I didn't get the series High Maintenance at first. I saw three episodes and then stopped. But after a recommendation I gave it another shot, and now it's one of my favorite series of all time.
Just everyday people living their everyday strange, lovely, intriguing, boring, wacky lives in NYC, and a really chill, compassionate guy touching in on their lives from time to time – mostly by bike.
Just watched S03E09, and it was so beautiful! Finding some calm and joy in the middle of tragedy, trough a simple bike ride in the city.
You've never seen biking portrayed like this in media before. Normally bikes on the screen are just a way to show that someone is poor, or it's for college kids or children – if they're there at all. Media has a huge influence on our perception of things, so this is damaging. We need more real portrayals like this! #BikesInCulture #BikeTooter
@forteller True, they were college kids, but the two main characters in Sex Education were frequently shown commuting to school by bike. I liked the way their bikes (whilst eye catching enough to be notable and fit in with the retro/anachronistic design feel of that televisual world) were just modes of transport: no aspersions were cast and we weren't directed to draw conclusions about Otis and Eric based on their use of bikes
#BikesInCulture
@MrPDaniel Yes, I agree! That was really nice! And also a great series in itself. I see a pattern here… :D
But the fact that only the kids ride bikes here, because it is in a context of a media landscape where bicycles are almost exclusively for kids, that is… well, not problematic, but not exactly fantastic either. Couldn't one of the parents portrayed also bike? It seems like biking is ok if you're a kid, but when you grow up…
@forteller
This is all true, and interesting. It has also sharpened my awareness to the cultural depiction of cycling, so thank you for that. Although I expect I will be frustrated by what I encounter, especially in this country's media...