American TV Entertainment Building Stereotypes

[Noku]

Unfortunately the false images that media is building doesn't limit to the spin of news. National stereotypes aren't solely build by how the country is represented in news, but how the country is represented in whole media. This would be ok, if the media would be run by values of the nation instead of market powers.

US is the biggest exporter of TV entertainment and people in Europe are pretty aware of the origin of certain shows. However this is pretty bad because of the "idiot magnet" trend of TV entertainment. Many formats (relaity-TV, "experts advicing ordinary people", task competitions etc.) are based on laughing at the idiots.



Of course all the formats will get native copies but the american ones tend to be "better" in terms of idiocity. I was watching TV on last saturday evening... First there was this show where little kid was beating her mother... then the "expert" told the mother to "stop the violent behavior of your child" (how genius!") and then everyone was happy and the "expert" was satisfied with her achievements. How stupid or retarded can people be? That was of course the first thought... the second thought of "how much are people willing to do for TV stunts" doesn't even occur to very many people. The safe way to go around is "Only in america", which is a shame.

After that I watched the new Survivor. First they are paddling to this island, then some English Teacher stood up and started singing some of her own "Survivor theme song"... I felt sympathy for her students. Then Jeff comes around and tells that competition has already started and the first ones on the beach will get rewarded. What happens next? Some morons jump of the boat because they think they can swim faster than people on the boat can paddle... The whole show just proved they had found good band of idiots to the island.



What do you think of this phenomenon? Should exported TV entertainment become more responsible because of the responsibility of building national stereotypes? American stereotype as idiotic, violent, admirers of artifical glamour (for example in role of President, a guy talking with fancy word without saying anything intelligent) and too idealistic nation is pretty much product of TV entertainment. I am not sure if it is the correct image of americans, though.

[coheneran]

You make awesome threads dude. I'll post properly in here later tonight.

[PerpetualBurn]

I'm amazed that Survivor is classed as "entertainment" and I think it's insulting that you think this will be a basis for my opinion of Americans.

[DBoons Ghost]

I'm amazed that Survivor is classed as "entertainment" and I think it's insulting that you think this will be a basis for my opinion of Americans.


I agree.

Let's face it. If we judged the world on the level of entertainment shown on TV, every country has their share of desperate idiots who will do anything to get on TV.

[Jharaski]

I'm not going to suggest anything, but I'll give my bit. People can take what I say and do what they want with it...

Other than anything that shows beautiful, airbrushed, skinny, tall, tan women as the norm, reality TV is the worst. There was this one done on the Amish. They took these supposedly Amish teens into New York to see what would happen. They acted like, well, idiots. It was so obvious that these people were either never Amish, or had left their communities ages ago.

It gave a terrible, false impression on who the Amish are. One young bimbo looked at a parking meter and said "ooh what be this?" First of all, they are not stupid, and not all are ignorant about what a parking meter is! I never watched it though, so I don't know what other dumb crap they do.

And Fear Factor! Now that's something. Since when is fear eating buffalo balls? Or sheep eyes? Show that to some cultures, and they'll laugh you silly, because all of these "gross" things are delicacies to them. And is fear really walking across some footwide scaffold swaying in the wind 200 feet in the air? Not really. It's scary, sure, but come on. Fear is not knowing if you family was brutally murdered while you were out for a hunt. Fear is not knowing when you can eat again. Fear is wondering if the next shot that the Nazi fires will be into YOUR head. Fear Factor? Wimps.

Nanny 911? Fake! Doesn't it seem too perfect that the camera man captured the kid JUST as he spat over the banister? And didn't say hey kid, knock it off? It's all scripted. Well, somewhat. The kids are probably left to their own creativity, but are told when to act right, and the parents are told when to flip. etc etc.

TV like this is making the public stupid, but it makes money.

[PerpetualBurn]

If I were American I'd be more concerned with how Bush's public speaking is ridiculed by our media than how Survivor looks. It's not like we have the highest caliber entertainment in Britain (see Channel 5's seemingly endless "documentaries" on the porn industry for details) anyway.

