Weeds

Weeds, groundbreaking, literally.

In August 2005 Showtime premiered their new show Weeds. Weeds is a dramatic comedy about a suburban housewife whose husband suddenly passed away from a heart attack, while on a jog with one of his sons. Mary-Louise Parker plays Nancy Botwin, a suburban mother with two kids to support who decides to take on dealing drugs as a way make money for her family. Nancy quickly realizes that the profits from this business are worth the risk. This hilarious and highly dramatic show breaks down many walls that our society has put up against marijuana. As an illegal drug in our country, the dominant ideology here is that it would be wrong for anyone, especially a middle class, white, suburban house mother, to sell drugs in order to pay the bills. This show is interesting because it defies many of our societies hegemonies, but at the same time it also conforms to many. Which makes it very similar to Cullen’s discussion on All In The Family, and I Love Lucy, as progressive, yet conservative. Violence and conflict are two issues that go along with drugs, and in almost every episode there is extreme conflict and/or violence, but there is also always endless amounts of humor. There are many stereotypes against African Americans in our culture throughout the show. Nancy buys her weed from an African American family who calls her “whitey”, the director has made choices that clearly portray that the audience should assume African Americans are experts in the illegal marijuana industry. Additionally, Nancy’s brother is AWOL, on the run from the military, in fear of being shipped off to Iraq, if you “read between the lines” the show takes a strong stance against the Iraqi war and President Bush’s administration. Nancy’s adventures as a pot-selling mother escalade every episode, and each week the audience is left hanging on the edge of their seat, wondering how much longer she can get away with this. This show shows society how prevalent underground pot use is in our society, and how easily anyone can attain and sell this illegal drug. Some states have legalized medical marijuana for ill people who could benefit from the side effects, and the show does touch upon this. The illegal use of marijuana has pretty much been a taboo topic in pop-culture until this show. Weeds is ground breaking, and has the capability to change many peoples views on the issue. The hegemony on drug dealers in this country is that they are male, poor, and of a minority ethnicity and background. Weeds goes against this hegemony, and opens our countries eyes to the very real issue of drug use in our country.