Tuesday, February 16, 2010
"Bitch, what do you mean you weren't born a girl?!"
Have you ever wondered what it'd be like to have your personal information broadcast to the world? Wouldn't you feel embarrased to act out on public televsion? Why not be civilized and talk in the privacy of your own home. The media industry thrives on any opportunity to put someone's character flaws and inadequaces out on the line. A popular television show: "Jerry Springer" showcases people who are having problems and want Jerry's advice. The audience will even step in and give them their thoughts towards the issue at hand. The problem with this show is that it's violent, and offensive to viewers. A typical stereotype towards this show is that you have no modesty or class by letting your rididculous actions be publicized. These people are stereotyped as poor, slutty, and redneck. It's sometimes hard to imagine that certain people like this really co-exist with us in the world. The interesting part is that middle class people act out as well, but in a different manner. When working-class, and lower class people act this way especially on television, that's just the way that they are. Stereotyping is a common act people do without really even realizing the effects of their judgements. They can be spread around from person to person and people will automatically make a generalization about you. I found a clip from the Jerry Springer show that I thought was quite interesting as it has to deal with stereotypes of transexual people. In this episode a transexual is coming clean with his/her boyfriend that she was born a man, but still wants to be with him. Though it does not go as he/she planned, she takes people by surprise. The media will stop at nothing until they are satisfied with distorting their views of people and entertaining their viewers. I've watched the show before, and I've always thought it was funny, because it's so ridiculous. Most of the viewers agree with me on that, but the sad part is there are people like this out there and do not feel embarrased to act out in public, or cheat on significant others, or even have sex with their cousin. What is this world coming to?
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I totally agree with what Juli says about how people don't care about what they say and do on national television because I see this happen all the time in today's world even if their not being televised. Seriously, what is the real truth behind people betraying their loved ones and having secrets that will destroy them. I mean after watching the video above its crazy how peopple have to act all hard and bad just because they are on T.V. and want attention from viewers. I think that something should be done where the media should not be allowed to televise people's business and the life that their living because viewers think that it's funny and since he and she are doing it on T.V. then it's okay.
ReplyDeleteJuli, you make great points. Shows like Jerry Springer use the repeated images of classless, aggressive, and ignorant people to cultivate our perception of people who belong to the lower class. It is important that we recognize these are exceptional situations and that lower class members should not all be stereo-typed accordingly.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that it doesn't help when people are so eager to be on T.V. that they will go to any extent in the process. People will do or say anything for the chance to have their spot in the media's eyes. It goes along with the saying "all press is good press."
It's interesting to see how popular these shows are among our society. What do you think it says about people that they get amusement out of watching the antics of people that
go on during shows like Jerry Springer? Maybe we find comfort in the idea that people's lives are much more messed up than our own. Nevertheless, the repeated exposure to these images is leading to further stereo-typing of the lower class.