“Honey Boo Boo” is all the rage. Whether you like reality
television or not, “Honey Boo Boo” is a fresh take on the genre. A spin off
from the popular “Toddlers & Tiaras,” the show runs back to back episodes
on the weekends and features a sassy seven-year-old named Alana Thompson.
Alana and her three sisters live in McIntyre, GA, with
mother, June Shannon, and boyfriend to June plus live in father to Alana, Mike
Thompson. Mike, aka Sugar Bear, has asked June several times for her hand in
marriage but she refuses. The show has taken criticism for June’s unwed status
and the fact that all of her children have a different father.
The Learning Channel (TLC) hosts the show which has made it
a target for jokes. What are we learning exactly from watching “Honey Boo Boo?”
One could say you are learning about the rural-poor white families of the
south. A segment of Southern culture we refer to as rednecks, but we all know
not necessarily poor. For instance, Art and Entertainment (A&E) channel
features a family of extremely rich rednecks in “Duck Dynasty.”
“Honey Boo Boo” is the lighter side of redneck. June is an
avid coupon-clipper and spends most of her income on Alana’s participation in
beauty pageants. It is like visualizing an oxymoron. Think the word low-fat dessert as chunky
Alana struts and prances for the crown. The poor thing cannot execute a
cartwheel but her mother fills her with hopes of one day being Miss America.
Alana is a beautiful child both inside and out. Sugar Bear’s
patients abounds. June smiles and is jovial although she is usually the butt of
most jokes. The daughters play and tease but are never mean. These are all good
people.
I got my hands on new book Grit Lit: A Rough South Reader this week and have enjoyed a little heaven in my favorite genre. It is the
opposite of “Honey Boo Boo” redneck. It is the bad, the violent, the mean genre
of the working class south called, Dirty South, and it is the place to be for
local reality reads.
Most of the authors are Mississippians and North Carolinians.
One of the editors is our own Edgar-Award winning Tom Franklin who currently
teaches creative writing at Ole Miss. The book includes well-known authors to
this genre and some surprises including Dorothy Allison, Larry Brown, William
Gay, Harry Crews, Lewis Nordan, Ron Rash, Lee Smith, and Daniel Woodrell.
Paraphrasing Tom Earley who once said southern literature
can be broken down into two categories: One, the sweet mint-julep side of the
tracks and the other side where beer bottles are slung from trucks. Having
watched “Honey Boo Boo” and noticed her trailer right beside the tracks, one is
left to wonder if Alana might be Miss America.
8 comments:
Not sure what it says about our states that most of these authors are from there...Hmm... :)
Want to hide and write in air conditioning?!? The heat makes us crazy?!? Amy, I haven't a clue. :D
Honey BooBoo gets on my nerves. I can see how she managed to get her own show. The reality star with the worst behavior always gets one. Bethenny Frankel of the Real Housewives of New York has her own show and Bravo is currently considering offering Teresa Giudice of the Real Housewives of New Jersey one.
I am writing my own Southern lit. It is not overtly gritty. My mother's father came from NC and settled in MS. My goal is to get a PhD in Reading so I can help teach people to teach others to read. Ole Miss is my goal. I was born in the same town that Faulkner was. I live in AL and really want to move back to MS. I am so glad I found this blog.
I love the profile pic Violette! Nice to see a person behind the blog! I am really sick of reality. I get sucked into this vortex of "on no you didn't" drama! :D
How cool is that Practical! Where are you going to school?!? At U of A?!?
I've watched Honey Boo Boo a few times and enjoyed it. After reading your review of Grit Lit I went online and ordered it. I'm looking forward to this sampling of authors in this genre!
Yay Sharon! Enjoy!
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