Did Dylan Draw Dicks?

American Vandal is a satirical series about a case of vandalism at Hanover High School in California. In the first episode, “Vandalism and Vulgarity,” we find the main character, Dylan Maxwell, accused of painting dicks on the high school staff’s cars. However, Dylan and his friends claim that he was nowhere near the scene at the time of the incident. The school board investigated and decided to expel Dylan on the accounts of his class behavior and an apparent witness. Peter Maldonado works to find evidence of Dylan’s innocence.


“Vandalism and Vulgarity” utilizes an unsteady camera for the majority of the episode. Outside of the television reports of the vandalism, it appears as though someone is simply holding a camera. This homemade feeling makes the series more personal. It feels as if we are watching a serious interview made by a real student.


This episode opens with an interview. With a defeated look on his face, Dylan answers questions about the vandalism. The tone of his voice reveals his dejected spirit and annoyance towards the school. In the scattered pieces of this interview, he remains calm, but is clearly feeling hopeless. Jimmy Tatro, the actor that portrays Dylan, does an amazing job of convincing the viewer that he was truthfully by a classmate.


Because it is a satire, American Vandal adds subtle yet clever humor to break the otherwise serious vibe. For example, when the character Alex Trimboli recalls what he had apparently seen, the repeated phrase “*spray-paint noise* Dick,” just crosses the line into the territory of a humorous gag. The line itself could feasibly be said by a high school student being interviewed as a witness to a crime, but the duration lets the viewer know it is meant to be laughed at.


As well as drawn-out jokes, this mockumentary reveals its true intentions by exploiting a few stereotypes. First, we see they typical prankster of every high school: Dylan. He clowns around in and out of class and is a little too dense to consider the consequences of his actions. The other students interviewed for the character and narrator Peter’s investigation also fall into a stereotype. Most people think of teens as only interested in gossip and their image. All of Hanover High’s students fit this mold. Every interview shown shows an outwardly confident kid that is more than willing to spill the tea over the latest big event. These character tropes add an element of humor to the show to help poke fun at true crime documentaries.

Overall, “Vandalism and Vulgarity,” from American Vandal, does an excellent job of creating a satirical crime documentary.





Works Cited

“Vandalism and Vulgarity.” American Vandal, created by Dan Perrault, and Tony Yacenda, season 1, episode 1, Netflix, 15 Sept. 2017.