The Napoleon Dynamite Complex: Enjoying life inside a town stuck in time

Making an aesthetic out of the ordinary.

BY BIANCA LLERENA

In a small, rural town, life can sometimes feel as if it is standing abruptly still. The quaintness of this lifestyle offers little to do at times, and it can fall short when compared to the flourishing and ever-changing life of the city. The realization that emerges once we are exposed to the world outside of our own can dim the light that shines from the simpleness of our rural lives. But what does this mean? Does the comparison of these worlds leave a negative impression on our hometowns? 

In watching the classic coming of age movie, “Napoleon Dynamite,” the rural world of Napoleon seems so vibrant and action-filled. Napoleon is the star of his life and he meets people who are not afraid to embrace their spunk. Sure, the plot of the film revolves around running for class president and preparing for the school dance, all-the-while eating less-than-appetizing cafeteria food, but there’s still so much action and excitement there. At the end of the day, “Napoleon Dynamite” highlights the ordinary — and I love it.

Sure, we have been shaped from our upbringings that our rural lives have played a part in, but this can actually be positive for future lifestyles. If you end up moving to a large city once you leave for college or afterwards, you will still have a place to return to that holds a unique meaning. Small towns have something about them that allows them to burrow a warm place inside of your heart. The return home transports us to our childhood, which is filled with simple pleasures and uncomplicated memories. Being protagonists in our worlds is not defined by the worlds, but by our outlook on them.