After class yesterday I went to grab a coffee with some friends and they were talking about a story being perpetually replayed on the news. It was the story of a motorcyclist in Salt Lake City trapped under a burning car after an accident. By standers gathered together and through combined will and strength lifted the car so that they could pull the motorcyclist from under the wreckage and too safety. Below is a link to the amazing video.
http://www.youtube.com/user/CNN?blend=1&ob=5#p/u/25/cZw32VQ1JEU
I posted the CNN Piers Morgan version for a reason. Even today catching snippets of the news new one is making a class analysis of the video. Look at the dress and try to generalize a certain class distinction of the people immediately moving towards the effort to lift the car. Its clear at least three are construction workers, a clearly working class distinction. One is also a woman and as we learned in our discussion last night women are in the vast majority of working class distinction. One of the men interviewed is a Doctoral student at a local university, thus as a student in relation to power structure we can place him in the lower middle and even working class. Now take a look at the video again, notice the man in the suit at the left end of the screen. I think its safe to assume by this mans demeanor (analyzing his cultural capital at a glance) and his dress he is either stable middle class or even in the wealthy class. He does not make a single move to aid the effort in moving the vehicle, not even a step forward. Instead he checks his cell phone. Also to the actions of the police officer. He doesn't initiate the effort to move the vehicle, no he tries to keep people away, yes he does eventually assist but then if you pay close attention he then afterwards tries again to move people away. I don't find him as guilty of negligence as the man in the suit but its an interesting reaction when you analyze his place in the power structure of society.
To me I think the really positive picture here is not just a humanist impulse to save a fellow human being but this was truly an example of class solidarity. In the Marxian sense it seems less predominant that any of these men and women thought to themselves, "That's a working class biker under there! Let save him!" I don't intend on making that argument. Instead its a matter of cultural class distinction that the victory is won. When we discuss cultural capital we tend to focus on the negative side of the discussion, the hamstring cultural capital delivers to the working class, the valued since of high class cultural capital, etc. But there is a well-spring of positivity to working class culture even without romanticizing it! The culture that arises from an environment of minimal autonomy, thrift, constant work, etc is one of mutual aid. One that focuses on the benefit of "having each other back." Its in my opinion the saving grace of the working class and I hope will one day be the tool we use to organize our selves to create a better world.
What do you think? Is this over analyzing? Or do you see something similar in this story?
Hey Kevin,
ReplyDeleteinteresting and thoughtful post. I think you are right that we unintentionally talked about it in negative terms. I didn't clearly indicate that cultural and social capital refers to that desired by or respected by the dominant culture. In a week or two we will talk about the 'capital'
or values of the other classes, they are markedly different but no less significant. And I don't think you are overreaching here.
Kevin my friends and I watched that video last week. We all said the same thing...the man in the suit just stood there on his cell phone and we were appalled. Like what if that had been his wife or child? I bet he would have dived under the car then. It's kind of sad to think that we've been so desensitized by violence, crimes and hate that we would just stand by while a person's life hangs in the balance right in front of us. Not only did the guy in the suit not help, but he didn't even look the least bit concerned. I think that part affected me as well. The lack of compassion and concern were more than evident and shocking to say the least. Those courageous people, even though probably of lower class/working class as you pointed out, still valued the life of each other. Money & power shouldn't make a human being devoid of human compassion for the lives of those around them.
ReplyDeleteI have to say with my busy schedule I did not take the time to notice the items you picked out of the video the first time I watched it. However, watching it now after our class discussion I clearly see to what you are referring. I believe that this is indicative of life in America - the capitalist and elitist classes look out for themselves in politics and economics while the working class and lower class tend to stick together in search of the American Dream (which in this case includes all for one and one for all).
ReplyDelete