Television Culture and Context

Source: http://www.pollhype.com/andy-griffith-show-facts-fb

The Andy Griffith show aired in 1960 and lasted for 8 years. It’s about a sheriff (Andy) who lives with his son and Aunt. There are few crimes that happen in Mayberry (town) so Andy spends a lot of his time not catching bad guys but, chasing after his crazy, erratic cousin, Deputy Barney.

In episode 8 of season 2, “The Perfect Woman”, Barney and Thelma Lou tries to set Andy up with Thelma’s cousin Karen from Arkansas. This episode aired November 27, 1961 the beginning of the decade that brought a great change for women with the feminist movement. In the episode, Karen gets upset with Andy when she learns that Andy gave her a specific set of questions she had to answer correctly to in order to determine if he liked her or not. Questions that included; “Do you like little boys?” (referring to his son Opie), “Do you bake pie?”, and “Do you like music?”. Upset with the knowledge that she has been ‘auditioned’ for Andy she enters the Skeet Contest that Andy is a champion at. Spoiler Alert, she wins and Barney says, “to lose to a woman… it’s an end of an era”. Andy who doesn’t seem all that upset says it was “the Battle of the Sexes and I came in 2^nd” with a thoughtful smile on his face.

Source: Netflix.com (Screenshot)

In the 60’s, woman was beginning to become more independent and started to fight for equal rights. This episode displays the shift in society at that time and many people hated it. In the background of the scene when Thelma doesn’t miss a shot, viewers have a clear view of the upset faces in the crowd (mostly of men but some woman too). During this time woman are expected to cook clean and be a housewife yet Karen defies all of those norms. When Barney suggested setting up Andy and Karen to Thelma, she said that Karen wasn’t looking for a man right now. This is a prime example of how Karen is a part of the woman who are breaking the barriers society placed upon woman at this time.

Source: Netflix.com (Screenshot)

Source: Netflix.com (Screenshot)

Source: Netflix.com (Screenshot)

Source: Netflix.com (Screenshot)

Today society women have more rights and freedoms than they did in the 60’s but there still is that ‘men are bigger, better, smarter, and stronger’ ideology in our culture. For example, there is still woman who doesn’t get paid the same as a male colleague. Women today have to continue to fight for male dominated positions in the work force and are often denied the opportunity because of their sex. Women are more prone to open their own businesses and start their own companies as a result of the sexist treatment. In the show, Scandal, Olivia opens her own consulting firm called, Olivia Pope & Associates. Today society is seeing more female dominated shows like scandal whereas in the 60’s and early TV history was predominately male lead roles.

Source:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/187251296980235471/ 

Source: http://mayberry.wikia.com/wiki/Karen_Moore

 

 

Blog Post 4

https://youtu.be/n6EtPN5YtoI

       In 90210 season 1 episode 19 “Okaeri, Donna!” there was an incident where Annie and adoptive brother Dixon were in the car and Annie grabs a Dr. Pepper from the ‘perfectly organized’ cooler. She said, “What’s a road trip without Dr. Pepper?” She then proceeds to take a sip and says “Mm delicious!” This product placement was completely transparent. As Dixon and Annie reach a gas station Annie gets out to use the bathroom and Dixon yells, “ ?…maybe if you stopped drinking so much Dr. Pepper!?” Annie replied, “We’re on a road trip! Drinking Dr. Pepper is practically a requirement?” Viewers could see that the producers used product placement and integration in the particular scene. It is completely fine if a brand is funding a show and want to get advertising out of it. Viewers are not that gullible to think that since a star or their favorite character on a show uses or consumes a brand they are going to start to consume it as well. Younger viewers may be susceptible to it but most adults know what is going on. Product placement definitely takes away from the narrative. One would think that it makes I more realistic because they are using a product many do in real life but, when they integrate lines like,  “What’s a road trip without Dr. Pepper?”, it seems so fake and forced and makes people asks themselves what was the point in adding that? So viewers are questioning the authenticity of the show, even if they do not know what product placement/integration is.

Source: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/worst-couples-90210-season-3

Everyone has seen at least one episode of American Idol or at least something similar to it. On every episode of American Idol, the judges have a Coca-Cola in front of them. Every time the camera goes to them, the Coca-Cola cup is in line of shot. Coca- Cola sponsors American Idol, so in doing so they get free advertisement of their product. Now, since American Idol is a reality TV show I think the narrative aspect differs. Of course, nothing on TV is real and the judges and contestants still have scripts but when viewers see them drinking the Coca-Cola it seems a bit more natural. Maybe it is because viewers have been watching it forever and just got used to seeing the Coca-Cola products on the show.

Source:http://brandchannel.com/2014/12/17/the-cup-song-ends-coca-cola-calls-off-13-year-american-idol-tie-in/

 

Cultural Writings on Television

Ray-Harris, A. (2017, April 19). The excellent Dear White People doesn’t care about white people. Retrieved September 13, 2017, from http://tv.avclub.com/the-excellent-dear-white-people-doesn-t-care-about-whit-1798191060

Source: https://uk.newonnetflix.info/info/80095698/s

Ashley Ray-Harris believes that “Dear White People the Netflix series is more concerned with capturing the diverse realities of black existence while leaving blatant politics and history lessons in the background” compared to Dear White People the movie. She implores that white people aren’t being viewed as monsters but rather simply as assholes and ignorant. Ashley believes that the show simply addresses how racism affects black people rather than trying to make white people seem like horrible people.

