Las Vegas
The show Friends is probably the most widely known show; whether you love the show or you hate it, everyone has probably watched at least one episode of it. Having watched the show through at least six times, I think I'd have to say that I'm on the side of the population that is obsessed with the show. So whilst reading Marrying Absurd, a very specific episode of the show came to mind--"The One In Vegas." In this episode, Ross and Rachel accidentally get married, causing their friend Phoebe to ask what the big deal was and say "Yeah, if you get married in Vegas, you're only married in Vegas." Obviously, this isn't true, but her thoughts go hand in hand with Didion's satirical essay. In her essay, Didion makes fun of of people for believing that Vegas is some extravagant place, so detached from the real world that there is "no 'time' in Las Vegas, no night and no day and no past and no future." This sentence is a paradox, as it implies that Vegas is perhaps not even a real place, seeing the way people treat it. But in reality, Las Vegas is a very real place with real consequences. Didion uses this paradox to express the idea that people get so caught up in the moment that they don't think about the consequences that may come back to haunt them later. This goes back to my favorite show--even Friends was mocking the unrealistic ideals that people have about Las Vegas.
This was really interesting! I love the show friends too and I forgot all about that episode until someone in my group brought it up. I really liked how you talked about the paradox in the piece and connected it to the show!
ReplyDeleteoooo I love how you incorporated Friends into your blog... I also LOVE the show and this specific episode came into my mind as well! Vegas is indeed a real place, with real consequences, but it isn't as amazing as people make it seem. Awesome job!!
ReplyDeleteI really loved the way you compared a episode in Friends to the article we read in class because I have seen the show as well. I also really liked your insight about how "even Friends was mocking" like Didion's use of paradox. Good job!!
ReplyDeleteHey Anna, the same thing popped into my head too! Also I think that when people go to Vegas obviously they have a sense of time, and where they are, however I think they become lost from reality. They continue to live in this fake world, where they can drink, party, and wish away their real problems in life.
ReplyDelete