind people of who they lost due to the Departure. This
being the exact reason that the entire town hates them. They are disliked so
much that even if you are seen being nice to a GR, you, also, will be frowned
upon.
A very common action from the townspeople is trying to justify why the
devastation happened. Some lean toward science, other lead toward religion.
Some try to dispute religion, proving that most of the departed were not
perfect people. Whether you think it was God or nobody at all, the Departure
happened, and there might not be justification for it at all.


Actors
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Actors are the people who make up the community. Each person has a specific role
and contributes a significant quality to the group.
Kevin Garvey: Chief of Mapleton police, Kevin is often looked at as the hero
in this show. He is called upon when anything major goes down in the town.
Most commonly, suicides or acts of rage that people in the town express. He
tries hard to maintain this position of authority, but it seems as though he,
too, is starting to become insane. The pressure of being the one everyone
looks up to and counts on starts to get to his head. He is becoming more
aggressive throughout the show and proves that talking about his family is a
touchy subject for him. He is the main character of this show and is
accompanied by a wife, daughter and son. He never lost any of them to the
departure, yet he is often alone in the show. His wife converted to the Guilty
Remnant shortly after the departure, his son ran away and his daughter is
acting out in high school. His daughter, Jill Garvey, isnt seen much in these 3
episodes because the show focuses more on just Kevin. When she is seen, she
is with her high school friends, a group of stoner low lifers who see no point
in obeying any law officials anymore.
Matt Jamison: Matt used to be a pastor but now he preaches an entirely
different message. He goes around Mapleton and informs people that there
is no way the departure was a religious epidemic because some of the
departed did evil things. He himself is ultimately facing the fact that he was
not chosen in the sudden departure.
Meghan Abbott: Meghan is a middle age woman who seemed to be happily
engaged but it turns out that she is not as happy as she seems. Her fianc is
always somewhat distant and never pays her any attention. She reaches such
a level of depression that she seeks help from the Guilty Remnant. When
people go to the GR for help, it is often known as a last result. They dont
want any help from people in the town so they just turn to the people who
cant talk. She showed up on the doorstep of the GR and they gladly let her
stay. The show follows her as she goes through a training process before she
earns her white clothing and pad of paper.

Artifacts
A tangible object that serves a specific purpose within a community. Often an object
or emotions of great significance.
Blue: This color signifies hope and honor for the departed. Blue flags are
often seen blowing outside of peoples homes, as well as blue ribbons on
street lamps. This color is not a negative reminder of the departed but a
happy reminder that they are still with their loved ones in spirit.
Notepad and Pen: This is the only way that the GR can communicate with
not only each others but the townspeople as well. These signify the only
bridge between the regular people.
White Clothing: The color of choice for the GR, this color clothing is not
something you would want to be seen wearing. This is what makes finding
the GR so easy, and also what makes them such easy targets.
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Communities of Practice
Groups of people that have the same goal or interest. These groups also share the
same literary practices and practices within their community.
The Townspeople: Almost everyone within Mapleton has lost someone
from the Departure, and because of this, they are all bonded. They each know
exactly how the other is feeling so there is no miscommunication. They
continue to live their lives just as they did before the Departure, yet they
know it will never fully be the same.
The Guilty Remnant: A cult of townspeople that have given up on hope for
things to get better. They dress in all-white and made a vow never to speak.
They are loathed by almost everyone in Mapleton. The GR are often subject
to drive-by stonings because people who see them just want them to go
away. Just their presence alone has the ability to anger the entire town. They
are not a violent group and they never retaliate. In fact, they like when people
hurt them because its the exact reaction they are looking for. When people
react it shows that they remember and they care about the departed. Most, if
not all, the member of the GR have given up on life and they do not care what
happens to them.

Domain
Domain is shared goals or interests toward a particular community of practice. It is
the main focus of a group and is highly valued. It is focused on more as an entire
group, not just by one actor.
Normal Life: Striving for a normal life is the main goal for people of
Mapleton. They want things to back to how they were before the Departure,
but they also know that can never happen. With no end to the GR in sight, it
seems as though they will never be able to live a life without reminders of
their departed loved ones.

