Friday Night Lights addresses this actuality by including Street’s accident in the pilot episode of the series. In most plots, such an occurrence would be incorporated into the storyline after many episodes, or even seasons, of building up Street and the team. It might even be the climax of the plot. Regardless, this tactic presents a more inclusive diegesis and positions viewers to accept the alternate versions of strength and leadership (Butterworth & Schuck). Instead of dwelling on Street’s injury, the plot focuses on how everyone moves on. For Panther football, this means accepting Matt Saracen as the new quarterback. For Street, this means finding normalcy in his new lifestyle. The series documents his progression back to daily life by …show more content…
Television series Friday Night Lights pioneers their accurate representation through the character of Jason Street. Authors Butterworth and Schuck identify how the series fails to align with culturally idealized, traditional representations of men. Foote, Justin Gus, et al break down how different authoritative figures affect how boys view their masculinity. Cherney and Lindemann explain the role that participating in sports have in reaffirming that conception. Building upon that notion, Kerr describes the role that the culture of football has had in forming idealizations of masculinity. In response to this culture, Phillips identifies how Friday Night Lights depicts the reality of Street’s situation and offers a realistic narrative that does not comply with societal standards. Finally, Ellis discusses the roles of Street’s disability and masculinity in the series and explains how they expose his vulnerability, contrary to typical approaches. As a television series whose premise is based upon hegemonic masculinity, the narrative within Friday Night Lights shows how popular culture can accurately and realistically represent multifaceted concepts, challenging its audience to see them in an authentic