Modern Family

Last night I found myself sitting in front of my tv watching the popular, very talked about, Modern Family. I've watched it a few times before, but until last night had not found how it was so appealing and satisfying to watch. After our discussion on Tuesday it actually made me connect this type of narrative/drama to what we were speaking about.

The series seems to be somewhat realistic, in the fact that the scenes don't seem to be overly planned out, or unrealistic in the drama that is happening. The family is displayed as very interconnected, the relationships they have and maintain seem to be something any viewer can connect with. The structure of the series keeps people involved in the lives of the characters. learning the personalities of the different characters adds to the experience of the show itself, understanding the roles different people play and how they interact with the rest of the family.

I also think this show is important because it visually broadens the definition of family for us in the US, allowing us to see the many different that have developed over the years. Shows like this provide entertainment to a vast array of viewers, but I think this is largely possible because they can relate to the different family structures as well as situations.

I know I'm going to catch up on the season so far and start watching!

Luder's Article

"Digitalization and personal use of media technologies have destabilized the traditional dichotomization between mass communication and interpersonal communication,and therefore between mass media and personal media (e.g.mobile phones, email,instant messenger,blogs and photo-sharing services)" (683).
This from Luders article really correlates to what we discussed last week. It erased the line between corporation and individual. This was because now people could interact in a new form of media - this eliminated a new boundary. I think that the above quote can be further developed by including video share on one website creates a new type of connection. 

"Tools for personal communication have seen a remarkable development with the digitalization of media technologies.As media for personal communication,these tools may be labelled ‘personal media’ "(684).
Personal media is something that created a much more interactive way communicating. Narratives were no longer producer ->viewer oriented, but could work in either way. This to me is possibly the biggest step for media creations, because more and more people became interested. 

"Technological development is situated within a social and political context" (685). Only certain boundaries are appropriate to cross, or logical. I like this quote because it obviously keeps some realisticness in how involved people can get. For instance, an individual person cannot produce a full length film - BUT one can create a short, self edited, and short film for laughs on youtube.

"Prior to the digitalization of personal media,people generally knew with whom they were communicating" (686).
I can relate to this and that is why I really think it is relevant. If we post something on youtube you're never really sure who is watching it, purely because there are so many people involved in the success of the website.

Sharing media is revolutionary because it changes story telling in a way that may have never before seen possible. I know that because people are doing the same as me I find it even more enjoyable to see how many hits a blogpost or even new video gets. It is all about the interaction and ability to network.

Youtube and Web episodes

The phenomenon the youtube has become is incredible. I do think that one of the most attractive thing about the site is the ability to share media, but also watch it. Users are able to upload personal files and see what people think. The interaction the website allows provides people with more than just entertainment.

I know that this is what we spoke about in class. I also find it interesting that people use the website for advertisements. I am a competitive horseback rider, many professionals post short clips of horses with contact information in hopes that someone will pursue for a purchase. This is striking to me, because with the expansion of the internet there is not only web episodes but also personal motivating clips put up for business purposes.

It takes the public away from the traditional corporate content and allows viewers to create their own. There is a lot of remixing (as you said in class) and I think this is also an extremely popular thing. People can put their spin off on something previously produced to make it more interesting to themselves and hopefully other people.

I think the biggest attraction of things like youtube is that people can really be interactive and included in the production process. Even if what they are watching is not their own, they have posted something for other people to watch - which may be satisfying. The idea behind a lot of this is changing something, or making fun of something else. Web episodes tend to do this also, which is very amusing to people. It is also a nice break from prime tv. It is a way to watch something entertaining without taking a large chunk out of your day. I think that web episodes may be something that becomes more popular than hour long episodes as people becoming increasingly busy.

Oprah, Ellen Degeneres, Extreme Home Makeover... Reality Tv at its Finest

So, after our lengthy discussion about Oprah and everything she represents just through her talk show I got to thinking. I actually started thinking about Ellen Degeneres and her talk show - is she the next Oprah?