[PerpetualBurn]

Why the hell does "documentaries" come out with a 0 when I've tried editing the post several times?

[Jharaski]

Document is a word used in malicious script.

[DBoons Ghost]

Reality TV is horrid. All the already mentioned shows. Horrid. Reality TV is an abomination.

Sitcoms were horrid too..

Soap Operas were worse, giving everyone the desire for drama, and Hollywood romance which in reality doesn't exist..

Though, reality TV shows like the old school Candid Camera were great, and remain classic unscripted televion. It was funny and fresh and while sometimes embarrassing for the person they prank on, it was funny. Now, the BBC made good old fashioned reality TV shows too, as did Swedish TV, and those led the way for MTV's Real World and other spinoffs. To blame America soley for Reality TV is ignorant and reckless.

If you're gonna make a thread blasting the genre, please do some research and try to consider all angles.

Bush is a public embarrassment, but truth be told, the man has speech writers, and clearly he's surrounded himself with morons. Considering he himself is a moron, it's no stretch of the imagination he'd hire nothing but morons.

What is the point of this discussion though? Are we bashing TV overall? Are we trying yet again to find one more thing wrong with America? Or are you guys gonna bash Bush some more.

It's getting old and busted.

[PerpetualBurn]

I think it's meant to be bashing the way TV represents Americans to foreign nations.

[Jharaski]

Well Candid Camera was great. But so was Seinfeld! Sitcoms aren't meant to be taken seriously. Soap operas are. Reality TV is. That's the difference between them. Sit's are just a way to relax and watch people be buffoons.

[DBoons Ghost]

I think it's meant to be bashing the way TV represents Americans to foreign nations.


Who cares?

If we base everything in our society here and abroad off everything we see on TV, well... Think about that for a minute.

How pathetic is that?

If American TV builds stereotypes, which it might, are people taking the value of entertainment a little too serious? Because I can name a hundred stereotypes other countries would have us believe they are due to advertising and many other campaigns.

[Reaganista]

reality TV is awesome

not in execution as often as in theory, but there have been some absolute gems.

foreigners who watch american shows designed to ridicule the people on them and then think 'oh all americans must behave like these people' fail logical reasoning and therefore don't count.

for example in role of President, a guy talking with fancy word without saying anything intelligent
huh

[Noku]

In my opinnion some people are morons and tend to do their judgement based on illogical "facts". Actually that is the reason I wrote this thread in first place... Some people give medias presentation of people too much credibility.

Everyone knows that problem, but still nothing is done to make the media more "moron safe".

And as Jesus said something about throwing stones... which one of you believes your opinnions aren't affected by media? Which one of you hasn't been victim of false assumption made about people because of media spin?

Let's face it, media shapes our social behavior. It even creates or at least maintains some of the gender roles. These hints suggesting expected behavior are very invisible and working through sub-conciousness or outside pressure. When talking about nations success in sports, why is it usually the success of MENs in sport. Why people take relationship models from TV-dramas? Is it reality that opposite sex friendship will never be free of expectation of relationship? Is it reality that everyone cheats their partner? Is it reality that families have naive and understanding parrents? Is it reality that people tell each other constantly how much they love you?

Most of modern social behavior starts as imitation of the models seen in media. Models presented by peers or parrents usually lack of credibility because they aren't as fancy as the media ones.

[PerpetualBurn]

When talking about nations success in sports, why is it usually the success of MENs in sport.

Because men out perform women in 99% of sports. Are you just looking for reasons to moan?

Why people take relationship models from TV-dramas?

Who the hell does that?

Is it reality that opposite sex friendship will never be free of expectation of relationship?

If a straight man and woman have a good relationship and neither is otherwise involved, it makes sense that they would get together.

s it reality that everyone cheats their partner?

No, and I don't why you'd think that.

Is it reality that people tell each other constantly how much they love you?

Some people have healthy and loving relationships. Not you, apparently.

[Reaganista]

In my opinnion some people are morons and tend to do their judgement based on illogical "facts".
they don't count.

[-1up!-]

Noku is right though, is pointing out that the media shape a form of social subconscious, it defines some social ideals and models. While it's not as tangible as he says, it still exists and can't be refuted.