There is no denying that the show displays how the black students react to the racism going on at the college(Winchester University) but, the show also wanted to inform white people of how their actions can sometimes be ignorant or racist towards black people.

Source: http://www.speroforum.com/a/EGBDAZEVCN22/80084-Backlash-for-new-Dear-White-People-series-on-Netflix#.WbmDQtOGOi4

In “Chapter 1” the Pastiche (a satirical magazine run by white men on campus) throws a blackface party because they’re upset with Sam’s radio show called Dear White People. When the dean got word of the party he prohibits it yet the Pastiche throws it anyways. This is just an example in the show of how some of the white people on campus are oblivious to the message they were displaying when they painted their face with brown paint and wore ‘black clothes’.

This show really delves deep about how racism still is evident I our society and how colleges often turn a blind eye to the racism occurring between students. Some colleges say they have zero tolerance for racism or discrimination but, often ignore it when an issue arises. For non HBCU colleges a lot of black people feel uncomfortable speaking with the staff because its predominantly white. According to a national survey conducted by the JED Foundation and Steve Fund, 75 percent of black college students responded that they tend to keep their feelings about the difficulty of college to themselves, versus 61 percent of white students.

This show really delves deep about how racism still is evident in our society and how colleges often turn a blind eye to the racism occurring between students. Some colleges say they have zero tolerance for racism or discrimination but, often ignore it when an issue arises. For non HBCU colleges a lot of black people feel uncomfortable speaking with the staff because it is predominantly white. According to a national survey conducted by the JED Foundation and Steve Fund, 75 percent of black college students responded that they tend to keep their feelings about the difficulty of college to themselves, versus 61 percent of white students.

This show also divulges on interracial couples and the pressures/stress that can come with it. Sam, the lead role, is secretly dating Gabe a white male that also attends Winchester University. She keeps it a secret because Sam is a ‘mixed’ girl she is often looked down on by the darker skinned toned characters. Which is an example of how in black culture, if you’re mixed, you are viewed as being a ‘fake black person’ or someone who couldn’t relate to some ‘dark people’ problems because they are portrayed as being privileged. Sam doesn’t want to be seen as just another black person succumbing to the ‘white man’. She is the leader of the BSU and her friends and other members would basically turn their noses if they knew that she was dating a white person. also considering she preaches black empowerment and does not want to seem like a hypocrite by dating outside her race.

To condense, Dear White People broadens viewers way of thinking and gives them an insight to real ‘black people problems’ and how they handle them. It creates a real-world experience between white and black people. The end goal is to show how ridiculous these stereotypes and sort of ‘set rules’ in our society are.

Phenomenal Television

(Source http://www.wn.com)

The Fosters is a phenomenal television show. Based on Amanda Lotz definition of Phenomenal Television Show it hits all 5 points. The Fosters is centered around an unorthodox family. Starting off the parents of 5 teenagers are a lesbian couple name Lena and Stef. Then comes Brandon, who is 16 the biological son of Stef when she was with former husband, Mike. Then you have a set of Hispanic twins Mariana and Jesus. Lastly you have the new edition Callie and Jude. Callie comes into their home as a foster child with a very troubled past having been to juvie. She wants to keep her distance from this family that seems too good to be true so she won’t get burned as she have in the past.

The Fosters addresses real life issues that are still happening today such as rape, abuse, same-sex marriages, adoption, etc. It even gives us an insight to how people deal with ADHD. This show isn’t afraid to touch base on subjects that may be cringe worthy to some or are simply hard to see on screen. They make the show relatable to everyone in some way. It challenges our way of thinking at times too. For instance, you have the main character Callie and has been bounces around from house to house as a foster child and has been to Juvie and with this knowledge you expect her to be some kind of delinquent. In reality she is just a 16 year old girl who has had a horrific past and wants her and her brother to be together, growing up in a safe and happy home.

(i.e. Source: http://www.afterellen.com)

The Fosters addresses real life issues that are still happening today such as rape, abuse, same-sex marriages, adoption, etc. It even gives us an insight to how people deal with ADHD. This show isn’t afraid to touch base on subjects that may be cringe worthy to some or are simply hard to see on screen. They make the show relatable to everyone in some way. It challenges our way of thinking at times too. For instance, you have the main character Callie and has been bounces around from house to house as a foster child and has been to Juvie and with this knowledge you expect her to be some kind of delinquent. In reality she is just a 16 year old girl who has had a horrific past and wants her and her brother to be together, growing up in a safe and happy home. Another example is in season 1 “I already Hurt” when Callie’s 12 year old brother Jude, wears nail polish to school and started to get crap for it by some if the other kids. Callie tells Jude not to wear it to school anymore so he wont get picked on. This particular scene in this episode displays a controversy on if a boy wear nail polish he is automatically depicted as being gay. Now, in this case its true, but at this point in time Jude really isn’t sure himself. People in life will instantly put a label or stereotype on someone who is perceived as ‘different’. The Fosters hit that point in many of its episodes and dives into the meaning behind them and tackles it head on.