The Jerk

The many definitions of Jerk:

(verb) to pull or yank

(verb) to jolt or lurch

(verb) to masturbate

(noun) an inconsiderate asshole

(noun) a spicy sauce from Jamaica

(noun) a classic Steve Martin movie from the 80’s

(noun) a recent dance craze

            While various interpretations of jerk are all interesting, I want to focus on the last definition. The Jerk dance has taken over Chuuk. Its skipping steps and squeaky music have infiltrated all levels of Chuukese society. The tweet of jerking music and hopping youngsters is omnipresent throughout my island.

            The Jerk started a few years ago in the affluent suburbs of Los Angeles. White middle class teenagers combined hip-hop music with skater culture. The fusion of these opposing forces melded into a popular fad. A catchy song about “Jerking It” helped the trend spread at a dizzying rate. Pretty soon, dozens of Jerk songs popped up and certain moves were being categorized and named. Dance moves were nicknamed things like “the spongebob” and “the pretzel”.

            A couple of years ago when I was working at an elementary school in Irvine, the Jerk was just beginning to gain momentum. I remember the first time that I heard of the Jerk. One of my 5^th grade students came up to me at lunch and asked, “hey Mr. Hunter, do you like to jerk it?” I was taken aback by this question and didn’t know how to answer. I assumed his pubescent urges were beginning to rise and he wanted some friendly support about his newfound habit. I gave him a funny look and stammered a long and quavering, “Nooo, I don’t know what you are talking about”

            After a few months, the presence of the Jerk was everywhere and its meaning was no longer in doubt. My students had Jerk dance competitions and were constantly kicking their heels and flopping around with the distinctive jerky motions. I just thought it was a quirky southern California fad and would soon fade into obscurity along with the Macarena, pogs and yo-yo’s.

            You can imagine my surprise when the sounds of “jerk it, jerk it, jerk it” reached my ears in the far off islands of Micronesia. The locals chuukified the songs by adding a few Chuukese phrases and speeding up the playrate to Chipmunk decibels. Pretty soon, the Jerk was everywhere. Every single person knew about the Jerk. My baby sister and 80 year old grandma can both be heard chanting “jerkini” at any hours of the day. The kids jerk their way to school and jerk while doing their chores. 

            I enjoy the funny steps of the dance and the fact that it originated near my hometown, but I am eagerly looking forward to its demise. It will probably linger for a few more months and hopefully fade out by the next year. Its popularity has probably already gone away in America (but Im not sure, cuz I don’t live there). The spread of the Jerk is a testament to the vast network of global media that touches even the most remote areas on our planet.