This post generally relates to my last one, and I’m trying
to keep it different, so bear with me! This is a media issue that has bothered
me for a long time now, and it’s really hard to watch a movie or TV show
without seeing this. Unfortunately it’s everywhere and anywhere. So here it is.
One of the things
that bothers me in movies, TV shows, books, etc, is that the usual setting is a
fancy house in California, or some high class setting with privileged people
who have problems with their life. Now I know that many shows are filmed in LA,
a fancy area, or a movie studio; but it seems like every show has lost the
interest to portray what real people look like.
America does consist of many upper class people, and it
appears that the point that studios are trying to prove is “The American
Dream.” Is it a staple for films to portray people always aiming for things
bigger and better? As I addressed in my last post, media seems to think
America’s definition of dreams is just material wealth, and apparently that’s
the way we like it. Even in kids movies you see kids living in nice houses with
lawyer parents and country club lives, and think, “I sure don’t relate to
them.” Even in TV shows trying to portray a middle class family, it always
comes out as high-class.
Take commercials for example. Even though a nice life in a
nice house is what some Americans want, it still doesn’t mean that you have to
flaunt it with your extravagant things. It seems that every commercial is based
in a fancy mansion with perfect families and lives. Too many car commercials
are showing rich businessmen who have trophy wives and good-looking children,
and not enough real family interaction. I always prefer the less expensive car
brand commercials because of this. I understand that commercials are meant to
appeal to people, but how can it appeal to us if it’s so far from the lives we
live now?
This is the stereotypical setting for a car commercial.
“Show off and be look cool.” Is what this Lexus ad seems to say.
As I said before, too many kids shows are showing rich
families and not enough realistic portrayals. It bothers me that half the shows
on Disney Channel show kids with big houses and trendy clothes. I can see the
point they are trying to make though: “Work hard and you can achieve your
dreams, and be where you want to be.” But somehow I think Disney Channel lacks
diversity when it comes to what people want in life. Shows like Jessie, The
Thundermans, Lab Rats, Hannah Montana, Liv and Maddie, and more, all seem to
have a similar plot line where all the kids live in nice big houses and want to
become singers and dancers, and only seek stardom. I do love Disney Channel,
and many of their shows are great. I just wish they had a more realistic
setting.
It seems that much of Disney Channel’s content only promotes
kids who want to be in show business.
As for the books I mentioned, I can’t say that many fit my
topic. Books are a whole different world than movies and TV, and there can be
much more diversity in books than movies, and maybe that’s why we love them. I
think sometimes it’s right to place main characters in a typically wealthy
world, and sometimes it’s not. Sometimes people don’t like to be reminded of
their lives, and that movies are a way we can escape the harsh realities of
life. They are for entertainment, and something we can look up to, no matter if
it’s realistic or not. Only some movies are true to life, and those are the
ones that make us feel good.
Again, this is just my opinion, and we are all entitled to
our own. Sometimes I even think my own opinions are wrong, and that’s the
beauty of it. J
Thanks for reading!
~ Governess Bob
