Ethnography Project Lebowski Style

Achievers
The Introduction

In 1998 a Coen Brothers’ film was released to little or no acclaim. It was the follow up to the Oscar winning, Fargo, and the brothers had thought they had another hit. But it wasn’t until this movie was released to video that it found its audience. The movie of which I speak, is the Big Lebowski. Like a slow-burn, fans of this movie began to spread far and wide. It was watched it religiously, and quoted fervently for anyone to hear. Mid-night viewings began to occur nationwide to a cult fan base. Then, in 2002 the First Annual Lebowski Fest was held in Kentucky, and festivals have been held coast-to-coast ever since that fateful night. The founders of Lebowski Fest have even knighted the die-hard and obsessive fans “Achievers,” and it is a banner that is proudly flown.

While t-shirts, bumper-stickers, and posters announce fellow members boisterously – the following still operates as an almost secret society. Clandestine meetings are held in random cities, and only those that have been added to a mailing list are told of the where-a-bouts. It is true that the website and movie are open to the public, but not just anyone dons the label, Achiever. No, it is a special breed of unique that takes their love of the movie to the next level. And it is amongst this sub-culture that my ethnography takes place.


Section I

For this study I held formal interviews with four people. The first informant is a friend of a friend. We conducted our interview via email, and our contact was brief and to the point. He is an older gentleman by the name of Dan Kauppi, and he lives in Northern Michigan. Over Christmas he held a Big Lebowski themed bowling party that myself and my friend were unable to attend, and it is for this reason I wanted to interview him. My next informant is John Daft. He is a 50+ GM Retiree, and he is also my father. Growing up he shared his love of irreverent humor with me and my sister, and if it weren’t for him I wouldn’t know or appreciate the Coen Brothers today. Upon my first viewing of the movie, the Big Lebowski, my cousin (who had watched it with me) turned to me and said, “Hey Nell, your dad is the Dude.” And a truer statement has never been said. Traci Wightman, an administrator of policy for the State of Michigan, is my next informant. She is currently working full time for the State, as well as, working full time on her Masters Degree from Western Michigan. Her introduction to the Big Lebowski came in March of 2008, when she attended a Lebowski Fest held in Chicago with me. From that pivotal night she has been hooked ever since, and considers herself an avid fan. My last informant chose to remain anonymous. They are currently working part-time and enrolled in college full time. This informant is an Achiever, and has deep abiding love for all things Lebowski.

Time and Place

Interviews:

1. Dan Kauppi – conducted via email February 20, 2010.

2. John Daft – conducted at Geeks to Go, LLC (office) March 24, 2010.

3. Traci Wightman – conducted at Traci’s home on April 1, 2010.

4. Anonymous “Maude” – conducted at Geeks to Go, LLC April 19, 2010.

Ceremonies/Rituals:

Lebowski Fest 2008 – attended opening night of festivities held on March 7 in Chicago IL, at the Portage Theater.

Lebowski Characters:

1. Jeffery “The Dude” Lebowski – The movie’s protagonist. He loves bowling, Bob Dylan, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the occasional acid flashback, and his rug.

2. Walter Sobchak – The yin to the Dude’s yang. He loves bowling, heavy artillery, Judaism, and connecting every aspect of his life back to his fallen buddies in Vietnam.

3. Donny – The Dude and Walter’s sidekick. An avid bowler and surfer who never truly grasps what is happening around him.

4. The Stranger – The movie’s narrator.

5. Maude Lebowski – The Dude’s lady friend, and the daughter of the other Jeffery Lebowski, the millionaire.

6. Caucasian – The term the Dude uses in place of White Russian, which is his drink of choice.

Summation

On March 7th 2008, my friend Traci and I headed to Chicago to attend the Lebowski Fest. This was a red letter year, as it was the 10th anniversary of the release of the movie. We were only going to the opening night, which includes performances from a few local bands, libations, and finally the movie itself. Opening night is held at a local theater with limited seating. It is also a venue where alcohol can be served. The following night the festival is held at a local bowling alley. Once again alcohol is huge part of the evening’s festivities, and generally speaking, every one that attends is in character. There are contests and prizes for best costume, most “Dude” like, most creative, etc. Also, trivia contests and bowling contests are a big part of the night. Depending on the amount of people that attend the 2 nights of the festival, the founders may hold another bowling party over the course of the weekend to keep every one happy and pleased.

Any time alcohol plays a huge role in a gathering of over a hundred conflicts usually arise. But in all that I’ve read, and what I have witnessed this rule does not apply to the Achievers. Everyone that is present is joyful, and there is an apparent camaraderie between all attendees. They have a shared commonality – they love the movie, and what it represents – Friendship. Fast friends are made while waiting line for the bathroom. People from all walks of life and dress discuss where they’re from, when they became a fan of the movie, and whether or not they’ve attended a festival before. Those people that are in costume/character never seem to be annoyed by quotes shouted their way, or the constant photo opps with random strangers. All of this interaction occurs without a drama or delay with Caucasian or Heineken in hand. Everyone in attendance is a fan, and is there out a profound adoration for this movie. This also includes the bands.

In doing research about this sub-culture, I found that many bands and sports teams like to have this movie on rotation on their tour buses. Drinking games are played, quotes are randomly shouted by all, and once again the camaraderie is boundless. Band/Team mates are in close proximity at all hours of the day, and their success depends on how they interact as a unified whole. This movie bonds people with its humor, and the close-nit ties between the movie’s central characters. When the bands are asked to attend/play at the festivals, the founders are hardly ever turned away. The bands show up in costume, and play most of the songs from the movie’s soundtrack. And because they love the movie, the Achievers love them.

