Saying the dog ate my TV might just work as an excuse for missing homework in Tim Delaney's sociology class.
Jennifer Meyers / The Citizen
Tim Delaney signs a copy of his book “Seinology: The Sociology of Seinfeld,” at Waldenbooks in the Fingerlakes Mall Saturday.
Tim Delaney signs a copy of his book “Seinology: The Sociology of Seinfeld,” at Waldenbooks in the Fingerlakes Mall Saturday.
The assistant professor of sociology, who incorporates the sitcom “Seinfeld” into his teaching, may not believe it - but he's likely to think it was funny enough not to care.
Entering Curley's Rzestaurant in his hometown of Auburn recently to discus his new book, “Seinology: The Sociology of Seinfeld,” the author noticed an old friend, struck up a conversation then terminated his half with, “and yada, yada, yada.” That catchphrase shortcut, popularized in the '90's era sitcom, was a subtenant hint of what was to come.
“The ‘yada, yada, yada' is a classic,” he said, sitting sardined into a crowded window side booth. “So many times you're telling a story to someone and you don't want to finish it, and they don't really want to hear all of it.”
Recognizing and defining which “Seinfeld”-related bricks are fitted into the architecture of today's culture are the foundation of the book; meanwhile, lurking behind every door is a laugh.
The sitcom, which starred Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Richards, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jason Alexander, became an outlet for Deleney to introduce social ills to his students.
“I think most people identify with Jerry. He was more levelheaded, but he would egg people on. He was a lot like me. In one episode, he tells Elaine he'll give her $50 to go up to a table of people and ask one of them if she can buy their egg roll. George says, ‘I'll mash my face into the plate for that,'” said Delaney, eyeing a nearby couple sitting in the Curley's dining room.
“Even if we can't relate directly to some of the situations, we can still relate to what they dealt with as four close friends. Sometimes you get along. Sometimes you fight.”
Leaning forward with emphasis and, a sincere comedic timing that turns casual company into an audience, Delaney brings up serious issues using discussion of the lighthearted comedy.
As is reflected in his book, the television program tackled social tensions with phraseology, while poking fun at political correctness. “Not that there is anything wrong with that,” referred to sex and gender issues.
“I want to show Seinfeld is relevant to a lot of people's lives,” Delaney said. “The show mirrored society. Some of the things they came up with, like ‘Not that there's anything wrong with that' - people were like, ‘it's okay if you're gay - but I'm not!' We were in a transition period in the '90s where people were just beginning to accept (the gay community.)”
Particular episodes of the 180 produced in the nine-year long series come to mind for Delaney as easily as flipping through a phone book and randomly dropping a finger onto a number.
One involved Elaine introducing a new boyfriend to the other characters, which Delaney utilized while lecturing on the topic of race and ethnicity at California State University at Northridge.
“Some people are a little more obvious than others (regarding cultural background.) Clues are based on stereotypes,” he said, then described the scene following the meeting.
“Elaine asks them, ‘So what do you think?' Jerry says, 'So you're dating a black guy.' George says, 'I think he's Irish.'” Elaine is ambivalent about the possibility. The characters then start looking around, worried someone might be listening to them.
Subsequently, Elaine embarks upon a quest to find out, visiting her boyfriend's apartment and weighing such clues as rap music and his art choices hanging on the wall.
Meanwhile, she invites him for dinner at a Spanish restaurant. As a result, he thinks she may be Spanish. Ultimately, Elaine finds out her boyfriend is financially upscale and decides his ethnicity is irrelevant - which in turn illustrates a gender presumption.
“People end up being reflective and realize - I just judged that person completely on stereotypes,” Delaney said.
Currently a member of the faculty of the State University of New York at Oswego, Delaney has published nine books, including “American Street Gangs,” the most recent of those prior to “Seinology.” His research included interacting on a personal level with members of a street gang based in California.
The graduate of Port Byron High School and Cayuga Community College received a Bachelors of Science in sociology from SUNY Brockport, a Masters of Arts in sociology from California State University at Dominguez Hills ,and doctorate in sociology from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
Currently a fan of the series “Lost,” he's not completely satisfied with reruns of “Seinfeld.”
