by Gustavo Castillo

I am going to take a somewhat different approach on this and talk about a film I think most college students have seen or at least heard of: Holes. Texas is somewhat regarded as a different part of the United States by some but others accept is as part of the south still. Regardless, Texas is part of the South even if it has its own taste/version to it.

In the movie Holes, the South is seen as this dreary, hot, and exhausting place where if someone visits, they would be miserable. This, in part, in part has to do because the people who were going to this location in Texas were some form of juvenile delinquents in custody. That leads to my first point – the story begins with a kid from a city, likely to be up North. The time spent here is shown by scenes of family and funny moments. Then, after a series of events, he heads down south to this place where he is mainly doing free labor. This could be straight allusion to a poor time in America which gives is that exhausting and tedious feel.

Another thing in the movie that dealt strictly with the South related to culture artifacts that are mostly seen in the South. I am referring to the whips, boots, hats, and clothing that is used by the warden and her father in the movie. This gave a rigorous feel to the people that were native to the area and it gives the audience a sense of life as a southerner – more specifically, someone from Texas. Their relationship also adds a bit of life into the movie and shows how his words override everything she had to say. This is a very “old-timey” style interaction but it also reflects a modern lifestyle in some areas.