I think it would be very interesting to juxtapose and compare the characters of Kotter and Woody Allen. So far I’ve seen two Woody Allen films, Manhattan and Radio Days, as well as clips from Annie Hall. Although the characters Allen creates have different names they’re all the same. They all display Allen’s neuroses, his quirks, his fascination with romance, his ability to sexualize everything, and of course his Jewishness. He not only makes it lucidly clear that he is Jewish but as we discussed last Friday, he presents it in an almost self-hate manner, insulting the traditions, etc.
Now for Mr. Kotter, honestly I didn’t even know he was Jewish, my family had to point it out! Unlike Woody Allen’s characters he doesn’t poke fun at Jewishness I don’t think he even acknowledges the fact that he’s Jewish. Instead he clings to the fact that he was one of the Sweathogs. I think the group itself is revealed as its own unique ethnic identity. Although the group is made up of people of different ethnicities and backgrounds, they all cling to the fact that they’re a Sweathog not that they’re blank ethnicity. Moreover, the Sweathogs as a group are given stereotypes the way an ethnicity would. For instance, the Sweathogs are known to steal, be a menace to society, sleep on a pull over mattress, have their kitchen in the living room, etc.
In terms of whiteness in Welcome Back Kotter I found that John Travolta’s character embodied whiteness the most. He represented all the perks of being white: the popular guy, the womanizer, everyone listens to him, the leader, etc. I think you can argue that Kotter also meets the definition of whiteness set by Dyer, where whiteness represents the norm. He’s what Henry from Goodfellas would call a schnook. He lives an average life, average job, worries about bills and taking care of his wife/the house, etc.