Of course most of us here, from the simple fact that we post in a PNWI forum, have a certain level of intelligence/rationality which helps us take a distance from the influence of media (as seen with the distrust and cynicism towards broadcasting corporations) but populations in general can be gullible enough...

[PerpetualBurn]

Does the media shape social trends, or considering that it is written, directed and produced by people, does society shape the media?

[DBoons Ghost]

Noku is right though, is pointing out that the media shape a form of social subconscious, it defines some social ideals and models. While it's not as tangible as he says, it still exists and can't be refuted.

Of course most of us here, from the simple fact that we post in a PNWI forum, have a certain level of intelligence/rationality which helps us take a distance from the influence of media (as seen with the distrust and cynicism towards broadcasting corporations) but populations in general can be gullible enough...

No.. that's absolute rubbish. The media being what.. news agencies? Or general broadcasting? What idiot lives off a TV show and allows that to dictate the way he lives or thinks?

Is everyone outside this country that desperate to believe Americans drones?

I don't see it. It can be refuted because no one "lives" their lives based on TV shows. Provide one example of such.

[-1up!-]

No.. that's absolute rubbish. The media being what.. news agencies? Or general broadcasting? What idiot lives off a TV show and allows that to dictate the way he lives or thinks?

Is everyone outside this country that desperate to believe Americans drones?

I don't see it. It can be refuted because no one "lives" their lives based on TV shows. Provide one example of such.

Your understanding of what I said is absolute rubbish, rather. The media, meaning the media: news agencies, broadcasting, any form of mainstream entertainment. I do not think the media shapes anyone's way of life. In short I said it creates stereotypes. It has influence on superficial social ideals such as: it is preferable for women to be thin, it's "okay" for them to be extremely careful about their appearance, which leads to social disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. That's an example. The media's influence help consolidate certains norms. Christ, has anyone ever done sociology in school?

[DBoons Ghost]

Your understanding of what I said is absolute rubbish, rather. The media, meaning the media: news agencies, broadcasting, any form of mainstream entertainment. I do not think the media shapes anyone's way of life. In short I said it creates stereotypes. It has influence on superficial social ideals such as: it is preferable for women to be thin, it's "okay" for them to be extremely careful about their appearance, which leads to social disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. That's an example. The media's influence help consolidate certains norms. Christ, has anyone ever done sociology in school?


I wasn't formally educated, so.. No. I have never done any sociology in school. I volunteered for many programs when I was a younger man, and between the Homeless Coalition of NYC, and the Youth Outreach programs, coupled with Big Brother and organizations like that, the education I recieved on matters of "sociology" might have been a bit too real considering.

I don't believe the education I provided myself, or the wisdom I have gained throughout the years was truly any different than what a formal university could have provided me. I dropped out of high school when I was 16 quite frankly.

[davser]

Does the media shape social trends, or considering that it is written, directed and produced by people, does society shape the media?

That deserves it's own thread.

[PerpetualBurn]

Lord knows I'm too lazy to make it.

[coheneran]

Well, I'm sure if you had the whole of the viewing public co-write a script for a film/series, it would end up being pretty true of what society thinks of itself. But in the case of TV as it is right now, the people who write the scripts are individuals and so the image we get is how individuals see society, or, more often, how those individuals see ways to make money out of society's easily manipulated emotions.

[PerpetualBurn]

But the programmes are only made to reflect the interests of the people. If the people were interested in ugly, obese people then they would be on TV instead.

[coheneran]

But the programmes are only made to reflect the interests of the people. If the people were interested in ugly, obese people then they would be on TV instead.

But we are talking about setting bad stereotypes, not about giving the people what their base instincts tell them is ****able. But the stereotype setting isn't just caused by the TV/Film industry, it also comes from popular music and from teeny-bop and fashion magazines, as well as advertising which is in all the causes I mentioned and in other places.

[ringworm]

Off topic, but what would guys rather see on TV?
If Sitcoms, Reality, etc are as horrid as mentioned earlier, what would you have replace it?

