Popular Mechanics
In Black Swan Green, popularity operates like a system that organizes everything, even when no one openly defines it. It shapes how people move, speak, and how they decide who is worth paying attention to. Jason is always aware of this structure; he introduces the concept to us very early in the novel. It sits in the back of his mind, influencing decisions that accumulate over time and gradually shape his behavior.
There is a constant sense that attention can turn at any moment. A joke landing the wrong way, a hesitation in speech, or a stammer. These moments carry weight because they affect how others read you. Once a certain image forms, it follows you. Jason understands this clearly, which is why his behavior often feels calculated. Everything becomes something to manage: his tone, his hobbies, who is around him, and even silence itself.
The social hierarchy feels stable throughout the novel. People at the top maintain their position by holding authority in conversations, in humor, and in defining what is and is not acceptable. Their reactions reinforce the system, keeping it in place without any need for explanation. Over time, these repeated reactions become the mechanism through which the hierarchy sustains itself.
He does everything to avoid his stammer. He uses synonyms to replace the words Hangman takes over. However, later he is made fun of partly because of his stammer. This affects his place in this social hierarchy. At the end, however, he kind of breaks the rules of what is acceptable or not by snitching on his bullies.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how Jason seems to be the only one who has formulated and categorized the "rules" of this popularity machine at his school: I don't doubt that these rules are in effect (we see their consequences throughout the book), but perhaps because of his general silence (because of his terror of exposure), he's in a unique position to observe the dynamics from the outside. It's notable that we never hear Dean allude to the meanings of different kinds of nicknames (is he even aware that Jason calls him "Moron" for a short time?), and in general he seems not "bothered by stuff" to the extent that Jason is. And there's no evidence of any other characters actively trying to alter their status--Dean seems fine with trying out for Spooks, but he also seems unbothered by not getting in. But Jason is obsessed with the idea that the system can be gamed, and that he can rise within it. By the end of the novel, though, he's saying "stuff all rules," and when he no longer cares about rising in the system, ironically he rises.
ReplyDeleteHello Alana!
ReplyDeleteThe whole dynamic of Jason attempting to exist as a middle schooler with out being bullied is very interesting through the whole book, as you bring up. Yet, I think it is even more interesting when he chooses not to care what people think of him. He publishes poetry, he goes back to help Dean after he falls in a green house, and he returns Wilcox's wallet. Those scenes are the most meaningful to me (and the ones I cheer for Jason the most in) because he is defying the expectation of social hierarchy and popular mechanics.
Hello Alana,
ReplyDeleteI like your explanation of how the social hierarchy holds itself together. It does seem like certain kids get this unspoken aura of popularity that lifts them up above the other kids and lends them a natural position of power. Jason spends an unhealthy amount of time obsessing over his own place in the system and scheming about how to boost his ranking. Ironically, the more he worries about embellishing his own appearance, the worse his stammer gets, cancelling out everything he just worked for and making him even more worried, perpetuating the cycle. By the end of the novel, Jason finally begins to break the cycle, deciding to abandon the worries that had plagued him throughout the book. Recognizing and breaking free from the trap that is the social hierarchy is a crucial part of his coming of age.
Hi Alana!
ReplyDeleteIt's really interesting to think about this mechanic in the book, and realize how much it affects Jason and his coming of age story throughout the book. Without the popularity mechanic, he never would've broken his watch playing British Bulldogs, he never would've ended up being bullied for his stammer, but also he never would have ended up coming of age and overcoming the "popular mechanic". Great job!
Hi Alana! Throughout the book Jason does prioritize his appearance over his feelings often. He continues to push to seem like every other kid at the school, by trying to conceal his stutter, stay out of the way, and join popular social groups. But, his growth by the end of the book is really interesting, and can be seen through his stammer becoming less present in his talking. Really great job!
ReplyDeleteHi Alana! You did a good job in showing how Jason becomes very aware of this system and how he starts to carefully control himself because of it. I feel bad that he's become like this, but wonder how he handles himself after the divorce and after leaving black swan green. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteHi Alana! I was thinking about doing this topic for my blog but didn't, so I'm glad someone else did! While the hierarchy sort of just exists for everyone else, for Jason it purely controls him. Little things could push you to the bottom or the top, and it feels like a you vs. everyone else sort of battle. Jason I feel like ends up on both of these sides throughout the book, and though while not at the very bottom or very top, I feel like his more calculated and aware actions were able to help him navigate it. Great post!
ReplyDelete