Comparing and Contrasting Hillbilly Elegy and If You're Scared of Competition

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Compare and Contrast
In The chattering classes got the ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ book wrong – and they’re getting the movie wrong, too, Lisa R. Pruitt criticizes the way professional critics have misunderstood the film Hillbilly Elegy, indicating that reviewers endeavor to “create meaning for the rest of us” (Pruitt). In particular, Pruitt demonstrates that a majority of the film's critics have misunderstood Vance's message, and have instead used the memoir to reinforce their biases on working-class Americans. In the article, If You're Scared of Competition, the World Will Eat You Alive, Jason Pargin demonstrates that competition is at the core of every society, and America is not an exception. Pargin feels that the fear of competition has made people complacent and hence holding society from progressing. Even when one wants to make the world a better place, Pargin demonstrates that one must compete since “there's no way around it.” An examination of the similarities and differences between the two articles is critical in exploring their themes.
Pruitt and Pargin explore the different phenomena in society. On the one hand, Pruitt’s article utilizes a narrow perspective by focusing on the reception of Vance’s memoir and its subsequent film adaptation. Pruitt seeks to demonstrate that the book and the film do not represent a majority of the people in Appalachia, rather they should be taken within the context of Vance’s experiences and family. Additionally, Pruitt has a problem with the way the film adaptation has been marketed. She believes that while the memoir touches on critical issues like family violence and addicted parents, the media has used the book to “advance an agenda antagonistic to the social safety net” (Pruitt). On the contrary, Pargin approaches the issue of competition from a broader perspective. He demonstrates how competition is part of human endeavors. Unlike Pruitt who focuses...