Article archive / September 1, 2013
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 1. Source pages: 1, 7, 8.
Reality Series from West Monroe Breaks Records The Psychology Behind A&E’s Hit, Duck Dynasty
A once dirt-poor family from West Monroe has knocked it out of the park with their A&E reality show, Duck Dynasty. The fourth season premier aired last month and broke all cable television records with a “whopping 11.8 million viewers,” reported A&E. This made Duck Dynasty the #1 nonfiction series telecast in cable history. The show has drawn appeal from all age groups, and in more than 100 countries, reported the New York Times last month.
Duck Dynasty follows the rags to riches, duck-hunting, family and faith-oriented, Robertson clan of West Monroe. The show is a combination of wholesome clowning around, with dashes of humor and life philosophy that cause you to think twice. A little silly at times, it doesn’t matter. These bearded, duck-hunting, Robertson men are likable, funny, and on occasion surprisingly profound.
“When you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s best to do it quickly.” – Jase
“First it’s pretty tires, then it’s pretty guns––next thing you know, you’re shavin’ your beard and wearin’ Capri pants.” – Si
“Nothing makes a dad happier than seeing his daughter with a smile on her face and her boyfriend with fear in his eyes.” – Willie
“Uptown living, you’ve got to call 911. Where I am, I am 911.” – Phil If story is character, Duck Dynasty has plenty, an entire extended family of characters.
Phil is 66, the patriarch and curmudgeon, who has a masters degree and was a Louisiana Tech quarterback equal in talent to Terry Bradshaw. Phil turned down a chance in the NFL because of hunting. Son Willie, a business major, took the family business and jacked it up with, among other things, online hunting videos (be sure and see these on uTube). Add the natural comic timing of son Jase, Jep, the clowning around of Phil’s Viet Nam Vet brother Si, and all the others in the Robertson family, and even when contrived, these guys are naturally funny.
But there are loads of funny shows, so what is it about the Duckmen that pull in the ratings? We asked some of our experts in the Louisiana community for their thoughts.
Dr. Mkay Bonner, licensed IO psychologist and owner of Bonner Solutions & Services, lives in West Monroe. One of her interns even works at the Duck Commander store. She recently ran into one of the Duckmen at Brookshires.
“One thing that does come to mind is the fact that many people can identify with them…” she said. “They are everyday people; they did not start life with millions of dollars; they did not start with fame nor did they have that as a life goal. Therefore, it provides some encouragement to other people that maybe they can ‘make it’ one day. And ‘make it’ does not have to mean fame and fortune but for many it does.
“I think I might sum it up as hope,” Bonner said. “They are providing hope to their viewers. Some people need hope that faith and family can survive, some need hope that they can be successful without being born wealthy, and some need hope that they can get past their struggles. The object of the hope is different for people but it is still what we all so desperately need, hope.”
“So people can watch a show about real people and laugh and be entertained and be encouraged and feel good when the show is over. And, they have hope.”
New Orleans clinical psych- ologist, and consultant to another A&E series, Hoarders, Dr Suzanne Chabaud said, “I think that people are intrigued with anything that falls outside of their normal life, and the Louisiana culture stands apart from most people’s culture. It’s intriguing and mysterious,” she said. “Also, the show pushes into the modern verbal and cognitive process. Here’s a show about people who just live life, they just face it, do what they can do. They jump into the experience,” she said.
“It’s a show that draws you away from the modern tendency to process and reprocess, and have a verbally controlled and dominating guide to everything you do. This is a show that focuses more on reaction and responding to the moment. Responding to the moment without over processing––deal with it as it happens.”
Dr. David Thomason is a Monroe medical psychologist, with training in Naturopathic Medicine. He is well known in the Monroe area for his holistic approach. "I think it is popular because of the family values and the genuineness of the people involved,” he said.
“They portray a life style that is joyful while fully embracing individual differences. Their conflicts are right out in the open and not always resolved. But it is clear that they care for and respect one another. "
"They have a balance of male and female roles,” Thomason said, “both genders are presented with the ability to be flexible and with an understanding of each other.”
Dr. Susan Dardard’s early training was in clinical- developmental psychology. But her appreciation of the power of the media compelled her to work exclusively in the public broadcast arena. Now, as Susie Marie PhD, she is creating her own home-grown, real-life TV show, South River Stories®, about her adventures in rural South Louisiana, where she now resides.
"I can relate to the Duck Dynasty guys,” she said, “a North Louisiana version of the country boys around here, whom I love, respect, and admire as confident-in-their- own skin, high-testosterone, no- apologies, strong men," she said.
"The psychological importance of helping young children become secure in their own gender identities – including acceptance and support of the rough-and-tumble reality of most little boys – seems lost in our society, which appears afraid of and completely clueless about the vital importance of such masculinity,” she said.
“Thank goodness for the back waters of Louisiana where the real men, the real strong men of Duck Dynasty, can flourish, and remind the rest of us that these men can be themselves without the world coming to an end. Indeed, in my opinion, such men, an endangered species if ever there was one, are the very ones we'll need to save the world."
Dr. David Govener, aLicensed Marriage and Family Therapist from Monroe, is originally from New York, but came south to earn his doctorate from Louisiana Tech. He works in his Monroe clinic with his wife, Dr. Molly Govener, also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
“I think of the things I've heard Phil say, and I feel that one of the main things that appeals to the public about Phil Robertson is that he does not bend his knee to the god of political- correctness,” Dr. Govener told the Times. “I believe that at some level people in our culture are afraid, and I think that seeing someone who is not afraid, gives them hope.”
“If there is someone who represents the wild man, who will not conform, then there is hope. I think that's what the beards are about,” he said. “I think the reason that Phil is not afraid … is because he is convinced that he has another God.”
“It is authenticity, in a fragmented, politically- correct world; when there is pressure to conform in the name of diversity,” Govenor said.
“When they bend their knee to the god of political correctness, they stop thinking. Medication is increasing all over the country and this is because it's politically incorrect to tell anyone anything,” he said.
“One of the reasons Phil is able to live authentically, in what he believes, without fear, is because this culture doesn't have anything he wants. They can't take his money because he doesn't care about money,” said Govener.
“There is very real punishment for dissent in the present culture. I think the tremendous popularity for Duck Dynasty is a statement that there are more people that long for the ability to stand up for their conservative beliefs without fear….”
“Something else that gives me hope is the popularity of The Bible, on the History channel, a sister television network. This also had record- breaking numbers. There's a lot of Americans that maybe aren't completely aware of what's going on and why, but they know that this makes them feel better.”
Dr. Mkay Bonner said, “I think the overall impression I got when it was over was rather uplifting. Your heart could feel lighter, as compared to the negativity, stress, tension, and darkness from so many other shows. This is not very psychologically scholarly –– but when the show is over, you can feel better not worse, which is worth gold in today's world. “
Whatever the reasons for the popularity, "The show has certainly put West Monroe and Northeast Louisiana on the map, that's for sure,” said Dr. David Thomason.
His West Coast friends call and the first thing they want to know is: “Hey, what’s happening with Duck Dynasty?”
Left: Patriarch and riverbank philosopher, Phil Robertson, one of the stars of the hit reality series, A&E’s Duck Dynasty. Phil sums up life in one-liners such as, “If you are too busy to go hunting and fishing, you’re too busy.” The show broke all the records for its fourth season premier last month. Family dinner at the Robertsons of Duck Dynasty. (A&E/photo by Zach Dilgard) The Duckmen from West Monroe’s Robertson family and hit series Duck Dynasty. L to R: Phil, Jase, Si, and Willie. (A&E/photo by Jim Fiscus)
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