Look away

An Army of General Lees Charges Into Nashville

Dave Itzkoff in the Times: ... [W]hat lured Mr. Knotts, and 100,000 other loyal fans, to the Music City Motorplex was DukesFest, a two-day celebration of "The Dukes of Hazzard," the down-home comedy-adventure series that was broadcast on CBS from 1979 to 1985. The annual gathering (held this year on June 3 and 4) is an opportunity for viewers to mingle with the show's stars, trade memorabilia, dress in kitschy T-shirts or simply watch fireworks or eat pork products named for the show's corpulent villain, Boss Hogg. But among this crowd there is a smaller, more dedicated group for whom DukesFest is a kind of mystical calling, a sacred convocation for those who can find transcendence in an event as simple as a car leaping over a ditch.

Their high priest is Ben Jones, the actor who played the character of Cooter Davenport, a garage mechanic, and went on to serve two terms representing Georgia's Fourth District in the United States House of Representatives. After moving to Rappahannock County, Va., Mr. Jones and his wife, Alma, opened a "Dukes"-theme general store called Cooter's Place in the summer of 1999, and staged outdoor festivals there, honoring the series.

"The show had sort of flown under the radar for a long time," Mr. Jones said in a telephone interview. "It's timeless, except for the doofus haircuts. But a lot of people I know have doofus haircuts." ...

Mr. Jones, who has spent many years contemplating the cultural resilience of "The Dukes of Hazzard," offered a few theories about the show's place in the hearts of armchair outlaws. It could be that in politically polarized times, viewers are attracted to depictions of a simpler, idealized America. Or it could be that the Duke boys occupy a point on a proud line of incorruptible heroes that stretches all the way back to Robin Hood.

"Law, as represented by the Sheriff of Nottingham or Boss Hogg, can be corrupt," Mr. Jones said. "But order — that undercurrent of right and wrong, of making the correct moral choice — is there, no matter who the law is."

Or maybe people just like attractive actors and fast cars. "It was like Zen, you know what I'm saying?" Mr. Jones said. "It just was."

Wow--not once does the Times mention that this 'simpler, idealized America' featured a prominently displayed Confederate flag and no black characters (not to mention fans).

Of course, not every Times piece needs to be wide-eyed and aware; they're allowed to write pop culture fluff as much as anyone. As long as they're consistent... I can't imagine the Times attending a gospel music festival that was entirely black and not noting that, let alone a gospel music festival devoted to all-black gospel and leaving it be. White Americans are not neutral or the standard, especially when the article revolves around issues of identity.

I watched the show, and liked it for what it was. I think though it's recently joined the code words that white Christian Americans use to separate us and them--it slips right into place besides other hijacked and imbued things as family values and national security.

And I think anyone who holds it up as a model of what they want this country to be has either been asleep since well before the 80s, or is racist. I for one don't want an America where a couple of good old boys ride wild playing Dixie.

wish I was in de land ob cotton,
Old times dar am not forgotten;
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land.
In Dixie Land whar I was born in,
Early on one frosty mornin,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land. ...

Den I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land, I'll took my stand,
To lib an die in Dixie,
Away, Away, Away down south in Dixie,
Away, Away, Away down south in Dixie.

Photo of Bo, Luke, Daisy and the General Lee via Country Music Television.