American Pie versus Technology, Part 2

(This is part 2 in a series - part one can be found in the archives over there (->) in November of 2010.)

The other characters suffer similar fates – Oz and Heather twice attempt phone sex in the sequel, and fail miserably both times. Oz in fact suffers an early embarrassment when he attempts to bed a “college girl” in Pie, this time a car serving as the modern chariot for his unavoidable failure. The sexual conquests of Chuck Sherman (whose alleged encounter with a woman starts the plot) are eventually unraveled over a speaker system at the school prom. (On a non-technology point, I would like to point out that Sherman suffers for a perceived slight that is in no way under his control; when leaving the morning following his assumed de-flowering, Sherman only says “It was just my time. It was just my time”. In fact, it is the four friends who make the logic jump that he has lost his virginity, a rumor that comes back to get him in the end. Granted, he does put on a mature show for the friends now, but he never explicitly says he is no longer a virgin.) Sherman is in effect a walking paradigm of anti-technology – he is the most awkward and geekiest of all the characters, and he constantly refers to himself as the Shermanator, a reference to the futuristic robotic killing machine from the “Terminator” franchise. That he does eventually get Nadia in the sequel comes only after he has a self realization at the end party. Though his last lines still reference his robotic alter-ego, he now has achieved an understanding about his place with technology. That the four friends study Latin only furthers the argument, Latin being so old a language that it is now “dead” - no more advancement can occur for it.

Oz and Finch both in fact represent how the abandonment of tech leads to success. Oz wins Heather's heart (and arguably finds himself) by joining the Jazz Choir – an activity that uses absolutely no tools or equipment of any kind. Oz's big moment, has him shedding his modern trappings of his lacrosse gear, so he can go sing “Do you believe in magic?” with Heather; magic substituting quite perfectly as a romantic notion that eschews scientific, modern reasoning. Finch, similarly, unites with Stifler's Mom by discussing the finer points of Scotch Whiskey (itself representing sophistication and refinement – two things that often run counter to modern trappings and technobabble) in the first film, and then in the second through the use of “tantric sex” – Tantra having roots in the early centuries of the common era, well preceding the industrial revolution. Finch, of course, has a problem going to the bathroom in public restrooms, saying: “Have you seen the facilities at this school?” Finch here has anxiety likely due to a phobia of cleanliness (or a lack thereof), likely specifically due to germs. In fact, had science not developed to the point of knowing about microscopic germs, Finch might very well not have any fear at all (thanks, Science). His approach to losing his virginity is to pay Jessica to spread rumors about his sexual prowess, which in itself is not a modern device, but is an artificial life – effectively foreshadowing today's “Second Life” (2003) or “World of Warcraft” (2004). In the same metaphorical sense, Jim having sex with an apple pie in the original is again representative of the failure of trying intimacy with something other than a living, flesh and blood human being, the pie standing in for the sex dolls and Fleshlights that seem to permeate today. Jessica on the other hand seems only to enjoy the simple pleasures, it her personable social connections that allow Finch's rumors to spread, and her payment for the task is spent on a hip flask and earrings, delightfully simple trappings.

Jim's first, Michelle, is a walking paradigm of how good life can be when one eschews technology – she talks constantly about band camp, which we discover is in fact “90% sex ed”, which is further detailed in two ways – band camp is in actuality a camp – an isolated, woodsy setting which immediately brings to mind the idea of living as the animals did – in the wild. Additionally, since it is for band geeks – the only equipment available are band instruments, which have had few, if any technological advances made on them in over 100 years. Jim, in proving his love for Michelle (the realization coming in a lighthouse, which while being a romantic set piece, is also a form of navigational technology that has largely become obsolete in the age of GPS) does so in what is an embarrassing situation, (ineptly) playing trombone, but his success can be assured because he is wielding an instrument that is a pre-industrial revolution throwback (he's not even playing it well – he clearly doesn't even need good musicianship). His connection is additionally underscored by the soundtrack - “If I Could Be Like That”, by 3 Doors Down, whose title seems to yearn for a return to simpler, past times. (On the subject of music, it should be noted that the song that plays during Pie when the boys lose their respective virginities (Big Runga's “Sway”) contains the chorus lyrics “Say you'll stay/Don't come and go”. Taken in the analytical framework of an anti-technology stance, one can't help but draw a parallel to rapid march of technology, with what seems to be a new technological gizmo replacing the last every month. This might be a bit of a stretch, but is worth noting nonetheless.) In fact, if anything, the films seem to promote any simpler act as being one that is more fun, a point that is especially underlined in the second film, when the entire impetus for their renting a beach house to have one last memorable summer with all the friends.