I'll never forget Spring 2009 (January through May) for a few reasons. One is that I remember in the month of April, it rained for 25 out of the 30 days in April on the campus of Eastern Illinois University. The second and more surprising reason for me was a class I was enrolled in at the time, titled "Television Criticism" taught by Joe Heumann, Professor Heumann to me. Like most collegiate courses I took during my undergraduate days, I started off believing it was just something else required for my major and passing the time. However, as the class began to develop, I slowly started realizing this was more than just a traditional "sit there and listen to some boring lecture until it's over" type class. We actually had quality discussions about what does and does not work for television shows. We got to contribute our thoughts regarding these shows. We got to go even further in depth about what these shows really meant by having to write fifteen two page papers about what a show's theme or overall message was.
On the surface, it sounded like a boring and tedious assignment, but it actually made me think beyond entertainment/appreciative listening. For example, I wrote a paper once on the underlying themes of smash hit but gone too soon 90s cop drama NY Undercover. While we were certainly entertained by the cop vs. criminal action, the show was more than that. It flipped the script. The two lead characters J.C. Williams and Eddie Torres (portrayed by Malik Yoba and Micheal DeLorenzo respectively) were both minorities. Instead of portraying the criminals of the show, they were detectives enforcing the law. A positive spin. This could easily be viewed as a silent protest of how Hollywood often wants specific ethnicities portrayed.
Also, there was a hip hop theme incorporated into the show. This also helped defy the belief that this allegedly "offensive music" had no place in the mainstream. Unfortunately, the show deviated from its formula of success by the end of season three, and the season four changes spelled demise. Not all endings can be pretty. With all that said, I must admit after taking that class, I never looked at any show, film, or stage play or read any book the same again. They were no longer about entertaining me. I also asked myself what was I learning from this. How was I being educated? These questions and more helped inspire me to write. I always ask myself what do I want the reader to get out of this? What emotions can I drum up by writing this? Can my readers view me as someone with quality messages that keep them turning the pages?
So, because of this, I can offer a thank you to that Professor because there are very few courses I can reflect on without feeling like they were mere formalities. On a lighter note, I can also remember one of my best friends, Omar Solomon, being in that class with me. We had the same major, so this was one of several classes we had together as students. He can tell you about my frequent tardiness to that class along with Professor Heumann's mockery of my inability to show up on time. "LATE" he would sternly say and diagonally point at me as I would walk in ten minutes past start time. Omar always found it hysterical.
One time, the professor even told me I should show up 75 minutes late (the class was an hour and fifteen minutes long). Another time, when I was actually punctual and made him aware of it, he lowered his glasses and said, "Kid, if you're bragging about being on time this once, you're gonna struggle in the real world with a job." While he was probably serious, he had a way of saying it that truly sounded humourous. I can hear Omar laughing now. Okay, that's enough memory lane for today. Next time you're reading a book, or watching a film/show, take a few moments to consider themes and messages. They just might tell you about yourself. Deuces. May the Lord's Peace be with you.
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