Fall 2017 – 09/01/2017 Friday night lights, eps. 11-14 sports|ethics|lit Fall 2017 – 09/01/2017 Friday night lights, eps. 11-14

provocation Is there a relationship or correspondence between what happens off the field and what happens on the field? In your own life? In the lives of athletes that you can think about? In the world of Friday Night Lights?

what type of language do we use to discuss the relationship? “Earning” “Deserving” “Worthy” “Faith” “Karma” “Fair”

one possible argument: prompt #1 Thesis: Friday Night Lights is incredibly successful at using moments of redemption and rebirth, zooming techniques on characters’ eyes, and gritty portrayals of family life in order to model deliberation and enjoin empathy for the show’s characters. However, the show is unwilling to commit itself to a firm stance on whether football (and those who play it) should be considered “beautiful,” leaving viewers to decide for themselves.

one possible argument: prompt #2 Friday Night Lights valorizes three of the four cardinal virtues of Stoicism: wisdom, courage, and justice. However, the world of Dillon does not value moderation. Instead, the show argues that a deep emotional reservoir must be tapped in order to live a meaningful life.

in other words The show teaches us to show our emotions, for better or worse. We will make mistakes, but we will also connect with people in ways we never thought possible. As long as we show we are sincere, we will be given the opportunity to apologize and to make things right.

one possible argument: prompt #3 Thesis: Friday Night Lights demonstrates that the choice between dying young or fading away is a false dilemma. Although the show portrays a number of characters who seek only to relive the glory days of high school football, they also offer two characters, in Herc and Jason Street, who use literally crippling events in order to remake themselves as better people. The end of an athletic career is not the end of a life—in fact, it might be the beginning of a richer life.

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