Vivek Ramaswamy needs to rewatch “Whiplash.”
The co-leader of the new Department of Government Efficiency started an internet uproar on X Dec. 26 when he took shots at American cultural laziness. Tech companies often hire foreign-born or first generation engineers because our culture has long promoted mediocrity over excellence, he said. His proposed solution calls for a new generation of tiger moms and childhood high achievers.
“More movies like ‘Whiplash,’ fewer reruns of ‘Friends,’” Ramaswamy said on X. “More math tutoring, fewer sleepovers. More weekend science competitions, fewer Saturday morning cartoons. More books, less TV. More creating, less ‘chillin.’ More extracurriculars, less ‘hanging out at the mall.’”
I’m no “Friends” fan but when I read this, I wondered if I remembered the 2014 movie “Whiplash” correctly. I recalled the story of a distraught jazz percussion student who will stop at nothing, including self-harm, to please his emotionally abusive music instructor.
But I wanted to give Ramaswamy’s vision for America the benefit of the doubt.
I rewatched “Whiplash” over Christmas break so you don’t have to.
The verdict: “Whiplash” is a masterpiece of film and storytelling. But parents who want their children to imitate the main character Andrew Neiman should consult a therapist.
Ramaswamy is right. Too often, Americans settle for and even celebrate mediocrity. That’s a problem. But human excellence ought to imply more than high-level performance in one area, regardless of whether that is great art or success in the STEM field.
“Whiplash” shows what happens when someone pursues excellence in one activity to the exclusion of everything else.
A talented but socially awkward jazz drumming student, Miles Teller’s character spends most of his time in a practice room, going to the movies with his dad, and dreaming of being “one of the greats” like Buddy Rich. He’s an ambitious kid, and it’s hard not to like him.
I found myself rooting for Andrew as he practices through the night, earns a spot in the premier studio band, and works up the nerve to ask out the cute girl at the movie theater.
Enter Fletcher. Clad in black and shouting various derivatives of the f-word, J.K. Simmons’ character escalates from intimidating to abusive when he hurls a chair at Andrew’s head for playing poorly, screams at him inches from his face, and slaps him repeatedly while he counts time in rehearsal, demanding, “rushing or dragging?”
Later, Fletcher explains his teaching method: Students must be pushed beyond what is expected of them rather than praised for their efforts. “There are no two words in the English language more harmful than ‘good job,’” Fletcher says.
By the end, Andrew gets his Buddy Rich moment. But his all-consuming pursuit of excellence hurts him and everyone in his life. As he claws his way to the top, the rest of his life spirals out of control. He isolates himself, lashing out at his fellow students and breaking up with his girlfriend because her mere presence in his life might stop him from achieving his goals.
My take-away from “Whiplash”: Be careful how you define excellence.
Ramaswamy may be right that giving every kid a participation trophy for youth soccer fails to teach them that excellence requires hard work, but true human excellence also requires that kids develop a capacity for relationship and learn to navigate their inevitable limitations and failures. This is where good parenting comes in.
In fact, the unsung hero in “Whiplash” is Andrew’s father, Jim Neiman. He’s no tiger mom.
He wants Andrew to succeed but shows the same support at moments when Andrew is on top or a public failure. It’s not the abuse of Fletcher but the love of his father that makes Andrew who he is and allows him to achieve excellence in the climactic scene.
Celebrating mediocrity is harmful, but so is any mindset that says children only have value when they perform at a high level. Good parents will teach their kids to work hard, but also to pick themselves up when they fail and to recognize their own worth and that of others apart from achievement.
Sorry, Ramaswamy. Sometimes kids do need to hear the words “good job.”
Moira Gleason is a junior studying English.