Practices of the Community
Practices within a community are somewhat of a common ground. It can also be, an
agreed upon way to reach a goal or help each other in a certain way. These may not
be always spoken to each other but they are commonly known without being told.
Live a Normal Life After the Sudden Departure: A common practice within
the town of Mapleton is living a normal life again. So many people were
affected by the Sudden Departure that it seems as though their lives will
never be the same. The townspeople practice not bringing up the departed
because all they want to do is forget and move on.
Remind Everybody about the Departure: This is a practice within the
Guilty Remnant. Though they do not speak, they fulfill this practice in various
ways. Whether it be by holding signs or posting pictures of departed all
around the town. While the entire town is trying to forget, the GR refuse to
let them.
Literary Practices
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Literary Practices are ways that people within a certain community communicate.
This can be both verbal and/or nonverbal. Some communities practice specific
literary practices that other communities may not practice.
Notepad and Pen: The Guilty Remnant does not speak at all, so, in order to
communicate with others, they rely on a pen and pad. It is never known why
they do not speak, but this fact alone is what frustrates the townspeople and
gives them an even stronger hate toward the GR. Not speaking also implies
that the GR feel that they are above everyone in the town and that they are
too good to speak with them.
Speech at Parade: The speech given by the Mayor at the Parade was no easy
feet. When addressing such a sensitive topic it is hard to say what you need
to say without offending anybody. She did a great job by honoring heroes
and not dwelling and mourning the departed.

Observation One (Episode 1, Season 1):
1:00mins: A black screen appears with the words October 14 written. A sound of a
baby crying is overheard as a woman (the babys mother) is at a laundry mat while
talking on the phone. As she does her laundry and talks on the phone, the baby
continues to cry. She finishes her laundry and walks to the car and puts the baby
into its car seat (the baby still crying). She then gets into the drivers seat, starts the
car and realizes that the crying has stopped. When she looks back at the baby, it is
gone. Moments of frantic follow; she gets out of the car and screams for her child.
All awhile, a little boy is screaming for his father, cars are being crashed and
multiple police sirens are heard.
3:00mins: A screen flashes the words Three years later. Blue ribbons are posted
all along streetlights and pictures of people in black in white are on the sides of
buildings. A man is heard on the radio explaining that today is Heros Day, the day
of remembrance for all the souls lost in the departure. A parade will be held in
town.
16:00mins: Chief of police, Kevin, is seen walking into a police meeting with the
mayor; they are discussing the agenda for the parade. Kevin states to the mayor
that he feels that this parade will invite the Guilty Remnant to come and upset all the
people in the town. The mayor refuses to cancel the parade and Kevin storms out of
the room.
24:00mins: A group of people (Guilty Remnant) dressed in all white is gathered in a
circle inside of a house. They do not talk but pass notes to each other that say
ready?. They are then all seen filing into cars.
32:00mins: The parade has started. The whole town seems to be participating and
most are dressed in blue. People are seen holding signs saying, Where did they go?
and They will never be forgotten. Screen cuts to many people standing in front of
a stage waiting for the presenter to make a speech. Matt Jamison is seen in the
crowd screaming about certain people that were departed and how they were
murders, or rapists and that there is no way that they were chosen by God. The
mayor then gets on stage and gives a speech honoring those who have departed. A
statue honoring the departed is unveiled and soft clapping ensues. The clapping
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slowly turns to anger when the Guilty Remnant are seen walking toward the crowd
holding signs. They lift up the signs to create one message: Stop wasting your
breath!. The angry crowd rushes toward the GR and begins pushing and punching
each of them. Kevin and police try to stop the townspeople from attacking the GR
but their emotions have taken over. The GR does not fight back but continue to be
beaten.

