I just had a discussion with my girlfriend about the way women are portrayed on television and the values communicated in shows, especially those aimed at young women.
She had switched away from Drop Dead Diva after finding it’s pseudo morality tale distasteful.
I agree that many television shows bask in the superficial and nasty and present it in such a glamorous way that it will have an influence on younger viewers, who are already fascinated with their place in their hierarchy and social-structure.
I’m a little more dispassionate and utilitarian in my analysis. More of the Geoffrey Miller School.
A lot of the frustrations at emotional manipulation are reduced when you see it as a deliberate attempt to achieve something rather than genuine world view.
“Oh look, a beautiful rich thin person acting selfish, they did that to try and elicit an emotional reaction and make me feel inferior. Which will in turn make me watch more for the emotional candy and in turn buy things.” It’s strictly business.
If you are frustrated with the values they see in movies and television here are two points I think you should keep in mind.
The sellers ain’t buying.
Most ministers of Education around the world send their children to private school. Most left leaning politicians have their personal advisors on non-union easily terminated contracts. Rupert Murdoch does not get his morning news feed from the Sun newspaper. Financial advisors earn their money from commissions not the investment growth and dividends they are selling you.
In the moment it’s an easy mistake to assume that the people writing and producing television and films believe in the universality of the value system they are sending down the wire. I’m sure they don’t.
Don’t look up and shake your fist, look down and dismiss.
If you do want to combat the ugly values you see in the media don’t become frustrated and angry. If someone mentions a show you dislike and you immediately launch into
“That’s a terrible show, they are all so selfish and superficial. It’s really a bad message to send to young people, I mean it’s just…”
you come across and being below and looking up shaking your fist. The fact it’s inspired such a strong reaction leads people to assume it’s based on insecurity.
Instead, simply dismiss it from above. “Oh yes, that show. They really went cheap on that one didn’t they, selfish rich women go shopping. Yawn.”
The more emotion a thing or person can evoke in you the more power it has.
It’s a rhetorical trick you see often, don’t give up your status by being infuriated, instead step above and dismiss.