Last week on The Office, Pam and Jim's long distance engagement continued, and to help eleviate the pain of not making witty banter round the dysfunctional office all day, they bought the world's smallest bluetooth. They whispered on it all day, and it was sort of weird because even I would need a break from Jim, and that's saying A LOT. anyway. at the end of the episode, Guy (that's his name in my book) from Pam's art class surprised her at work, and said he was "kidnapping" her. Cute? Creepy? I say the latter, but i'm pretty scared of people. So, she says she can't blah blah, he just needs to talk to her for a moment...etc etc....they go into an empty office.
As i watched with baited breath and Jim listened on the aforementioned bluetooth, I thought Guy was going to declare his burning love for the receptionist turned artist that we all adore. Although I am quite sure that the fire is indeed present, what Guy wanted her to know is that, basically, art is dead everywhere except for New York. He said she should stay here, immerse herself in the culture, inhale the creative fumes that exude from the sewer pipes in the streets and the smoke from the pipes in the park. He informs her that you cannot "do New York" in a few months, and her staying put is imperative to her career and her life. When she finally gets a word in, she squeaks "Jim's in Scranton". Guy gives some weak response that I don't remember because I saw the episode 5 days ago. Whatevs.
By the end of the episode we were left feeling a little squirmy, and scratching our heads and asking "Who the hell does this guy think he is?!" (Well, at least I was, but i feel very invested in Pam and Jim's relationship....so sue me.)Jamie and I discussed after the episode was over. He thinks what the guy did was completely inappropriate, unfair and snobby. I thought maybe Guy had a point-up to a point. I do not assume an artist can "experience New York" in 3 months as they would like to. There are too many things to see, boroughs to explore, people to meet, bars to drink in and stories to write. However, assuming art is only alive in New York is pretentious and not true. (Oh yea, it's alive here too......GUY) As for his inappropirateness, I felt that Guy was just giving some advice (ugh, words of wisdom?) to his new found friend; giving it to her straight, encouraging her to stay. As for the "Jim is in Scranton" remark, (that arrow that lodged itself into our hearts as we listened as nervously as Jim) well that was just cold. I can't recall what he said, but it sure as hell wasn't apologetic or understanding of her desire to be near her fiance. (it is John Krasinski for christ's sake!)
What we were left with was a dilemma: Was Guy just a jerk who will leave a sour taste in Pam's mouth, or has Guy given her something to think about....dare i say chew on? (HA!)
And,most importantly, is New York all it's cracked up to be?
I say yes; but i don't have a Jim waiting for me in Scranton.
1 comment:
Thing is, every place is given a soul by the passion one brings to that place. There's places like the Andres Institute of Art in New Hampshire that can't exist in New York, that actually depend on not being in New York and attract international attention.
http://www.andresinstitute.org/1999-Sculpture.htm
So, the Guy, I believe, can be lumped into that stereotype (because he's a fictional character) of art-snobbery gobbling metrocentric - the kind of person who privileges geography and ideas over juxtaposition and works (He would drink PBR because hipsters are supposed to, rather than because it's good and cheap).
And, he's just tryin to get into Pam's pants by putting on a pseudo-intellectual holier-than-thou 'tude, as snobs in NYC are prone to do; "Don't love me for me, love me because I'm making you feel stupid, as leverage for guilting you into loving me."
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