2.22.2008

Smells Like Teen Spirit



I'm sure you must remember this one - an essential element to my middle and high school years, as I'm sure it was to many, many others. I was thinking again about Murray Milner's insight on the cheerleader - as mentioned in this post - and I remembered this video and how it somehow exploits that idea. Here's the full quote from Milner's book Freaks, Geeks & Cool Kids:
Cheerleaders have no direct role in the games played, but they are the key people who organize “moral” support for the teams. This moral support is expressed through public rituals. In addition to their close association with what is sacred [the team, the “spirit” of the school], cheerleaders are ritual specialists who have mastered the ceremonial techniques of the community and can lead others in carrying it out.

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