Everybody knows the Sutterman. He's got a reputation as a party animal and he loves it. Funny thing, though: the wilder he gets, the more negative the attention is. Turns out, getting blackout drunk every weekend might not be the best way to win friends. Not that Sutter cares. He knows he's got a reputation, but he doesn't realize just how notorious he is. Here's the thing: we might think we shouldn't care what other people think about us. But in The Spectacular Now, other people might be our best defense against ourselves.
Questions About Respect and Reputation
- Why doesn't Sutter realize people think he's a joke? Would he even care if he did?
- Why doesn't Sutter care much when Aimee starts getting teased?
- What sort of reputation does Sutter want to have?
- In The Spectacular Now, is it good or bad—or neither—to care what other people think about you?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Sutter is willing to put up with a bad reputation to be the life of the party.
One reason Aimee and Sutter get along so well is that neither cares about being teased.