Critical Investigation: Task #6

To what extent and why are women within constructed reality TV shows such as ‘The only way is Essex’ represented in a negative way?

To a large extent woman within reality TV shows are seen as represented in a negative way as having no common sense and being sex objects. They are also seen as women who lack education & ambitions “as producers create a universe were women not only don't have real choices but don’t even want any.”[1]

Constructed reality TV shows are all known to represent women in this way portraying females today “including stereotypes that most people would have assumed got left behind 35 years ago.”[2]

The real question is the reasons why producers represent women from this genre in such way. Some would believe that “The rise of reality TV came at a time when networks were looking for a quick fix solution to economic problems within the cultural industries”[3] this allows us to argue that the representations of women are false representations that are highly exaggerated so that they could hide real issues such as economic problems. Whereas, Laura Mulvey argued that objectifying women in an image is for the pleasure of men while women are seen as icons.

A vast majority of the time constructed reality TV is seen as really popular genre which makes us rethink if women are actually even taking offence to the representations or even if they disagree with it. It makes us question “what do reality TV producers want us to believe about ourselves and about ‘our place’ in society.” [4]

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[1] Pozner, J. L. (2010). Reality bites back: the troubling truth about guilty pleasure TV. Berkeley, CA: Seal Press :.

[2] Ibid

[3] Hill, A. (2005). Reality TV: audiences and popular factual television. London: Routledge.

[4] Pozner, J. L. (2010). Reality bites back: the troubling truth about guilty pleasure TV. Berkeley, CA: Seal Press :.

critical investigation; task #5

 Essay Plan

Introduction

    Introduce essay question & what is constructed reality TV

       Include hypothesis:  Reality TV shows represent females in a negative aspect Females are constantly being shown as the typical dumb blonde with no education, most are seen as searching for 15 minutes of fame that try to build a career on reality shows.

    Give summary of  Only way is Essex

Paragraph 1:

        How  female character are represented in reality TV shows such as only way is Essex and also use notes and quotes from books 'Reality bites back' and also include  – “Women in reality TV are moulded into predetermined stock characters such as “The bitch”, “The weepers” and “The Angry black women” the strong, independent women are typically excluded.” pg.187    - the typical stereotypes of each character and what are to expect in reality TV shows.

“Reality tv attacks on women’s social, sexual, political power.” pg. 112, “Social beliefs ...women are conniving, deceitful and vicious and all men should be aware that they are money –grubbing gold diggers.” pg.142

  Also include stereotypical views

Portraying the female population as ditzy, inept workers, wife’s and mothers.  pg.142

“Men are unworthy of love if they are not rich.”pg.142

“Reality TV include stereotypes that most people would assume got left behind 35 years ago”

         Include the negative representations of only way is essex  -  link to the clips of tv show

include theories that link to these beliefs - Feminsim, hypodermic needle and representation theory.

 

Challenge or Reinforce stereotypes and how have the characters in only way is Essex done this (Mise-en-scene in clips) ( include peoples opinions on these representations from articles in notes.)

 “ITV2 show The Only Way is Essex could set us back 20 years.”

“Some Essex residents felt it was not a true representation of the area and the people that live there.”

Paragraph 2:

       Is this a fair representation of females (“They have created a universe were women not only have no real choices but don’t even want any.” pg.156)

         Include the side effects reality TV shows have on society ( especially young females)

“The influence of all media is systemic and affects how we think and feel in ways we don’t even recognise.”- Reality bites back

 include cultivational theory (George Gebner)

moral panic ( Stan Cohen)

 modeling theory

 hypodermic needle 

 desensitization theory( on television in general).

Paragraph 3:

       How females are represented now and then in 60’s-70’s and if there is any change. – include about femme fatale, laura mulvey and feminism

“Single women are seen as they could never be happy or flourished financially without husbands.” – Reality Bites Back

    Representations of women in 70’s and  only way is Essex similarities and differences. (An American family)

   Are these true representations, looking at the 70’s what where women like. ( an American family include about the mother)

Paragraph 4:

    why women are represented in the industry in such way – “To represent something is to describe or depict it, to call it up in the mind by description or portrayal or imagination, to place a likeness before in our minds or in our senses.”pg. 18- Stuart Hall

Representation & Reality:  “emphasis on sexism both divides men and women and distracts them from the issue of race.” pg23

 “The rise of reality TV came at a time when networks were looking for a quick fix solution to economic problems within the cultural industries” pg. 63- Reality Tv: Audiences and Popular Factual Television By Annette Hill

“ which reduce media to a “pleasure/danger” binary”

 Hypodermic needle

Feminism – marsist

Laura Mulvey

Is this a fair representation of females, also look at the male characters and are their representations fair too or is there a difference.

