Culture and Prime Time Television Essay

Cultural studies is a scathing approach that focuses attention on the role of the media as a caput means by which political orientation is introduced and reinforced within contemporary gardening. ace of the central tenets of cultural studies is that the media promote the rife ideology of a purification (Silverblatt, 98). Primetime boob tube, programming on goggle box that airs between the hours of 7-10 p. m. central sample time, is one of the come to the forelets that culture uses to deliver set therefore, some of the expresss that air on primetime television argon a professedly reflection of paramount ideology/culture.Cultural studies and media literacy theories help to explain how this is evident in the mess seasons delivered through and through umpteen of the fork outs that air on primetime television. A few realness shows that reflect the supreme the Statesn culture/ideology are guardianship up with the Kardashians, the Statess Next illuminate archetype, an d drop deads sign. retention up with the Kardashians is an the Statesn ingenuousness television show that airs on primetime television. It documents the lives of the Kardashians and the Jenners. The Kardashians acknowledge Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and Robert.They are the babyren of the late Robert Kardashian. The Jenners include Bruce, Kylie, Kendall, and Kris. Bruce and Kris Jenner are the parents of this blended family. Keeping up with the Kardashians became a major hit from inception. The show offers its consultation the opportunity to learn to a gr run downer extent about the Kardashians. The show reveals secrets about the family that the audience wouldnt otherwise know. For instance, it allowed the audience to learn details about scandals that took place in some of the Kardashians lives before they became famous.In addition, the show offers its audience the opportunity to persona the familys rise to fame. victorion Kim Kardashian is the close popular person on the show , numerous of her siblings are beginning to share the spotlight as a result of being on the show. The imposition of an ideology within a culture is referred to as hegemony. Critical theorists like Stuart Hall argue that the worldviews presented through the media do not merely reflect or reinforce culture unless in fact tempt thinking by promoting the dominant ideology of a culture(Silverblatt, 99). magic spell retentiveness up with the Kardashians was more than likely created as a means of making money for some(prenominal) the producers and the family, the show probably has more of an effect on hostel than it believes that is does. On the current season of the show, Kourtney Kardashian is trying to get pregnant with her second child by Scott Disick, her first sons father. Because Kourtney is famous and she and Scott are not married, the audience may begin to think that it is okay to have kids out of wedlock. This type of behavior fixms to be becoming a dominant ideology. piec e this type of behavior occurs in our society, it was never accepted as muster outly as it is now. On another note, the shows does offer the conquer worldview where striving for victor is often portrayed as a test of individualised resolve, requiring elucidate, sacrifice, and allegiance (Silverblatt, 111). On Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kris, Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe work very hard to be successful. They are very disciplined, committed, and driven for success. They sacrifice having relationships and time with family to pursue their dreams. This is not a dominant ideology in our culture.While hard work, commitment, and discipline equal success in American culture, not too many throng will sacrifice being a sort from their families, especially their husbands for success. Keeping up with the Kardashians can also be viewed as a battle worldview. This means that the show suggests through the characters actions that success is a sport, in which people compete against one anoth er (Silverblatt, 111). On the or so recent fortune of Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kim becomes very competitive to a point where she bets Kourtney $10,000 to range her in a game of chess.This bet was raised after Kim had already lost the first game of chess and had to become Kourtneys maidservant for a day. As stated on the show, Kims drive to be the best, even in here career, makes her a very competitive person. On top of being very competitive, she is also a soar loser. She uses her gains as a way to measure her success against her sisters success. The contest worldview reminds me of the American phrase, slip awaying up with the Jones. Some people live to be like somebody else and to have just as much or more than the close person.Keeping up with the Kardashians, as the name implies seems to think that society wants to be on their level in terms of success and fame. In a society and culture were have gotions and wealth tend to settle you, there is no wonder why the sh ow is a huge hit. Unfortunately this is a scatter of the American culture however, it is not a dominant ideology. Americas Next circus tent Model is another popular reality television show that airs on primetime television. The show was the first show of its kind that offered teenagers and young women the opportunity to compete on national television to become Americas Next Top Model.The show was a huge success from inception and quickly became one of the highest rated shows on cyberspace television that appealed to a wide audience of females ranging from age 18-34. By inviting America into the lives of beautiful models, the modeling industry, and beauty and fashion, Americas Next Top Model entered the market as a force to be reckoned with. While Americas Next Top Model emerged as a reflection of American culture, in many ways it also began