Anika S. Week 16 - Memory in the Present
Although memories are often perceived as a remnant of the past, they are carried forward to the present in a multitude of manners. This can especially be seen when examining relationships between people, even television characters in otherwise comedic shows as the influence of the past is increasingly prevalent in not only the characters’ perception of one another but also how they treat each other.
In Brooklyn 99, a police sitcom, the relationship between Jake Peralta and his father, Roger Peralta, is strained throughout the course of the entire show, with Jake even making some remarks about wanting the captain of their precinct (Captain Holt) to be his dad which, although humorous, are rooted in truth due to his distrust of his father.
His father left their family at an early age, a betrayal that Jake never got over and the feeling only intensified with every further unpleasant encounter with his father, according to the Brooklyn 99 Wikipedia. These experiences heavily informed his opinions of his father and perceptions of him, especially when he seemingly “changed” and got in a relationship with Jake’s mom again.
He attempted to keep his mother away from him, protect his mother without outright ruining her perception of him, all due to his past experiences informing him that something was wrong. Even though
Rodger and Jake’s mother had a good relationship, Jake refused to believe that his father had fully changed and despite him proving himself several times over, continued to be slightly suspicious of him. Without these formative memories, Jake’s relationship with Roger would be entirely different. 
Jake (left) and Roger Peralta (right) from Brooklyn 99.
Hello, Anika! Your blog post was truly memorable and quite enlightening. I have never before considered how our memories often skew our perception of what goes on around us in the present. However, upon ruminating on the matter further, I realized just how true the sentiment is. The analogy you used, comparing a show you have watched to real life, just goes to show how much the media relates and quite accurately portrays the complexities of human relationships. Your example from Brooklyn 99 is a prime reflection of how many of us carry unresolved emotions we have tied to memories from the past into our present lives, without even realizing it. Reading your blog posts this past semester has been an enjoyable experience, and I wish you the best of luck in your writing journey in the future!
ReplyDeleteHello Anika! Your blog post was really interesting. Relating a sitcom to how memory shapes our perception was a really interesting topic to write about and I realize how truly sentimental it can be. I never really realized how a tv show or sitcom can also be like our own lives in a sense and sometimes the writers meant to write the show the like to be able to relate it to the audience. Your blog shows how a sitcom can have unresolved emotions we have tied to our memories from the past. This relation was a really interesting one and I didn't expect someone to write about which made it even m ore interesting. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi, Anika! I liked how you described the plot of Brooklyn 99. I think that it is very inspiring how you were able to connect a sitcom to how memory shapes our perception. This blog truly made me realize how personal and nostalgic these shows can be for us. Your blog reflects how sitcoms can make us feel emotions that are linked to specific memories that we have. I would also agree that while memories do take place in the past, they ultimately still affect us in the present, as we carry them with us. Another thing we carry are lessons we have learned with those memories, which allows us to make better choices. Great job!
ReplyDelete