In the years since World War II, writers, TV shows, movies and even musicians have tried. Here is a sampling of their takes.
How do you define the suburbs? —
In the years since World War II, writers, TV shows, movies and even musicians have tried. Here is a sampling of their takes.
In numerous short stories, such as "The Country Husband" and "The Swimmer," the bard of the suburb characterized his bedroom communities as empty places where people went to hide from themselves.
John Cheever —
In numerous short stories, such as "The Country Husband" and "The Swimmer," the bard of the suburb characterized his bedroom communities as empty places where people went to hide from themselves.
The story of the family Cleaver -- along with "Father Knows Best" and "The Donna Reed Show" -- debuted in the 1950s. The shows presented a suburbia of cheerful working fathers, pearl-and-apron-bedecked mothers and mischievous children, all living in happy modern towns away from the city.
'Leave It to Beaver' —
The story of the family Cleaver -- along with "Father Knows Best" and "The Donna Reed Show" -- debuted in the 1950s. The shows presented a suburbia of cheerful working fathers, pearl-and-apron-bedecked mothers and mischievous children, all living in happy modern towns away from the city.
One of the best "Twilight Zone" episodes is about residents of a seemingly idyllic neighborhood who turn against one another when strange things start happening.
'The Monsters are Due on Maple Street' —
One of the best "Twilight Zone" episodes is about residents of a seemingly idyllic neighborhood who turn against one another when strange things start happening.
One of the 1967 film's most famous lines pretty much sums up its view of upscale suburban life. As perplexed protagonist Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) wanders a party in his honor, a family friend offers a recommendation about his future: "Plastics."
'The Graduate' —
One of the 1967 film's most famous lines pretty much sums up its view of upscale suburban life. As perplexed protagonist Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) wanders a party in his honor, a family friend offers a recommendation about his future: "Plastics."
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The Bradys exemplified a certain kind of easygoing Southern California lifestyle with their spacious San Fernando Valley home. Not even neighbors were a problem -- did they even have any? It was only when they vacationed in Hawaii that things got creepy.
'The Brady Bunch' —
The Bradys exemplified a certain kind of easygoing Southern California lifestyle with their spacious San Fernando Valley home. Not even neighbors were a problem -- did they even have any? It was only when they vacationed in Hawaii that things got creepy.
Ira Levin's 1972 novel, which inspired two films, presented an image of perfect housewives in a bucolic Connecticut bedroom community. But there's something a little unusual about those women.
'The Stepford Wives' —
Ira Levin's 1972 novel, which inspired two films, presented an image of perfect housewives in a bucolic Connecticut bedroom community. But there's something a little unusual about those women.
Hughes' '80s teen films, such as "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club" (pictured), were unapologetically set in an upscale Chicago suburb. Though his characters grappled with growing up, none of them was dismissive of their hometowns -- though at least one of them, Ferris Bueller, had a great time in the big city.
The films of John Hughes —
Hughes' '80s teen films, such as "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club" (pictured), were unapologetically set in an upscale Chicago suburb. Though his characters grappled with growing up, none of them was dismissive of their hometowns -- though at least one of them, Ferris Bueller, had a great time in the big city.
Universal Pictures
This series, set in the late '60s and early '70s, starred Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold, a kid growing up in an unidentified suburban town. Dad was a defense contractor; Mom a housewife. "It nailed the semi-utopian existence," says Syracuse pop culture professor Robert Thompson, noting that for every bit of nostalgia there was a jolt of reality, from a death in Vietnam to the behavior of Kevin's father.
'The Wonder Years' —
This series, set in the late '60s and early '70s, starred Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold, a kid growing up in an unidentified suburban town. Dad was a defense contractor; Mom a housewife. "It nailed the semi-utopian existence," says Syracuse pop culture professor Robert Thompson, noting that for every bit of nostalgia there was a jolt of reality, from a death in Vietnam to the behavior of Kevin's father.
Like the real thing, TV suburbs weren't always spotless and upscale. In this top-rated series starring comedian Roseanne Barr, the family lived in the fictional working-class Chicago suburb of Lanford, Illinois, in a mildly unkempt house, struggling to get by.
'Roseanne' —
Like the real thing, TV suburbs weren't always spotless and upscale. In this top-rated series starring comedian Roseanne Barr, the family lived in the fictional working-class Chicago suburb of Lanford, Illinois, in a mildly unkempt house, struggling to get by.
Jim Carrey, as the unknowing star of a reality show in this 1998 film, flees his perfect little town to find out who he really is. The town, incidentally, was played by Seaside, Florida, one of many "New Urbanism" communities to have sprung up in the last two decades in response to the monotonous sprawl of the initial postwar suburbs.
'The Truman Show' —
Jim Carrey, as the unknowing star of a reality show in this 1998 film, flees his perfect little town to find out who he really is. The town, incidentally, was played by Seaside, Florida, one of many "New Urbanism" communities to have sprung up in the last two decades in response to the monotonous sprawl of the initial postwar suburbs.
The Aaron McGruder comic strip and TV program pit a pair of South Side Chicago African-American brothers against the suburban culture of Woodcrest, which includes such streets as Timid Deer Lane.
'The Boondocks' —
The Aaron McGruder comic strip and TV program pit a pair of South Side Chicago African-American brothers against the suburban culture of Woodcrest, which includes such streets as Timid Deer Lane.
The 1999 best picture Oscar winner featured an unhappy, lustful dad, a self-absorbed mom, a closeted neighbor and a plastic bag floating in the wind.
'American Beauty' —
The 1999 best picture Oscar winner featured an unhappy, lustful dad, a self-absorbed mom, a closeted neighbor and a plastic bag floating in the wind.
The singer and songwriter pegged a certain kind of privileged teenage angst with the lyrics to his 2001 song: "You don't know what it's like / To be male, middle-class and white."
'Rockin' the Suburbs' by Ben Folds —
The singer and songwriter pegged a certain kind of privileged teenage angst with the lyrics to his 2001 song: "You don't know what it's like / To be male, middle-class and white."
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Creator Marc Cherry's soapy series was inspired by a conversation with his mother about the Andrea Yates child-killing case. "Can you imagine a woman being so desperate that she would hurt her own children?" Cherry asked. His mother, he recalled, took her cigarette out of her mouth. "I've been there," she said.
'Desperate Housewives' —
Creator Marc Cherry's soapy series was inspired by a conversation with his mother about the Andrea Yates child-killing case. "Can you imagine a woman being so desperate that she would hurt her own children?" Cherry asked. His mother, he recalled, took her cigarette out of her mouth. "I've been there," she said.
Though the group's Win Butler cast the Grammy-winning album as a nonjudgmental "letter from the suburbs," the video for the title song shows suburbia in a more negative light, with aimless teenagers growing violent amid a mysterious military presence.
'The Suburbs' by Arcade Fire —
Though the group's Win Butler cast the Grammy-winning album as a nonjudgmental "letter from the suburbs," the video for the title song shows suburbia in a more negative light, with aimless teenagers growing violent amid a mysterious military presence.
Dad is raising his teenage daughter in New York City -- until, one day, he finds some condoms in her dresser. Suddenly, it's off to a cul-de-sac in suburban Chatswin for a cleaner, purer life, maybe. The ABC series, which stars Jeremy Sisto and Jane Levy, has earned decent ratings in its first season.
'Suburgatory' —
Dad is raising his teenage daughter in New York City -- until, one day, he finds some condoms in her dresser. Suddenly, it's off to a cul-de-sac in suburban Chatswin for a cleaner, purer life, maybe. The ABC series, which stars Jeremy Sisto and Jane Levy, has earned decent ratings in its first season.