Plebian Paparazzi

Entertainment television shapes society's perception of what is "desirable". It is necessary to teach our students to crtically interpret the underlying economic and ideological messages. Particularly, the vision of the "lush life" seems to be captivating viewers at large. Television producers and advertisement agencies are well aware of the positive correlation between viewing, ratings and commercial expenditure. 

Our class discussion on January 19th was particularly amusing. There we were,  one hundred educated individuals in our twenties, discussing the latest occurences on the most popular television shows: Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, OC, 90210... the list was endless. It was quite clear to us that television is directly linked to capitalism and politics. 

So what is with this fascination all about? People gain pleasure by observing the elite rule their world. While there are many miserable characters, which would support the belief that money does not bring happiness, there are also many positive fascinations. Today there seems to be a desire to live out a celebrity lifestyle. People want to be the center of the universe. People want to look their finest. People want to be tracked and followed. (In a sense, Facebook is the plebian's paparrazi). People want to posses the latest technology. People want to be consumed by personal relationships. 

Aren't producers brilliant! These shows are largely geared to pre-teens and teenagers. At this stage, young girls have disposable income. Part time jobs are often used to save up for the prom dress and new shoes. Young girls really are absorbed by personal relationships; Females need to feel accepted in a peer group and to appear desirable to their male counterparts. 

It will be necessary to dissect media messages with our students. Lanky actors and the fascination with superfluous goods need be scrutinized. As a teacher, it is our goal to have each student develop a positive self-concept. Understanding that television images are constructed and fabricated is essential. 

One last note: 

Depending on the political climate, the messages being disseminated on television vary. For instance, portrayal of the family structure and ethnicity has become more diverse. As teachers, we must stay informed as to what shows are being watched by our students. At this juncture, our age gap is small enough to easily be up to date. In future years, it will be necessary to ask our students key questions: "How often do you watch tv?", "What do you like to watch?", "Why do you like the show so much?". We will then need to do our own homework. It will be necessary to observe and analyze the pieces for hidden messages. Clips could then be presented to the class to discuss and analyze. The teacher should guide this process to help students develop acute media literacy.