Freaks and Geeks Assignment

Q: Thoughts and ideas from the episode.

                        A: I thought that it was a really good episode for trying to understand each conflict. Conflict Theory Example: Nerds trying to decide if it is a good idea to fight the bully in this episode. Functional Theory Example: How Lindsey interacts with the “bad” kids. Symbolic Interactionism Example: When the boy asked his older sister, Lindsey, if she thought that him and his friends could beat up the kid that was bully them.

Q: What are the groups and what functions do they serve?

                        A: Nerds, Bad Kids, Smart Kids, Popular Kids…they serve a purpose to show us how the sociological theories play out in real life.

Q: Are there negative influences from any of the groups (dysfunctions)?

                        A: The Bad Kids skipped school, so they have a negative influence. None of the groups really didn’t have any dysfunctions, just the bad kids picking on the nerds and making fun of the kid with autism.

Q: Who has power in the episode?

                        A: The girl, Lindsey, who is supposed to be a smart kid, but basically wants to make her parents mad and become a “bad” girl.

Q: How or why do they have power?

                        A: She has the power because she can choose her own path and life. She has the control for her life and she had influences telling her what to do, she just had to choose which ones to listen too.

Q: How do they use it?

                        A: In the beginning she chose to use it for the bad, but meant it to be good, and in the end, she finally chose to do the good thing and to become smart kid, and dance with the autistic boy at the dance.

Q: What are the important symbols in the episode?

                        A: The nerds struggling with a bully. Lindsey struggling with life. Kids finding dates for the dance. Bad kids struggling with what they want to do with there life.

Q: How do the characters act based on the symbols they find important?

                        A: Nerds decided to fight the bully. Lindsey decided to dance with the autistic boy, and chose to become the “good” girl. The younger brother to Lindsey didn’t find a date to the dance but went because he got promised a dance by the cheerleader in the episode. Lindsey ended up working the refreshments stand at the dance then went and danced with the autistic boy. Bad kid found that he wanted to be a drummer.

Q: Can you relate any of these theories to your own life?

                        A: Yes, the conflict theory.

Q: How can the things you do be interpreted through one of these theories?

                        A:  I can relate the conflict theory with my own life because I always second guess myself on anything. Then, I’m always conflicting between two or more things to decide or choose.