American TV shows

[Milk Sheikh]

Greetings,

I hardly watch TV but, just for the heck of it, I force myself to watch some shows. I have a question for the Americans. I am talking about the things they show about teenagers and young adults: the girls are usually shown as b*tchy and back-stabbing, boys as shallow and thinking only of sex.

I know these are stereotypes but how much of it is true? I am specifically talking about shows revolving around schools and colleges. For instance, you see weird things like girls virtually killing one another to become prom queen or to get their dream boy; or guys going to absurd lengths to have sex, and many, many things which I am sure you're familiar with.

How much of it is based on real life experiences in schools? The intense hate, jealousy, mindless competition etc. etc. ... is it all total nonsense created by the producers to shock people? Or is there some truth?

Milk Sheikh

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

Old girl had to kill 3 other *****es to get me.

just kidding. I did not think tv shows represented real life for me whatsoever.

[RGacky3]

100% totally true.

[GPDP]

While it should be obvious most TV shows are exaggerations and/or idealizations of real life, and not everyone's experiences are alike, TV is not isolated from the social context around it. Many people like to blame TV as a corrupting influence on society, but I think if people did not connect with the medium in some way, we wouldn't see the narratives and images we see so often in it. Not to mention TV entertainment, most often times, is but a vehicle to advertise and sell products, so there's that too.

Altogether, while say, interpretations of high school life on TV are, like I said, often grossly unrealistic, there is some kernel of truth to what goes on, else no one would identify and tune in to the extent they do. Couple that with dominant sexist narratives present in real life even outside the media (women are sycophantic and vengeful, men are sex-crazed and brutish), and the desire to get ratings, and you get the conditions for the repeating of such themes over and over.

Sorry if this sounds a little scatter-brained, but I'm in a hurry lol.

[#FF0000]

Yeah, whatever kernel of truth you might find in TV depictions of teenage life, television stretches and distorts it to the point it's ridiculous.

Stewart Lee said an interesting thing about depictions of teenagers in television.

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It's about British television but I think the same things applies for American TV.

[hatzel]

That one's reminded me of how far removed our lives are from those depicted in the American TV shows we all seem to watch:

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[Hoplite]

Ask yourself how much of ANY television is actually real and you'll get close to your answer

[Omsk]

Well,television is one of the worst time-consumers,for instance,working people in America spend much less time watching the TV,while younger Americans watch it all the time,and that is because of more than 1 reason,the kids in the US are generally 'couch potatos' they dont spend much time outside,they dont go to school by foot,they are not active,sport's are getting less popular,and the kid's main interest is the virtual world,they spend their time playing video-games,watching TV,browsing the internet,going to facebook and generally waist their time,but of all these things,TV is probably the smallest problem.
All of which is not to say that watching TV does not have some bad aspects—one can always get too much of a good thing—but it is hardly the instrument of mental, cultural, and moral degradation it is so often portrayed as.One of the causes of this problem is capitalism,and you ask how? -

Because parents have less and less time to spend with their children,they are doing their jobs even in the house,via email and telephones,and the kid's dont get the basic social skills nor the normes of society.Many of the kids usaly spend most of the day playing video games like World of Warcraft,of Sims,or even worse,watching reality shows,the poison for the mind.I'd rather let my son watch a football game than i would let him play WoW or watch,Jersey Shore.
Thing like that we didn't have in socialism,the moral and cultural values were on a higher rate and were needed to pass in society,nowdays,the more vulgar and ignorant you are,the more atention you draw.

[Rafiq]

Bourgeois and capitalist social structures in school are like that, in the shows. Few people stop to actually realize they're all human beings. People take sex too seriously as welin high school. I don't see what the big deal is though...

[Rafiq]

Because parents have less and less time to spend with their children,they are doing their jobs even in the house,via email and telephones,and the kid's dont get the basic social skills nor the normes of society.Many of the kids usaly spend most of the day playing video games like World of Warcraft,of Sims,or even worse,watching reality shows,the poison for the mind.I'd rather let my son watch a football game than i would let him play WoW or watch,Jersey Shore.
Thing like that we didn't have in socialism,the moral and cultural values were on a higher rate and were needed to pass in society,nowdays,the more vulgar and ignorant you are,the more atention you draw.


I don't mean to be rude, but this sounds very conservative to me. May I ask what you mean by "Moral and cultural values"?

[Bud Struggle]

I was readeing a while ago--and I forget where--that one of the contributing factors to the downfall of "Communism" in Romania was the TV show "Dallas." Most of the regular Ronamina programing was made up of speeches and wreath layings (I saw that on Communist TV) but they let in Dallas to show the Romaninas how corrupt the West as--the plan backfired and everyone in Romanina wanted to be JR.

I'll see if I can find where I read that.

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

Because parents have less and less time to spend with their children,they are doing their jobs even in the house,via email and telephones,and the kid's dont get the basic social skills nor the normes of society.Many of the kids usaly spend most of the day playing video games like World of Warcraft,of Sims,or even worse,watching reality shows,the poison for the mind.I'd rather let my son watch a football game than i would let him play WoW or watch,Jersey Shore.
Thing like that we didn't have in socialism,the moral and cultural values were on a higher rate and were needed to pass in society,nowdays,the more vulgar and ignorant you are,the more atention you draw.