Observation Two (Episode 2, Season 1):
10:00mins: Kevin Garvey in sitting in a chair talking to a therapist. The therapist
asks Kevin about his wife, Laurie, and he automatically gets defensive. The therapist
then tries to talk more about how he feels about his wife but Kevin gets upset, yells
profanities, and leaves the room.
13:00mins: Jill Garvey and her friend are seen walking around town. A woman in all
white (GR member) is pasting pictures of an unknown person onto a wall in town. A
car drives up to her, yells hey looney, and throws what seems to be red paint all
over her. Jill and her friend see this, but dont stop. As they continue walking they
are then stopped by Matt Jamison, who is handing out flyers with a picture of an
unknown man. Underneath the picture it says This man abandoned his family.
21:00mins: Kevin Garvey and another police officer arrive at the Guilty Remnants
house. A woman in all-white answers the door, giving both of them a stern look of
disapproval. Kevin states that they have come to notify a person in the house that a
missing persons report was filed on them. She hesitantly lets them in without
speaking one word. They enter and Kevin sees a woman sitting at a table, dressed in
normal, colored clothing. She immediately catches his eye and he sits down across
from her. He asks her what her name is and she replies, Meghan Abbot. He then
asks Are you here on your own free will, Ms. Abbot?. She says yes. He also asks,
Do you need my help? She takes a few seconds to reply then finally says no. Kevin
stands up to leave, but before he does he hands Meghan a business card with his
name on it. He tells her that if she ever needs someone to talk to that he is always
willing to listen. The scene ends with Meghan putting the card into her pocket and
getting bad stares from fellow GRs dressed in white.
32:00mins: A man bursts into Kevins office demanding information about his
fianc. After the man calms down Kevin informs him that she has been recruited
by the GR. He tells the man that right now she is in the Pledge House which is a
sort of orientation for people who want to be in the GR. The man gets quiet and
somber and says, Why would she choose to go there?. Kevin informs him that the
GR often target people who are not happy with their current lives. The man starts to
cry and leaves the room.

Observation Three (Episode 4, Season 1)
Note: I have skipped to episode 4 because episode 3 solely focuses on one character,
Kevin Garvey, and episode 4 connected better with episode 2. This episode takes place
during Christmas time.
5:00mins: Kevin is in his office, sitting at his desk. Adjacent to him is a woman
dressed in all-white (assumed to be a main leader of the GR). Kevin states to the
woman that he would like it if the GR did not interrupt the Christmas festivities. He
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does not want a repeat of the Heros Day Parade (Episode 1). He says that this is
one time of the year that people can relax and spend time with their families. The
woman begins writing on a pad of paper and then turns it toward Kevin. It says,
There is no family. Confused, Kevin asks her what that means. The woman grins
lightly then stands up and leaves the room.
15:00mins: Kevin and the Mayor are seen talking to a group of police officers telling
them that they are to arrest any GR that do not follow police orders. A few officers
roll their eyes and make rude comments about the GR.
25:00mins: A Christmas gathering is taking place in the gym at a local high school.
Most of the town is attending to dance, drink and be merry with each other.
Everyone seems to be having a great time and all is going smoothly until Kevin gets
a call on his radio that the GR are outside the school. He storms outside and sees
about 30 members of the GR all lined up outside of the school. Every member of the
police force aggressively arrests the members of the GR, none of them retaliate. The
main leader of the GR smiles at Kevin mischievously. This makes Kevin say Where
are the rest of your people? Scene cuts to members of the GR breaking into peoples
homes and stealing pictures of their family that they have around their house. None
of them get caught.




Interview with Kevin Garvey

Q: Reflect, in detail, about the day of Rapture.
A: I was on the job, just patrolling through the neighborhoods. I remember thinking
how beautiful that day was, it was unusually peaceful. Unfortunately, that moment
was followed by complete chaos. My radio would not stop. I was getting calls from
police all over town trying to get my help calming people down. As I drove toward
the middle of town, there were cars crashed into each other, children screaming for
their parents and parents screaming for their children. It was hard to watch. I tried
my hardest to get people to calm down, but the truth was, I didnt even know what
was going on.

Q: What do YOU think the reasoning behind the Departure is?
A: I think its just a freak occurrence. No God would ever put his people through this
much pain and suffering. At the same time, I dont think it was science either.
Frankly, I dont know why the hell this happened, but I wish I did know.

Q: Tell me your reaction when you realized your wife and 2 children were still
safe.
A: I gave the biggest sigh of relief possible. But I dont think they really were safe.
Not anymore. This event has changed all of our lives. My wife joined a cult that lives
to make people sorrowful. My son left for San Francisco right after the event
happened and I havent heard from him since. And my daughter has to go through
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her teenage years living with all of this. So, yes, my family was safe, but they will
never be the same.

Q: What are your feelings toward the Guilty Remnant?
A:I hate them. I hate what they do. They see all these people around them suffering,
yet they still continue to remind them of what they lost. Its sick. I hope every single
day that my wife will come back and realize how evil the people she lives with are.
They may not speak, but they prove that actions speak way louder than words.

Q: How do you see the rest of your life playing out?
A: Exactly how it has been. I dont see things getting better, I dont see people
forgetting. This event changed the entire world forever, I think its time that people
just learn to accept that its not going to get better.