It's TV people. Nightly entertainment, thats all, designed to pull us in so advertisers pay big $$$ to sway our buying dollar.

If people are moronic enough to think the average Amercican is represented by the images on TV, so what?
Maybe it will keep a few people from moving or visiting here.

[A Spoonful Supreme]

This is why I never watch TV. TV entertainment should become more responsible for the sake of our own country as well. Such stupid tv and stereotypes really dumbs down a nation, but maybe the govt. would prefer that. If tv material is reflected to tv from the nation's "consensus" on what we want, then we need a radical reconstruction.

[Reaganista]

I don't why people keep saying it dumbs down the nation.

a lot of reality TV is brilliant

compare an episode of the Amazing race to Step by step and tell me which one was dumbing down the nation

[dustindow]

Why not just TV sitcoms. You can also go into the more impressionable "Music Television".

I agree most people don't take TV literaly. But there still is a large group do, to some extent. I mean most of americans watch a bit of TV. I mean usually at dinner you get something to eat and watch the tube. What about the catch phrases people mutter out from television or movies. You can't tell me you don't hear people in the halls or public mutter "giggidy" or some other line from a hit show. To say TV doesn't affect society is an ignorant statement. If that were true then why would the FCC throw a fit over certain words being said on national television?

Anyways my point is that TV has a great influence on our society. Theres traces of it everywhere. But not everyone takes what they see literally. It's just a shame that there is alot of idiotic shows that don't help the situation out.

[Hababi]

When talking about nations success in sports, why is it usually the success of MENs in sport.

Because women's sports are boring. Sorry, but the WNBA is painful to watch. Some of the women's Olympics sports are watchable, but for reasons that I'm rapidly growing too old for...

[A Spoonful Supreme]

I don't why people keep saying it dumbs down the nation.

a lot of reality TV is brilliant

compare an episode of the Amazing race to Step by step and tell me which one was dumbing down the nation

when we start having shows called "the biggest loser" thats going a little far. these "reality" shows arent really reality at all, their like fast food, it fills you up but does nothing for you

[A Spoonful Supreme]

Why not just TV sitcoms. You can also go into the more impressionable "Music Television".

I agree most people don't take TV literaly. But there still is a large group do, to some extent. I mean most of americans watch a bit of TV. I mean usually at dinner you get something to eat and watch the tube. What about the catch phrases people mutter out from television or movies. You can't tell me you don't hear people in the halls or public mutter "giggidy" or some other line from a hit show. To say TV doesn't affect society is an ignorant statement. If that were true then why would the FCC throw a fit over certain words being said on national television?

Anyways my point is that TV has a great influence on our society. Theres traces of it everywhere. But not everyone takes what they see literally. It's just a shame that there is alot of idiotic shows that don't help the situation out.

I think tv can have a significant affect on the impressionable, or even the non-impressionable when they dont know it. It just contributes to the shaping of our values.

opps 2x post

[coheneran]

Because women's sports are boring. Sorry, but the WNBA is painful to watch. Some of the women's Olympics sports are watchable, but for reasons that I'm rapidly growing too old for...

Do you read over what you type and consider the meaning before you hit Submit Reply? What you said up there is pretty sexist.

[ringworm]

^^So, it is the truth.
Womens tennis, vollyball & golf are maybe the only female sports that are watchable. Sorry
I dont think it should be perceived as sexist though, just not interesting.

[Reaganista]

when we start having shows called "the biggest loser" thats going a little far. these "reality" shows arent really reality at all, their like fast food, it fills you up but does nothing for you
The biggest loser is an awesome show. Would you rather people watch Dharma and Greg or something?

Do you read over what you type and consider the meaning before you hit Submit Reply? What you said up there is pretty sexist.
the wnba is boring.

I disagree with him, though, because women's tennis is totally better than men's tennis.

[Hababi]

What you said up there is pretty sexist.

It's also the truth. You obviously have never tried to make it through a WNBA snooze fest.

[Jharaski]

The biggest loser is an awesome show. Would you rather people watch Dharma and Greg or something?

Dharma and Greg is the shiz, yo.

