The Power Elite in While We’re Young

I recently saw the movie While We’re Young, which could accurately be described as “self-absorbed assholes of every age” (nearly the entire movie is summarized in the trailer above). I wasn’t particularly thrilled by the movie but I did like the parts that mentioned sociology – specifically, C. Wright Mills’s The Power Elite, which is also the name of a documentary that Ben Stiller’s character is slowly working on. His descriptions of his documentary, a sprawling, eight-years-in-the making film in which he attempts to connect nearly everything also reminded me of dissertations in general. Not since Emilie De Ravin told Robert Pattinson that she doesn’t date sociology majors has sociology played such a prominent role in a movie. At least they didn’t describe Mills as a psychologist!

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I don’t date sociology majors

I went to see New Moon this weekend but beyond the “vampires and abstinence” storyline the most sociologically interesting aspect came before the film.  One of the trailers that preceded New Moon was for Robert Pattinson’s upcoming movie, Remember Me (which also stars Pierce Brosnan and Emilie de Ravin of Lost).  The trailer is below (pay particular attention around the 1:10 mark):

Here is a summary of the relevant portion:

de Ravin: I don’t date sociology majors.

Pattinson: Lucky for you I’m, I’m undecided.

de Ravin: ‘Bout what?

Pattinson: Everything.

Because of the popularity of New Moon, this means that a large number of young people have now heard the line “I don’t date sociology majors.”  I suppose this could be a deterrent to potential future sociologists.  On the other hand, a large number of young people have now heard of sociology.

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