There were two bands that played at the festival I attended. The opening act was has a local following in Chicago, but found fans nationwide after appearing on stage in costume. Because they played songs from the soundtrack, their set was more like an interactive sing-a-long. The main act, however, found itself in a unique position. They were another local band, but the difference between the two groups was that they were a cover band. Meaning, they made a name for themselves as mimicking a particular group, and only played that group’s work. A band like this would never be the main act for any other venue except for the Lebowski Fest. The Dude’s favorite band in the movie is Creedence Clearwater Revival, and this was the band’s shtick. As soon as they took the stage one would have thought the Beatles or Elvis had just arrived in the building with roaring applause they received. Then after the bands have left the stage, and the curtain once again rises, a hush falls over the crowd.

It’s at this time the movie begins, and this is the reason everyone is there. This is why there is so much love in the room – for this silly, simple movie about a man, a rug that really tied the room together, and his friends. During the course of my interviews, Traci made a comparison to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. While I have not attended one of the mid-night viewings of this cult classic, I have watched the DVD special with the fan participation track. And I have to say Traci’s observation was correct, both fans have a certain way of watching the film. Quotes are shouted along, and certain characters have a particular phrase roared at them. Wu, the carpet pisser, for instance is “Whoooed” when ever he appears on screen. Some songs are sung loudly and proudly as they appear in the film. And when the Dude has a dance number in one of his dream sequences, some people dance along with him in the aisle.

As I stated earlier, I was only in attendance for the opening ceremony, so any commentary on the goings on for the bowling party would only be hearsay. But I can only assume that the rest of the festivities are as joyful and bonding as opening night. Some months after the Lebowski Fest, I was in Remus, MI for the Wheatland Music Festival, and met up with a fellow Achiever. I was wearing my “Achiever” shirt, when a woman noticed me, and with a point and giggle she walked over. “Oh my God, I love that movie! And my husband and I were just at the Lebowski Fest in Chicago!” Normally, I hate small talk with people I’ve never met before, and I avoid it all costs. But because of this movie, and the obvious connection with this woman, we talked for almost a half hour. As it turns out, I had my picture taken with her husband who was dressed like the Dude.

This chance meeting culminates the spirit of the film – It is the humor and adventure that bonds the characters of the film, and it is the love of those characters that bonds the fans. What I deduced from my interviews is that while the central focus of the film is the relationship between the Dude and Walter, it is also their uniqueness that resonates so strongly with people. Every character in the film is an unprecedented individual, and it is that individuality that the fans strive for and love. Each informant had a specific view of the film, but where they all co-mingled was in their distinctive eccentricities. Their brand of humor and the way in which they communicated their opinions played out like the Coen Brothers’ ingenious script. Dan Kauppi had a rigid idiosyncrasy, in that he will never say anything but an original statement. He’s not a fan of the quotes, and finds it sad that some people use another’s talent to appear clever. John Daft, for intents and purposes, is The Dude. Traci Wightman revels in the exclusiveness that comes with being a fan of this film. And the same can be said of my informant that chose to remain anonymous.

Achievers - whether Blue Collar or White Collar - enjoy the spoils of belonging to an outlandish sub-culture. To be a fan of this movie is to be privy to an exclusive point of view. This view entails a dark and exotic brand of humor, the Kahlua, if you will. Next we add Vodka, or the clear celebration of one’s unique quirks. To top it off we stir in a dollop of Half and Half, which adds the enigmatic and creamy sensation of coming home. Here we have a White Russian, or Caucasian. This beverage is an acquired taste. And, like the movie, once one becomes a fan of the flavor there is no turning back. It’s the drink of choice, and the connoisseur finds camaraderie with those who share the same taste.

Interview with John “The Dude” Daft 3/24/10

Question One: Would you say that you a Coen Brothers fan, or a Big Lebowski Fan?

"Don’t you have to be both? I know I am, and that’s what makes sense."

Question Two: Have you ever referred to yourself as an “Achiever?” (an achiever is the name of the founders of Lebowski Fest attached to themselves and those people that attend the fests.)

"I am an Achiever as I have achieved my goal, I’ve retired. And now I hold down my lazy boy perfectly, which is my number one priority. You know I sit back with my Wally Ball Hanger (Harvey Wall Banger) or my Hawaiian High Ball, it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere. I am an Achiever."

Question Three: There is a company on Wall Street that hires or denies applicants on the basis of whether or not they recognize a Lebowskiism. Have you ever found yourself doing the same, using the movie as a way of separating/integrating yourself w/ one group or another?

"No, if they talk to me later, cool, if not whatever. That deer – in – the – head – light – look never hurt anyone."

Question Four: Do you sometimes find yourself inserting quotes into casual conversation? Is it kind of a bummer, when the quote is lost or wasted on the person(s) you’re talking to? And on the flip side, how is it if they respond with a quote of their own?

"I threw it, they caught it, great…it would be kind of scary though…some one on my wave length."

Question Five: What is it about this movie that you think resonates so strongly with people?

"The relatability to the characters, and the humor, and the story. And I can relate to the story, all of the above, it’s funny. I always watch it when it’s on."

Question Six: Do you have a favorite line/scene?

"When the Dude is in his tub chillaxing, and then these dudes in black unitards come in and beat the shit out of him (laughs) he can’t even take a bath. (laughs) His Calgon couldn’t even take him away. (laughs)"

Question Seven: Have you attended a Lebowski Fest, or started one of your own?

"No, however, it is a goal of mine. And my kid, you, did buy me a t-shirt from one. And that’s the closet I got, if any one but me finds the irony in that…"