And my neighbor was on The Biggest Loser. Well. 3 houses away or something like that. His daughter is the biggest bitch in the world.

[Reaganista]

dharma and greg was one of the stupidest things that's ever happened

[Jharaski]

dharma and greg was one of the stupidest things that's ever happened

It wasn't too bad. But I remember I laughed when Family Guy made fun of it. Dharma was on the couch and Greg was like Dharma come down! Oh you're such a free spirit! Then it showed it later, and he got on there with her, then the "audience" cheered and laughed and and and... okay it wasn't that funny now that I think about it.

[coheneran]

It's also the truth. You obviously have never tried to make it through a WNBA snooze fest.

I find watching most sports for longer than five minutes boring, and I would much rather be playing basketball than watching it. However, if I did enjoy watching it, I'm sure I'd have no problem getting into the spirit of the competition just because the competitors happen to have breasts omg! It's not THE truth, it's your perception of the game, which makes you sexist.

[Jharaski]

I find watching most sports for longer than five minutes boring, and I would much rather be playing basketball than watching it. However, if I did enjoy watching it, I'm sure I'd have no problem getting into the spirit of the competition just because the competitors happen to have breasts omg! It's not THE truth, it's your perception of the game, which makes you sexist.


No the WNBA really does suck. I can at least tolerate men's basketball, but women seem to have a problem with it. They suck. They can't shoot, pass, or anything. The girls from my high school basketball team could probably easily beat up any WNBA team.

[A Spoonful Supreme]

The biggest loser is an awesome show. Would you rather people watch Dharma and Greg or something?


I rather people watch seinfeld.

[coheneran]

No the WNBA really does suck. I can at least tolerate men's basketball, but women seem to have a problem with it. They suck. They can't shoot, pass, or anything. The girls from my high school basketball team could probably easily beat up any WNBA team.

Saying they are no good at basketball is not the same as saying "Some of the women's Olympics sports are watchable, but for reasons that I'm rapidly growing too old for..." Unless I've completely missed the meaning behind the sentence, it's pretty damn sexist. A tactful person would have said "I like watching women do sports because their breasts jiggle, giggidy giggidy goo!"

[Jharaski]

Saying they are no good at basketball is not the same as saying "Some of the women's Olympics sports are watchable, but for reasons that I'm rapidly growing too old for..." Unless I've completely missed the meaning behind the sentence, it's pretty damn sexist. A tactful person would have said "I like watching women do sports because their breasts jiggle, giggidy giggidy goo!"

It's a simple statement to say that they're no good at basketball. It's no more sexist than it is racist to say that black people are bad at having white skin.

[coheneran]

It's a simple statement to say that they're no good at basketball. It's no more sexist than it is racist to say that black people are bad at having white skin.

Michael Jackson would disagree:p.

Saying that the WNBA teams suck is not sexist, but saying that the only reason one watches WNBA is to see titties bouncing is extremely sexist.

[Reaganista]

I rather people watch seinfeld.
yeah because seinfeld wasn't stupid

[Hababi]

Saying that the WNBA teams suck is not sexist, but saying that the only reason one watches WNBA is to see titties bouncing is extremely sexist.


A lot of them are lesbians and that makes it even worse :p

I think a lot of women watch it just because it's women playing a men's sport. Ra ra ra woman power! and the such. Because on a skill level, it does plain suck.

[PerpetualBurn]

What in shitting crikey are you talking about, Coheneran?

In just about every measurable sport (I think there was a woman world record holder in skeet-shooting, but I don't know if that's still held) men out perform women. And before you get at me for generalisations, I'm talking about the professional circuits. The standard is higher.

Male athletes are stronger, faster, more agressive, better co-ordinated etc. It's not sexist to sat that the WNBA is boring if it is. I don't know, I don't follow basketball.

I do know just how bad women's football (soccer...) is. It's awful. It's slow, there's much less skill, there's less physical battles, the positional sense of the players is awful, etc. etc. I also think they use a lighter ball, which is plain stupid.

Equality is honesty - the top males outperform the top women. Equality is not trying to pretend that I didn't watch the women's FA Cup final because I fancied the blonde centre-half.