Eldest sister Fiona Gallagher takes care of her five younger siblings Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam in place of her drunk father Frank, and absent addict and bipolar mother Monica. In the south side of Chicago, the Gallagher's tackle a new obstacle every episode.
Lip started his own business of taking teenager's SAT tests for them. He would take the test and earn them a high score that could then allow them to attend college with a scholarship. What Lip was doing was obviously illegal on many accounts, which is why there is a strict procedure of providing some form of photo identification for the SAT and ACT now. Lip had to jump through legal hoops in order to make money for his family. Lip's cheating also puts into perspective how little opportunities people have due to the issue of money. The SAT and ACT tests are all about figuring out the test, not being a genius. It takes practice to do well on those tests. However that practice costs money, as do tutors, and prep classes, which is a socioeconomic disadvantage to those who cannot afford such luxuries. This is just one example of how the Gallagher's come up with seemingly dangerous and comical ideas in order to make money highlights the issue of poverty and toxic capitalism. I believe Shameless does an adequate job of using parody in order to bring attention to the growing class gap and by doing so are attempting to change our society through awareness.
I think that you are on to something here. What you say about how "SAT and ACT tests are all about figuring out the test, not being a genius" and "that practice costs money, as do tutors, and prep classes, which is a socioeconomic disadvantage to those who cannot afford such luxuries". Those who cannot afford those luxuries will continue to stay behind and those who cannot afford those luxuries are also minorities, who will continue to be behind.
ReplyDeleteI think you are totally correct in showing how Lip's (and other character's) resourcefulness to "work outside the boundaries" is an accurate depiction of how unequal the playing field is due to socioeconomic status. It's also a little sadly ironic that Lip takes the tests for other kids to get them college scholarships, but the Gallagher kids have to be so focused on just trying to make end's meet every month that they don't get to keep things like college on the brain that frequently.
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