Some of my non-Texan friends chide me that the phrase “Texas culture” is an oxymoron. However, Texas actually is a place rich in many distinctly interesting cultures, and the following are a few noteworthy books and movies that explore those cultures.
Texas author Larry McMurtry has brilliantly explored the diversity of Texas culture in many of his novels. His Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Lonesome Dove” and the extraordinary television mini-series based on the book (with Robert Duvall and Tommie Lee Jones in th lead roles) captures many of the frontier aspects of Texas culture. Similarly, Mr. McMurtry’s “Last Picture Show,” — which Peter Bogdanovich made into a fine movie — is an exceptional depiction of West Texas culture, just as his alternately hilarious and heart-wrenching “Terms of Endearment” (also made into a wonderful movie starring Shirley McLaine, Debra Winger and Jack Nicholson) is an insightful view into the upper crust of Houston culture.
One of my favorite movies about Texas is John Sayles‘ movie “Lone Star,” which is a fine murder mystery set in the complicated culture of Texas’ Rio Grande Valley near Texas’ border with Mexico. As the characters in this movie remind us on several occasions, “This isn’t Houston, ya know.”
But one of the most popular books about Texas culture is H.G. Bissinger‘s “Friday Night Lights,” the definitive book on the fascinating culture of Texas high school football. In this fine book, Mr. Bissinger examines the spirit of one of Texas high school football’s most successful programs: the Odessa Permian Panthers. Set in a city in decline in the West Texas desert, Mr. Bissinger explores the town, the school, the coaches, the team, its players, and how — for better and for worse — the team becomes the town’s identity. The picture is not always pretty, but the image is impossible to forget.
“Friday Night Lights” is now about to become a movie. This Chronicle article describes the current Houston-area filming of the new movie, which stars Billy Bob Thorton. Here’s hoping that this movie can live up to the standard of the above-described movies in portraying yet another fascinating aspect of Texas culture.
Houston's Clear Thinkers
Longtime Houston attorney Tom Kirkendall's observations on developments in law, business, medicine, culture, sports, and other matters of general interest to the Houston business, professional, and academic communities.
There’s a lot more. Miguel Arteta’s The Good Girl is a terrific film, set in Texas. Wes Anderson, my favorite director, is from Houston and filmed Rushmore at St. John’s. Mike Judge, whose comedy is among the most original and most clever (evidence King of the Hill and Office Space), is all about Texas.
I can’t speak to books, since I don’t read much fiction, but the film industry in Texas is pretty great. The museums in Houston are first rate, IMO, and the Ballet, Symphony, and Opera are all sufficient, at the very least.
TP, nice additions, particularly “Office Space,” which is hilarious (the next door neighbor to the main character of the movie is a quintessentially Texan character). Also, while the Houston Symphony is down a bit, Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera are absolutely first rate. Finally, I have never taken anyone to Rothko Chapel who has not been impressed (or at least quite affected) by it. Tom K.