|
|
Post by al on Jul 23, 2018 12:31:47 GMT 10
Bouncing off of the circus thread, it was once considered popular entertainment to indulge in carnival "freak shows".
While the ethics of such entertainment is today highly debated, it remains undeniable that many of the attendees came to balk at the performers. With the exception of a few locales such as Coney Island, these types of shows are now nearly non-existent.
Or are they?
Put on TLC, the large majority of reality tv. You will find the very overweight, those with large numbers of children, funny accents, the strictly religious, bizarre medical deformities, and just simply comical stupidity. Many of whom there was a comparable act to in PT Barnum's day.
Is this any better than it was a century ago? Do we just feel better about doing our gawking and laughing from the safety of our homes in this PC environment? Does it improve our self-confidence somehow?
Or is it good to see such a wide variety of people in the media? Is it ethical because the participants are consenting and earning a better wage than they would be on their own?
SharksFan99 likes this
|
|
|
|
Post by SharksFan99 on Jul 23, 2018 16:21:42 GMT 10
Great idea for a topic!  I actually believe it's worse than it was a century ago, because we live in such an interconnected world. The problem is that society heavily revolves around sensationalism. It's all about generating buzz and clickbait headlines which fuel people's interest, especially now in the smartphone and social media age. People can spread misleading information about someone (without the knowledge of that person) and it could be viewed by millions of people. A century ago, the people who starred in freak shows likely would have only received attention in the local community or in a newspaper. There are just so many different platforms now to share and gather information. The idea of representing minority groups can only be a positive, however, it purely depends on how they are represented. That is the meat of the issue and in an era where things can very easily be misinterpreted or skewed, it's something that is becoming increasingly harder to refine. There needs to be a change in cultural values in order for real progress to be made. When you see articles on Buzzfeed which have headlines such as, "10 of the strangest looking people you'll ever see", all it does is make matters worse. Instead of people making a mockery out of someone who, for instance, may be very overweight, we should be viewing it from the perspective that they need help and support to enhance their life. That way, people with physical disabilities/anomalies can become greater integrated into society. We need to acknowledge the presence of these individuals in a positive manner, because we should be reinforcing the notion that there is no "set guideline" on what a person should look like and behave. Yes, there are expectations on how people should behave in certain situations, but everyone is unique in their own way and that needs to be encouraged. If we're ever going to breakdown archaic stereotypes and progress as a society, that's what we should be placing an emphasis on. It's a moral issue as well. Depending on the circumstances, the individual would already experience hardships for their physical disabilities or anomaly. It would only be an added hindrance if they were ignored by the community at large. I think many people tend to forget that others have feelings as well. It can be easy to hide behind a computer and make these accusations without taking into account the feelings of the other person. Myself personally, I am skeptical about TLC's intentions in producing television series based on individuals with anomalies. I guess you could argue that they are promoting awareness of these individuals, but to be honest, I think they are doing it for their own financial gain. For example, if TLC made a series about conjoint twins, they could potentially receive higher television ratings out of the headlines generated by the show. In regards to the programs potentially improving a person's self-confidence, it's hard to say. It really depends on the core values of the individual. Some people may see it as being an enlightening experience, while others may watch the show simply to get a laugh out of it.
al likes this
|
|
|
|
Post by al on Jul 28, 2018 1:38:13 GMT 10
The idea of representing minority groups can only be a positive, however, it purely depends on how they are represented. That is the meat of the issue and in an era where things can very easily be misinterpreted or skewed, it's something that is becoming increasingly harder to refine. There needs to be a change in cultural values in order for real progress to be made. When you see articles on Buzzfeed which have headlines such as, "10 of the strangest looking people you'll ever see", all it does is make matters worse. Instead of people making a mockery out of someone who, for instance, may be very overweight, we should be viewing it from the perspective that they need help and support to enhance their life. That way, people with physical disabilities/anomalies can become greater integrated into society. We need to acknowledge the presence of these individuals in a positive manner, because we should be reinforcing the notion that there is no "set guideline" on what a person should look like and behave. Yes, there are expectations on how people should behave in certain situations, but everyone is unique in their own way and that needs to be encouraged. If we're ever going to breakdown archaic stereotypes and progress as a society, that's what we should be placing an emphasis on. Your entire post is very good and I do agree with it, but I thought I would highlight what I found particularly potent. The problem is absolutely in presentation. Documentaries are known for being boring, sure, but at least the style tends to be dignified. TLC, who mainly comes to my mind despite being far from the only guilty party, showcases these people as pure entertainment. Even despite some dramatization, it still comes off as ironic; they know the bulk of their viewers are watching to make fun. So what should they be doing instead? Here is an ad that aired a few years ago I found highly successful: What I liked about this is how nonchalant it is about his disability. Of course it is mentioned immediately, we cannot pretend he doesn't have one. But we still see him as a real, functioning human, whose life happens to be made supposedly a little easier by the advertised product. I think an important step to integrating those who are different into the media is to recognize their position while still treating them as a human being. Nobody needs to be treated as a sideshow act, no differently than they don't need to be infantilized or put on a pedestal either.
SharksFan99 likes this
|
|
|
|
Post by al on Jul 28, 2018 1:54:18 GMT 10
|
|
|
|
Post by SharksFan99 on Jul 28, 2018 2:21:48 GMT 10
Your entire post is very good and I do agree with it, but I thought I would highlight what I found particularly potent. The problem is absolutely in presentation. Documentaries are known for being boring, sure, but at least the style tends to be dignified. TLC, who mainly comes to my mind despite being far from the only guilty party, showcases these people as pure entertainment. Even despite some dramatization, it still comes off as ironic; they know the bulk of their viewers are watching to make fun. So what should they be doing instead? Here is an ad that aired a few years ago I found highly successful: What I liked about this is how nonchalant it is about his disability. Of course it is mentioned immediately, we cannot pretend he doesn't have one. But we still see him as a real, functioning human, whose life happens to be made supposedly a little easier by the advertised product. I think an important step to integrating those who are different into the media is to recognize their position while still treating them as a human being. Nobody needs to be treated as a sideshow act, no differently than they don't need to be infantilized or put on a pedestal either. I completely agree. The presentation is ultimately what resonates with people the most. It gets people talking. If people with disabilities are stigmatized or ridiculed in any way, it is only going to reinforce the viewpoint among some members of the public that they shouldn't be treated with the same level of respect as everyone else in the community. Through appropriate and effective presentation, the cultural attitudes towards those with disabilities will eventually change over time. It's just about sending the right message across and emphasizing the fact that people with disabilities are equal, not inferior.
al likes this
|
|
