As the agenda evolves, more TV shows on problematic social issues emerge, touching upon such sensitive problems as sexism, harassment, inequality, racism, and so on. Reese Witherspoon’s studio new project “Little Fires Everywhere” mirrors the trend and tells a story of the clash not only of races, but mindsets, lifestyles, and value systems. In the framework of this paper, the cultural dimension of the show will be reviewed, along with the evolution of the conflict and the characters, the stereotypes about them, and their socio-cultural backgrounds.
There are many issues introduced in the show from its pilot episode. Even though it could be expected that interracial relations would be the main focus, it is more likely that parenting, privilege, and class are central to it. Those expose the many mutual prejudices between Elena Richardson (upper-middle-class suburban mother of four and a part-time journalist) and Mia Warren (African-American artist/photographer, who has just moved into town) (Little Fires Everywhere). Elena Richardson – the perfect lawyer’s wife who chose family and life in the pastel-colored mansion over a journalistic career represents all there is to hate about public do-gooders (Little Fires Everywhere). The two characters meet in the first episode, when Elena rents to Mia and her daughter the unit, only to brag about her good deed later at the family dinner (Little Fires Everywhere). As for the problem of parenting, it unfolds later on, as Mia’s daughter Pearl and Elena’s daughter Izzy are shown to be in conflict with their mothers (Little Fires Everywhere). While they try to push their children to be someone they want them to be, they become even less in control of their decisions and choices.
Elena’s arrogant behavior is mostly due to her social status, but it is also due to her heightened sense of universal rightness. The conflict evolves as both she and Mia believe their life choices are the only options for all, but their daughters are there to prove them wrong (Little Fires Everywhere). Pearl’s attraction to Elena and infatuation with her lifestyle and Izzy’s – with the lifestyle of Mia is what sets them off (Little Fires Everywhere). Elena trying to be the best version of a human being and offering Mia a housekeeping job as a handout also hardly helps the two characters bond (Little Fires Everywhere). It is essential to the problem evolution that Elena’s favorite – Lexie steals a story from Pearl to get herself into Yale (Little Fires Everywhere). That taking place turns the situation around, showing that the one Pearl admires so much is just an adult version of her fake friend Lexie, and that, probably, is who her mother is facing.
As the parenthood issue goes beyond Elena and Mia, involving Bebe, the conflict deepens, revealing how profoundly appalling their judgments about each other’s lives are (Little Fires Everywhere). While the characters remain moved around, instead of developing or changing, all the viewer is left to do is watch the situation get worse (Hale). With Elena utterly blind about the problems in her own family and Mia dealing with the problems of others on top of her own, the fire seems to be the only way to end the chaos.
It is common for the audience to find someone to associate themselves with within a TV show or a movie. I, personally, cannot say I can relate much to any of the characters, but I find Izzy the one I sympathize with most. Her story as a young girl, exploring her sexuality and becoming a target for bullying, yet still fighting for what she believes in, is beyond inspiring. Not having a safety net provided by a loving and understanding family, she has to survive on her own and find at least some support in Mia (Little Fires Everywhere). Having to live in a conformist environment of a suburban town in the 1990s makes it almost impossible for her to belong, yet Izzy manages to stay true to herself.
Having mentioned the character I sympathize with most, leaves me to reflect on understanding the motives of all the others. I think it is possible to understand the behavior of every character, bearing in mind their cultural codes and the environment they were brought up in or got used to existing in. Our life choices and even the options we have to choose from are shaped based on our backgrounds, childhood experiences, social status, and so on. Elena’s choices come from her upper-middle-class reality, not having to deal with existential problems or fight for anything, while Mia’s prerequisites in life are the opposite (Little Fires Everywhere). The same goes for their children.
The fact that some of the characters in the show are portrayed as stereotypes, aggregated images is also worthy of consideration. Elena is a stereotypical suburban wife, clueless and rigid (Hale). Mia – a stereotypical black woman with no stability and pride wounded by handouts from people who feel superior just because they had no challenges in life (Little Fires Everywhere). Lexie – a spoiled kid who had nothing to fight for and was surrounded by comfort throughout her life (Little Fires Everywhere). Pearl – a girl of color who desperately wants to fit in and is tired of the constraints imposed by race and social standing (Little Fires Everywhere). Izzy, surprisingly, is the only character who, despite her stereotypical mindset of a rebel has a meaningful purpose within the show.
I believe the film could be set in many cultures with a recent experience of discrimination embedded in social structures. Still, I think it is of crucial importance the show was placed in the U.S., as it reflects on its recent history and shares recognizable roles. The conformity of suburban areas, the complexities of interracial communication, and the attempts to impose one’s beliefs on others caused by the confidence their experience is predominant (Little Fires Everywhere). This scenario could play out in other cultures, but it would work less effectively.
All in all, “Little Fires Everywhere” appears to be educated in some ways. For the generation of young people living in the U.S. nowadays hearing about political correctness from every corner, the hurdles the teens in the 1990s had to face just to be accepted might seem surreal. Nevertheless, it is vital to have a clear idea of the evolution of the system. Some issues remain sensitive – cases of racial discrimination take place and, probably, will continue for a while, but awareness is the first step. This show can teach us to resist the social consensus when it appears unfair, to fight for ourselves and others, and, most importantly, to stay true to our beliefs.
Works Cited
Little Fires Everywhere. Directed by Lynn Shelton, Hulu, 2020.
Hale, Mike. “Review: “Little Fires Everywhere” Ignites Over Race and Class.” The New York Times, 2020. Web.