I had a roommate who occasionally substituted in elementary classrooms. One of his greatest pastimes was showing me pictures of his class and pointing out the future CEO, the future valedictorians, and, of course, the future pimps and hoes. They were all there- everyone we loved and dreaded- only mini-sized.
Does predetermination play a larger role in our lives than we dare admit? Is it fair to delude ourselves, and subsequent generations, with the ideal that “anyone can become president?” (Being a Korean adoptee, I was pissed when I finally found the fine print in fourth grade that excluded non-native citizens from that running. Pissed.)
“Give me a child until he is seven, and I will give you the man.” This is the premise for the 7 Up documentary series. The British network Grenada Television brought together 14 children with backgrounds ranging from private school prodigies to orphaned charity cases, all age seven, with the intention of checking back in seven-year increments. Originally, the filmmakers hoped to envision England in the year 2000. However, with the latest installment, 49 Up set for release October of this year, the project itself has developed its own life and its end seems just as unpredictable as any one of the participants’.
Beginning in 1964, all of the children are seven, but “when I grow up” ideations seem more a question of “when” than “if.” Charles, Andrew and John attend exclusive private schools and seem fairly certain of what lay ahead in the next ten to 15 years. Expensive pre-preparatory school (elementary) is just the start of a path that leads to more expensive schools and eventually arrives at Cambridge or Oxford. On the other hand is Paul who lives in a church run home for boys and attends public school but hasn’t yet learned the meaning of “university.”
The children are interviewed on a variety of topics including social interaction, class, the opposite sex, etc. When asked her ideas on “colored people,” Suzie, a girl who’s trust fund could feed a small country indefinitely, said, “No I don’t know anyone who’s colored… and I don’t care to know anyone who’s colored, thank you very much!” After watching that segment, I no longer feel guilty when calling certain children assholes (quietly, in my head.) Let’s call a spade a spade.
I wish I watched this documentary series with my old roommate so we could place bets on our favorite kid. Speculating which one of a class is the future Heidi Fleiss is fun, but waiting three days for the next Netflix to arrive rather than 20 years for them to grow up is better.
Author’s note: This is the first of seven installments that coincide with each episode of The Up Series to be concluded with the release of 49 Up in theatres October 13, 2006.
