As it is, I guess I find "Jack & Diane" a little disgusting.As a child of immigrant professionals, I can't help but notice the wasteful frivolity of it all. Why are these kids not home doing their homework? Why aren't they setting the table for dinner or helping out around the house? Who allows their kids to hang out in parking lots? Isn't that loitering?
Mindy Kaling expresses her discomfort with the song "Jack & Diane," labeling it as somewhat distasteful. She reflects on her upbringing as a child of immigrant professionals, who valued hard work and responsibility. Kaling questions the carefree lifestyle depicted in the song, critiquing the idea that young people spend their time in such frivolous ways instead of engaging in productive activities like studying or helping at home.
Her observations highlight a cultural contrast where she feels that young people should be more responsible and involved in family life rather than idling away in parking lots. This perspective reveals Kaling's belief in the importance of work ethic and familial duties, which she perceives as lacking in the carefree narrative presented in popular culture.