Conclusion:

SUMARISE EVERYTHING

Going back to the question does representations of women?  To what extent and why are women within constructed reality TV shows such as ‘The only way is Essex’ represented in a negative way?

Argue both side (challenge and reinforce.)

my decision of a conclusion on the question 

Critical investigation: Task #4

http://www.shadowlocked.com/2010021791/opinion-features/why-are-women-portrayed-so-negatively-in-film.html
 “ women, by and large, as movie goers are to blame for this- because they are not that interested in seeing strong role models on screen.”  – this allows me to argue that women might be the one to blame for negative representations on television and that maybe we are not even interested in seeing strong female role models and reality TV show directors are just giving us want the public might actually want.

 “Hollywood looks at the bottom line- its a business, after all.” – women are only represented negatively for business purposes.”

http://www.etfo.ca/Resources/ForTeachers/Documents/Gender%20Issues%20in%20The%20Media.aspx

“women and girls are more likely to be shown: in the home, performing domestic chores such as laundry or cooking; as sex objects who exist primarily to service men; as victims who can't protect themselves and are the natural recipients of beatings, harassment, sexual assault and murder... girls are shown as being endlessly preoccupied by their appearance, and fascinated primarily by dolls and jewellery...” – types of representations i can include that they stereotype females as.


http://www.academia.edu/390080/Cultivation_Theory_and_Female_Sexuality_in_Mainstream_Television_Dramas_and_Comedies

"suggests that television isresponsible for shaping "- cultivational theory

http://srambeau.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/desensitization-theory/

"The act of watching TV is an unlearned pleasurable behavior. "

"Desensitization is usually measured by both psychological and attitudinal reactions."

"Images that might have initiated a negative response before, now give the viewer a sense of calm because of its link to relaxation."

- these talk about the psychological pleasures that come with watching tv and as a repeatitve and heavy  viewer of  negative & violence on tv it suddenly becomes pleasurable to us. - worldpress.com , September 2007

http://www.mamamia.com.au/entertainment/the-shire-two-types-of-reality-show-girls/



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tdAuOYB8dUI - reality TV and women  self esteem

Critical investigation; Task #3

An American Family

 An American Family is a type of cinema verite documentary which was filmed in 1971. It was one of the first reality TV shows that was to ever be broadcasted on television. It showed 12 episodes of 300 hours of raw footage of a real life family of 7 family members going about their daily routines. In the 60’s and 70’s era nuclear families were well endorsed within the media. This documentary style cinema verite which means ‘truthful cinema’ inspired much modern reality TV series that appear on MTV such as ‘The Real world’ or ‘keeping up with the kardarshians’.

Compared to British reality TV show Only way is Essex it has its similarities about the two and also has its major differences. In the 70’s the only way a reality TV show such as An American family could be shown on television was if was broadcasted on educational TV or PBS and if it could inform, educate and entertain it audience at the same time. Whereas Only way is Essex is broadcasted on ITV for all viewers to access and made for only entertainment purposes.

Society in the 70’s has changed over the number of years, for example some the males in Only way is Essex are seen to not be afraid to be in touch with their heterosexual sides by allowing the members of the public to know that they are gay and allowing the camera to follow up on their sexuality and dating life. Whereas the males that are in An American family are seen to be hard working masculine men but in one of the episodes a massive controversy had began when the son Lance Loud had come out of the closet and everyone had found out that he was gay became shocking news as it was a really big thing back then, members of the gay community then started to see him as a large gay icon as they had someone to look up to because coming out of the closest was seen as an uncommon thing while some members of the public took this really harshly and started to send Lance homophobic abuse. This is the opposite compared to Only way is Essex as the males in this reality TV show are open with their sexuality, wear makeup and do not care what the memeber of public think.
The structured role of the females over the years have changed and also stayed similar in today’s society in many diverse ways. An American family opening shows the social norms and family values at the start of every show by showing the father location being at work and in his work clothing the father role within the home is seen as the head of house and in charge. The representations of women in the 70’s are that the mother is seen as being preoccupied with preparing family meals and cleaning the home, also looks natural and not fussed about material things but at the same time seen as a sexual desire in the era to the male gaze. An American family does not promote in any way women being over sexualised but are shown as good women who stand by their families. Compared to only way is Essex the representation is different as the women are constantly seen as trophy women that are all single who are all about being semi naked and finding romance. It seems over the years that the representation of being a housewife who stays at home to look after their families has disappeared as female representation are more degraded year by year .