American TV Entertainment Building Stereotypes

Noku · 06-05-2006, 11:47 AM

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~~ · 06-05-2006, 11:48 AM

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

PerpetualBurn · 06-05-2006, 11:54 AM

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 · 06-05-2006, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 06-05-2006, 12:02 PM

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 · 06-05-2006, 12:03 PM

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 "d0cumentaries" on the porn industry for details) anyway.

PerpetualBurn · 06-05-2006, 12:06 PM

Why the hell does "d0cumentaries" come out with a 0 when I've tried editing the post several times?

Jharaski · 06-05-2006, 12:07 PM

d0cument is a word used in malicious script.

DBoons Ghost · 06-05-2006, 12:09 PM

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 · 06-05-2006, 12:15 PM

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

Jharaski · 06-05-2006, 12:17 PM

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 · 06-05-2006, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PerpetualBurn

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 · 06-05-2006, 12:52 PM

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.

Quote:

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

huh

Noku · 06-05-2006, 01:09 PM

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 · 06-05-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

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?

Quote:

Why people take relationship models from TV-dramas?

Who the hell does that?

Quote:

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.

Quote:

s it reality that everyone cheats their partner?

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

Quote:

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 · 06-05-2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

In my opinnion some people are morons and tend to do their judgement based on illogical "facts".

they don't count.

-1up!- · 06-05-2006, 03:19 PM

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 · 06-05-2006, 04:00 PM

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

DBoons Ghost · 06-05-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -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...

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!- · 06-06-2006, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBoon's Ghost

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?

06-05-2006, 11:47 AM	#1
Noku Born To Be RockStar Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,918	American TV Entertainment Building Stereotypes 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.

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06-05-2006, 11:48 AM	#2
~~coheneran~~ Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the company of the aggrieved Posts: 8,868	You make awesome threads dude. I'll post properly in here later tonight.

06-05-2006, 11:54 AM	#3
PerpetualBurn Like a greasy chip butty Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Highway 61 (again) Posts: 9,447	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.

06-05-2006, 12:02 PM	#5
Jharaski No more lobster Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hillsborough NJ Posts: 3,447	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.

06-05-2006, 12:03 PM	#6
PerpetualBurn Like a greasy chip butty Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Highway 61 (again) Posts: 9,447	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 "d0cumentaries" on the porn industry for details) anyway.

06-05-2006, 12:06 PM	#7
PerpetualBurn Like a greasy chip butty Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Highway 61 (again) Posts: 9,447	Why the hell does "d0cumentaries" come out with a 0 when I've tried editing the post several times?

06-05-2006, 12:07 PM	#8
Jharaski No more lobster Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hillsborough NJ Posts: 3,447	d0cument is a word used in malicious script.

06-05-2006, 12:09 PM	#9
DBoons Ghost Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 19,259	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.

06-05-2006, 12:15 PM	#10
PerpetualBurn Like a greasy chip butty Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Highway 61 (again) Posts: 9,447	I think it's meant to be bashing the way TV represents Americans to foreign nations.

06-05-2006, 12:17 PM	#11
Jharaski No more lobster Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hillsborough NJ Posts: 3,447	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.

06-05-2006, 01:09 PM	#14
Noku Born To Be RockStar Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,918	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.

06-05-2006, 03:19 PM	#17
-1up!- Postmodern unwillingly Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 2,152	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...

06-05-2006, 04:00 PM	#18
PerpetualBurn Like a greasy chip butty Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Highway 61 (again) Posts: 9,447	Does the media shape social trends, or considering that it is written, directed and produced by people, does society shape the media?