I agree, and would add that another major issue is the lack of funding for PE programs and excersize programs outside school, along with arts and music, that are being cut by conservative governments. I talked to one of my former teammates, who just became a teacher/assistant football coach, and learned that there have been mammoth cuts in sports programs across the board in just the few years since I left. Since the school isn't very good at basketball, for instance, there is talk of cutting it. As if competitiveness should be the requirement for funding.

Fucking Ridiculous.

[Che a chara]

I find US TV to be very repetitive and so cliched and definitely not in touch with the real youth with topics that some could say are a bad influence and distortive, but this isn't confined to just US television.

MTV reality shows are probably the most repulsive and they would be mostly American based and produced. Sex, boozing, millionaire teenagers swanning about in limos and getting up to all sorts and teenage pregnancies etc... What the fuck does that teach you ? what purpose does it serve ? but th ething is it is seemingly addictive.

Fucking capitalist culture has everyone sitting like drones without fulfillment and out of touch with life's real pleasures, leisures and self-worth.

[Che a chara]

I agree, and would add that another major issue is the lack of funding for PE programs and excersize programs outside school, along with arts and music, that are being cut by conservative governments. I talked to one of my former teammates, who just became a teacher/assistant football coach, and learned that there have been mammoth cuts in sports programs across the board in just the few years since I left. Since the school isn't very good at basketball, for instance, there is talk of cutting it. As if competitiveness should be the requirement for funding.

Fucking Ridiculous.

You have to wonder about the psyche of some people. Glenn Beck actually dedicated half a show of his to attacking Michelle Obama for her wanting to install fruit/vegetable vending machines for healthier eating in schools. He went on to say something along the lines of "If i want to feed my child 10 hamburgers a day, i should. it's not up to the government". :blink: how totally fucking irresponsible.

Then he went on to attack those who were proposing to make P.E./sports compulsory in schools. He reminisced how he was not very active and popular in sports as some sort of justification for cutting P.E. altogether -- "hey look at me, i'm doing well" :rolleyes:

The agenda of the right is clear for all the see. They want children to grow up obese and dumbed down, which is why we see them as well wanting to rip the unions apart and attacking the education departments.

[Lt. Ferret]

i dont have TV, and i dont miss it at all.

[Kuppo Shakur]

In socialism, the only television show will be Star Trek (TOS and NG).
Problem Solve.

[La Comédie Noire]

I only watch cartoon network.

[AthenaAwakened]

Ya know how Nazis called themselves socialists and weren't?
Same thing with American TV
Everything is scripted and nothing is real, especially reality TV.

[progressive_lefty]

I think what annoys me is all the racial stereotyping. It's like Americans are obsessed with demonising people. They can't let go of it. As soon as they make a TV production, nothing seems to be right until they include a stereotype of an Asian, Black or Hispanic. Hawaii 5-0 is like a return to the bad old days.

[#FF0000]

I was readeing a while ago--and I forget where--that one of the contributing factors to the downfall of "Communism" in Romania was the TV show "Dallas." Most of the regular Ronamina programing was made up of speeches and wreath layings (I saw that on Communist TV) but they let in Dallas to show the Romaninas how corrupt the West as--the plan backfired and everyone in Romanina wanted to be JR.

I'll see if I can find where I read that.

While I doubt it lead to Romania's downfall, I wouldn't be surprised by this.

I mean, kids who are exposed to high-fantasy want to be kings or knights or princesses. Same thing, I think.

[RGacky3]

Don't have a TV either, and yeah, not a loss.

[Hoplite]

I think what annoys me is all the racial stereotyping. It's like Americans are obsessed with demonising people. They can't let go of it. As soon as they make a TV production, nothing seems to be right until they include a stereotype of an Asian, Black or Hispanic. Hawaii 5-0 is like a return to the bad old days.
It's a human thing, not necessarily an American one. Stereotypes are comfortable, they are immediately relatable and recognizable. People generally dont like entertainment that challenges their worldview or gives them something different than what they expect.

Look at Avatar. The plot is as predictable as it gets...yet it's the top grossing film of all time. Look at a list of the highest grossing films (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films), virtually all of them are predictable, full of stock characters with predictable plotlines.

Most people dont want stark reality. They want a fictional world they can understand, even if it is predictable.

[ComradeMan]

Television is the "opiate of the people" of the 21st century.

[Omsk]

Well,not as much as the interent,but it is 'addictive'.
What saddens me is the fact that a lot,and i repeat,a lot of middle-age people waste a huge amount of time watching every type of junk they can catch on TV.
I understand that little kids can grow to adore TV,especially the cartoon-program,and i think its ok,if the child doesn't brake some limits,but to see teenagers and adolescent's watching reality-shows or all kinds of bogus instead of,for instance,reading,learning,going outside,playing and socialising,group-sports,activities - Well,that is simply idiotic.

