Rules Of The Game #12: Jocks And Burnouts

[koganbot]

My latest column, where I try to justify my nonstandard use of the word "class."

The Rules Of The Game #12: Jocks and Burnouts

I'm curious if you think the social map that Eckert provides and the social dynamic that I identify (the basic form being "jocks vs. burnouts" [w/ different category names in different times and places], but there being an unsettled effect when a third group, the "freaks," appears in strength) have anything to do with the situation at the high school you went to. If not, what was the social map? Also what sort of map(s) would you apply to situations you've been in after high school?

Oh yeah, and here's another chance for you to help me figure out what the hell it is I'm trying to say about Elvis.

EDIT: Here are links to all but three of my other Rules Of The Game columns (LVW's search results for "Rules of the Game"). Links for the other three (which for some reason didn't get "Rules Of The Game" in their titles), are here: #4, #5, and #8.

UPDATE: I've got all the links here now:

http://koganbot.livejournal.com/179531.html

Comments

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

Oddly, the high school categories are very relevant to music.

um, this doesn't seem odd to me at all, high school is arguably the place where music matters most and also where most pop music is aimed (intentionally or not) (steely dan excluded ;)). also one could argue that the majority of musicians never grew out of being burnouts, maintain adolescent attitudes...

my school map was nothing like that, primarily because there were *no* organised activities (not even a football team) due to long-running teachers' disputes throughout most of the 80s, and that around 85% of the kids were working*-class and desparately, outrageously, manically anti-intelligence/swottiness/cleverness.

*well given this was thatcherite mid 80s, "not working" class would be more appropriate