On introversion and the Up Series

In Clive Thompson on the Power of Introversion, Thompson provides us with insight of how introversion has been frowned upon in American society and how being introvert is far from a negative quality. It is actually useful when performing teamwork. “[A] new picture is emerging. Forcing everyone to act like extroverts harms the quality of our work and our lives.” (Thompson 2012) On a different matter, In The Up Series directed by Michael Apted and Keeping Up With the Seven Up, Schneider and Corliss provide us with a review of the Up Series and how it has had an impact on its audience’ life , the understanding of society, science and art over the years.  The Up Series, they argue, is a sociological masterpiece of films, the greatest work of humanity, that has gone beyond the agenda the original documentary exposed (i.e. how social classes and inequalities in England determined an individual’s life) to provide a “powerful meditation on the meaning of existence."(Schneider 2007) 

Corliss believes the series has become “less a window into their [the participants’] lives, more a mirror into our own [lives].”(2006) This quote immediately caught my attention, as the one I related to the most. As the series progresses and I watch the participants evolve and devolve (like Neil or Jackie) over the years, I have wondered how my life would be every 7 years. Will it play out as I have planned or will it be completely different than my expectations?  

Initially, I was struck and confused with these articles. I could not understand how such could possibly relate. However, as I continued my reading I did find a connection: an interesting quote by Schneider. Neither do I nor would Thompson like or agree with Schneider, who argues that “[t]he extroverts and introverts as children are extroverts and introverts in middle age.” He disregards the participants’ ability to change and how the widespread view of the series and face-to-face interviewing with Apted may have lead to more introversion and pressures when decision-making. I believe his view contributes to the stigma against introversion and agree with Thompson when he argues that “[t]o really get the best out of people, have them work alone first, then network later.” (2012) Regardless of the degree of introversion, as the participants overcome their desires for privacy, reveal themselves and show us their lives each 7 years, “these septennial TV celebrities have become, in a modest but modern way, true movie heroes.” (Corliss, 2006)

            I do not want to seem biased towards Corliss’ viewpoint; however, once again I found the quote I like the most in his article. Corliss argues that “Apted wants to be faithful to his subjects' dreams, moods and rancors, we have to wonder what important elements are lost as he reduces the two days of interviews he does with each subject to 10 or 15 mins…Sometimes the truth, whatever that is in understanding a person's life, is also at risk.”(2006) Most of the readings on the Up Series have exalted Apted for his contribution in sociology; however, it is always interesting to read articles where Apted’s editing is questioned like Thorne’s "The Seven Up! Films: Connecting the Personal and the Sociological". What we see is what is known of the participants, but what happens with what we do not learn?

*Note: Some parts of the response may have a larger font than other. My blogger is having problems with this.

References:

 Corliss, Richard. "Keeping Up With the Seven Up." Http://www.time.com. Time Magazine, 1 Dec. 2006. Web. 6 Nov. 2012. .

Thompson, Clive. "Clive Thompson on the Power of Introversion." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, 21 Mar. 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .

 Schneider, Dan. "Hackwriters.com - The Up Series - Dir Michael Apted - Dan Schneider on the UK Documentary Series." Hackwriters.com - The Up Series - Dir Michael Apted - Dan Schneider on the UK Documentary Series. Hackwriters.com, 2007. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .