Friday Night Lights Thesis

Friday Night Lights The movie Friday Night Lights is based on a real life best seller Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream, by author H.G. Bissinger. The movie’s setting takes place at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas in 1988 when the tension between races was still strong in a few regions of the south. There is some focus in areas of the film that has to do with racial tension and the ongoing conflict between the student body and the city as a whole. Even though desegregation had taken effect by the time the book was written and the film was made, the schools at times were still racially divided. The movie showed how this football program exploited their black athletes. Of interest was the film maker’s decision to spotlight

However, where small towns are concerned the film actually was spot on. As for the principle characters of the movie the portrayal of Boobie showed a true declaration of the negative effect high school football can have its players. Boobie is not a proficient student however he does not worry about his grades because he will most likely get a football scholarship to a major college regardless of his poor performance where his education is concerned. Linebacker Ivory Christian originally had different schooling ideals. He contemplates becoming a minister at a Baptist church after a dream he had. Ivory was a party boy and because of this dream he resolves to change his ways and turn his life towards God. Due to this change of heart he becomes indecisive about football and what it stands for and its place in the direction he has chosen for his life. This causes Ivory’s internal struggle between the two different values placed on life. This after-all is where football is an end all be all situation in the everyday life of high school boys and their

It portrays Odessa, Texas as a small city that has no economy and nothing else for its residents to do but, obsess about high school football. In his review of the movie, Roger Ebert states “Certainly there are countless of citizens in that Texas town who live happy and productive lives... football. We just don’t meet any of them in the movie” (Ebert). This is correct, the movie is not about them, it is about the role of the team and how the team and coaches carry the burden of their city’s relevance on their shoulders and ultimately answering to the boosters. The town pays the football coach twice as much as the teachers. The males of the cities only chance to get out of the go nowhere town is to get a football scholarship to a faraway college. The players are under pressure to win so the town can succeed at something and be proud of it. These boys have the town’s reputation on their