And,no,im not being conservative,we had television in socialism you know,but it was all in the norms of good taste,no human trash,reality shows,vulgar and plain-idiotic programs.

[RGacky3]

I understand that little kids can grow to adore TV,especially the cartoon-program,and i think its ok

Its ok, but TV for kids is like candy, they'll keep going at the expense of everything else, I think thats one reason you got a lot of teenagers with ADHD, or kids who are bored to death out in the woods, TV is just tons and tons of cheap stimulation, no work for it, no creativity, no intrigue, no interaction, it just shoots images at you.

When a kid gets to go play outside, explore, play with other kids, he develops mentally socially and so on, he develops patience, creativity, all the stuff you need to be a well rounded person.

You pack a kid full of sugar and put him in front of flashing lights on his spare time, what do you expect to happen.

As far as good taste forget it, its just playing to the lowest common denominator.

[Omsk]

As far as good taste forget it, its just playing to the lowest common denominator.
It was not always like that,you had cultural shows,for example,many good kids comedians,a lot of perfect comedy movies,now,its all about guns drug and sex.But lets make a difference between,lets say,"Der Untergang" and,Rambo or "Commando" - Der Untergang is definiately not a movie for kids,but you could show it to the teenagers,16-17 years,so that they can understand the horrors of the war,so they can see all the pure evil,no harm in that.
But the greatest problem are reality shows,they are vulgar,people in them are blokes who cant work for an honest living,obscure individuals that can't show anything positive,and yet,the kids watch it,they consume all the trash reality shows present.
If you ask me,all television programs should have at least 3 hours of education material.but presented in a way it's not boring to the kids,and at least 2 hours of good-taste comedy shows.The problem is there is too much bad content,and its hard to keep it away.

[T-Paine]

You guys sound like grumpy old conservatives :laugh:

People watch whatever they want, and producers respond to ratings. I see nothing wrong with that, and you aren't being forced to watch things you don't like.

[Omsk]

Thats because we are grumpy old conservatives! Yah damn wiper snapers! :marx: (Poor Marx gets the bad role)
Fooling aside,i am not against the fact that people should watch TV,im against vulgar and idiotic shows that invaded TV,they have a big impact on the youth,hey,not if they watch it 1-2 hours,but if they watch it every-day they will want to act as their 'idol' for sure.

[T-Paine]

Thats because we are grumpy old conservatives! Yah damn wiper snapers! :marx: (Poor Marx gets the bad role)
Fooling aside,i am not against the fact that people should watch TV,im against vulgar and idiotic shows that invaded TV,they have a big impact on the youth,hey,not if they watch it 1-2 hours,but if they watch it every-day they will want to act as their 'idol' for sure.

So what do you want to do about vulgar and idiotic shows? Especially if that is the will of some people to watch them?

[Omsk]

Let them stay,but play them after midnight,that way the smaller kids wont be able to watch them (considering that their parents don't alow them to stay up all night).
Replace them with shows that have a high cultural value,comedy shows,and so on.
As for the people who want to watch them,well let them watch it,the ideal socialist state should not be able to prevent someone from doing something he likes,but it should also react if the content is negative and vulgar,idiotic.Simple as that.

[Hoplite]

Thats because we are grumpy old conservatives! Yah damn wiper snapers! :marx: (Poor Marx gets the bad role)
Fooling aside,i am not against the fact that people should watch TV,im against vulgar and idiotic shows that invaded TV,they have a big impact on the youth,hey,not if they watch it 1-2 hours,but if they watch it every-day they will want to act as their 'idol' for sure.
I dont see that entertainment has gotten any more vulgar as time has gone by, I think we've just become more aware of it and it's being hidden less.

Go back and watch some of the old movies, especially the B movies, they slip in stuff every now and then that is pretty raunchy but not very obvious.

Music is a perfect example.

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Press play and close your eyes. See if you can tell when this music was written and performed. This was circa 1950. Yes, 1950, when America was as uptight as it's ever been.

Raunchy entertainment has been around since people have been walking erect. We just notice it more now.

[hatzel]

Let them stay,but play them after midnight,that way the smaller kids wont be able to watch them (considering that their parents don't alow them to stay up all night

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the current trend for 'on-demand' and 'internet-only programmes' (as we have here in Britain) would expand to the level whereby this idea of a given show being televised at a given time will become increasingly marginalised. We'll watch what we want, when we want, and those programmes deemed unfit for minors will be pin-protected, as they already are on my provider :)

EDIT: Just thought I'd point out..."Raunchy entertainment has been around since people have been walking erect"...intentional innuendo, or...?

[Hoplite]

EDIT: Just thought I'd point out..."Raunchy entertainment has been around since people have been walking erect"...intentional innuendo, or...?
Maybe :laugh:

[Omsk]

."Raunchy entertainment has been around since people have been walking erect
Maybe in the US. (and other west world states)

and those programmes deemed unfit for minors will be pin-protected, as they already are on my provider

Yes,that would work great,pin-protecting is a great way to stop children from watching potentially unsuitable shows.