“I keep hoping there's just one more episode they haven't released,” he said.
If you go
What: Discussion with Tim Delaney on “Seinology: The Sociology of Seinfeld”
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Yesteryears Coffee House and Cafe, 24 State St., Auburn
Cost: Free
Entering Curley's Rzestaurant in his hometown of Auburn recently to discus his new book, “Seinology: The Sociology of Seinfeld,” the author noticed an old friend, struck up a conversation then terminated his half with, “and yada, yada, yada.” That catchphrase shortcut, popularized in the '90's era sitcom, was a subtenant hint of what was to come.
“The ‘yada, yada, yada' is a classic,” he said, sitting sardined into a crowded window side booth. “So many times you're telling a story to someone and you don't want to finish it, and they don't really want to hear all of it.”
Recognizing and defining which “Seinfeld”-related bricks are fitted into the architecture of today's culture are the foundation of the book; meanwhile, lurking behind every door is a laugh.
The sitcom, which starred Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Richards, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jason Alexander, became an outlet for Deleney to introduce social ills to his students.
“I think most people identify with Jerry. He was more levelheaded, but he would egg people on. He was a lot like me. In one episode, he tells Elaine he'll give her $50 to go up to a table of people and ask one of them if she can buy their egg roll. George says, ‘I'll mash my face into the plate for that,'” said Delaney, eyeing a nearby couple sitting in the Curley's dining room.
“Even if we can't relate directly to some of the situations, we can still relate to what they dealt with as four close friends. Sometimes you get along. Sometimes you fight.”
Leaning forward with emphasis and, a sincere comedic timing that turns casual company into an audience, Delaney brings up serious issues using discussion of the lighthearted comedy.
As is reflected in his book, the television program tackled social tensions with phraseology, while poking fun at political correctness. “Not that there is anything wrong with that,” referred to sex and gender issues.
“I want to show Seinfeld is relevant to a lot of people's lives,” Delaney said. “The show mirrored society. Some of the things they came up with, like ‘Not that there's anything wrong with that' - people were like, ‘it's okay if you're gay - but I'm not!' We were in a transition period in the '90s where people were just beginning to accept (the gay community.)”
Particular episodes of the 180 produced in the nine-year long series come to mind for Delaney as easily as flipping through a phone book and randomly dropping a finger onto a number.
One involved Elaine introducing a new boyfriend to the other characters, which Delaney utilized while lecturing on the topic of race and ethnicity at California State University at Northridge.
“Some people are a little more obvious than others (regarding cultural background.) Clues are based on stereotypes,” he said, then described the scene following the meeting.
“Elaine asks them, ‘So what do you think?' Jerry says, 'So you're dating a black guy.' George says, 'I think he's Irish.'” Elaine is ambivalent about the possibility. The characters then start looking around, worried someone might be listening to them.
Subsequently, Elaine embarks upon a quest to find out, visiting her boyfriend's apartment and weighing such clues as rap music and his art choices hanging on the wall.
Meanwhile, she invites him for dinner at a Spanish restaurant. As a result, he thinks she may be Spanish. Ultimately, Elaine finds out her boyfriend is financially upscale and decides his ethnicity is irrelevant - which in turn illustrates a gender presumption.
“People end up being reflective and realize - I just judged that person completely on stereotypes,” Delaney said.
Currently a member of the faculty of the State University of New York at Oswego, Delaney has published nine books, including “American Street Gangs,” the most recent of those prior to “Seinology.” His research included interacting on a personal level with members of a street gang based in California.
The graduate of Port Byron High School and Cayuga Community College received a Bachelors of Science in sociology from SUNY Brockport, a Masters of Arts in sociology from California State University at Dominguez Hills ,and doctorate in sociology from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
Currently a fan of the series “Lost,” he's not completely satisfied with reruns of “Seinfeld.”
“I keep hoping there's just one more episode they haven't released,” he said.
If you go
What: Discussion with Tim Delaney on “Seinology: The Sociology of Seinfeld”
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Yesteryears Coffee House and Cafe, 24 State St., Auburn
Cost: Free
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