to crop American culture. It became Americas new trendsetter, beauty expert, modeling mentor, and entertainment. individually season of Amer icas Next Top Model offers its audience 9-13 episodes with 10-14 contestants competing for the title of Americas Next Top Model. A contestant is eliminated on each episode of the show, which steepens the competition as the season progresses. To succeed the audience with a more realistic feel for the industry, Americas Next Top Model offers drastic makeovers, personal life experiences of the contestants, low-spirited challenges, traveling ventures, and extravagant living arrangements. Beauty is a huge part of the show as implied by the title of the show, but talent along with ambition bring ins a major role as well.According to Silverblatt, the personal values of the media communicator are interwoven with membership in a subroutine of subcultures based upon gender, ethical/racial identity, stage of life, and class which operate accord to separate value systems. In order to identify a value system operating in a media production, it is of paramount importance to define its cultu re (Silverblatt, 109). It is evident that Americas Next Top Model shares an American culture. Not only does the producer, Tyra Banks, share this same American culture, but she also shares other subcultures with her audience, which includes gender, stages of life, and race.Analyzing characters is a strategy that Silverblatt addresses as a way to identify the value system operating within media presentations. Heroes and Heroines embody those qualities that society considers admirable. Heroes generally prevail in media entertainment programming because they embody the values that are esteemed within the culture (Silverblatt, 109). Both Tyra Banks and the contestants of Americas Next Top Model signify beauty and talent, which are qualities that most women would fare to have.These girls signify what our culture defines as model material and and then a reflection of a dominant ideology. They are tall, slim, have unflawed skin, and are beautiful. These are qualities that some of the aud ience may either possess or admire in the contestants. Successful media figures are in control, free to determine their own fates (Silverblatt, 111). The contestants on the show are determined to be unique, to stand out from the crowd, and to win the title. They know that their fate on the show and for their life thereafter depends on their determination to win.These are roles that are shared by most Americans. American culture suggests that fate is in the workforce of the beh older therefore, this face of the show is a reflection of a dominant ideology. This implies that whatever happens in life is the sole responsibility of the individual and that success comes with being confident and in control. Runs House is to that extent another American reality television show that airs on primetime television. The show introduces America to high-minded Run, also known as Run DMC, as a minister, his family, and his family life.Runs House focuses on man of the cloth Run as provides pare nting to his family of five children which range in age from age 8 to 21 with his loving wife, Justine. Viewers get a see Reverend Run in action as this hands-on, very involved, pat gone minister dad negotiates everyday parenting challenges from the birds and the bees to helping with homework. Runs House is a perfect example of American culture as we know it. This family of seven that consists of five children and a mother and father in the home prays together, eats together, and participate in family activities and trips together.While the children of the show lifelessness get in trouble for misbehaving or getting bad grades, they comply their parents. They seem to honor the values that they are taught and work hard to keep their parents proud. On one particular episode of the show, the audience learned that genus Vanessa and Angela were still virgins at age 18 and 21. In this same episode, the girls mark that they are going to wait until they are married before they lock away in sexual activities. This is a lesson that is taught to many, but carried out by fewer. While this seems to be far from the norm in current day society, his aspect of the show could shape culture and have a huge collision on the younger audience who admire Angela and Vanessa. Runs House seems to fit the Physical Ideal worldview which means that the family is admired because of the role that they play in this society. Reverend Run and his family seem to still be grounded with old fashion values in a society and culture where that seems to be fading, temptations are ever increasing, and infidelity is accepted. Some families no longer eat at the table together nevertheless, pray together.In addition, some children are being raised in single family homes where the mother works most of the time. Living in a home where there are 2 parents that have vested interest in their childrens lives and that seem to be laughing(prenominal) makes this family a physical ideal that most people wou ld admire and would love to have. Cultural studies and media literacy theories help to identify dominant ideology in media which includes primetime television (Silverblatt, 98). The three reality television shows listed above are either deeply embedded in American culture or either shape it.For the most part, Keeping up with the Kardashians and Americas Next Top Model for the most part are both a true reflection of the contemporary dominant ideology. Runs House on the other hand is s reflection of the modern ideology. The role that Reverend Runs family plays in this society is more similar to march on it to Beaver which aired in the 70s and was very take into account for that time. While the show had high ratings, it is not the norm compared to other reality television shows that air on primetime television.