I think it is very possible that Ellen could have an equally positive impact through her talk show. Oprah emphasizes her lending hand given out to those less privileged; this has become a significant element in Ellen's talk show. She gives brand new cars to families who cannot afford them on their own, but require the mobilization, I'd say this counts. But, this brings another question, are we just focusing on material reality?

We see this type of reality in Extreme Home Makeover when the family is given a bigger house, the one they were living in was so small two people holding hands could touch either side of the room, and all of the children shared one bedroom; filled with bunk beds.

All of these reality makeover shows provide something that improves the materials a family or individual has to deal with. It may seem to be providing aid to the problem, but it simply appears this way to the uneducated eye; no one things about what happens when "the paint chips and we can still see the cracks" (figuratively speaking). These high power individuals provide potential for success, but the inability for these families/individuals to provide for themselves beyond this help is where we see problems. For example, the extremely high mortgage on a new house, or the monthly car payments on the generous 2010 model car.

What is given seems to relate to material wealth - it states then, that our society is infatuated with this as a statement of success. So, I go to say are they really helping, or just doing so to make money off of a television show.

I know this might be stretch, don't get me wrong, Oprah building a school in Africa is nothing but good. But the isolated individual being put on the spot because of falling on hard times, or psychological struggles does not always benefit from the aid that is given.

My point is, does these individuals know the burden that is potentially placed based on their generous donation? Or do they simply do good deeds strictly to benefit those in need.

It goes back to a societal view, the American dream, from rags to riches. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps - that's what makes a success story. So, in fact, these people are given a little boost, but still expected to make it for themselves.

Are these shows for entertainment? information? of course, if they just wanted to do a good deed it wouldn't need to be on their show. They as well as everyone else values, and expects to see the display of material wealth in reality television shows.

Make Over

After class on Tuesday I began thinking about how it is fairly typical for any television show (whether a series or a talk show) to begin with a problem and fight for or seek out resolution for the duration of the show itself. This idea of self transformation is the key aspect to understand in make over TV.

It appears most often that the "privileged" people on the show (host) provide what is required in order for an individual to take the next step in their life. The set up is conventional, the host is mixed between the audience and the guest, but the guest and audience are set on two different platforms - further separating the needy from the general public (physically not just emotionally).

People voluntarily put themselves on stage in front of millions of viewers. This proves that their problems are being presented for more than the therapy the expert is providing, but to actually publicize the matter. This can be to provide knowledge in a subject that is often disregarded. Or it can be to send a message that the sometimes uncomfortable topic is okay to talk about, that others are not alone. 

Oprah is the best example of all of these things. The most influential thing about her talk show over the years is the ability or attempt she had to identify with her guests. This not only opened up her guests but also made an emotional connection between Oprah, interviewed, and audience.

She is so very popular, but as Peck says its not just about what she says, we have to look deeper. It is easy to see what a major impact she has had on her viewers, however it is very hard to see how powerful she is in these transformations.

I think the biggest appeal in Oprah's talk show was that we had real insight into her life. She had struggles (with weight , etc.) and we as viewers were invited to encourage and be along her side the entire time. This to me is extraordinary because it isn't common.

Reality, reality, reality....

New reality tv sub-genres are popping up to viewers as our society is changing. This is interesting to me because Home Makeover is not a new show, but addresses families that are poverty ridden due to tragedy among other things. But shoes like the Fairy Jobmother are created now because of the great loss of jobs in our country. She addresses people that are not capable of getting a job on their own, up to this point, and aids them in interviewing ways.

“Being on this network insures that we concentrate on the emotional stories, that is to say,
on how unemployment feels for the whole family, not just for the breadwinner,” said
Stephen Lambert, this said by Rosenblum. This shows why viewers are so attracted to this type of show. Their is a serious emotional connection to the viewer and the subject of the show. 

I know from personal experience that I become extremely emotional when the renovated house is revealed to the deserving family. There is something about this moment that is so gratifying.

This shows the direct correlation between viewer and subject. People watch the show because they can see the insight into it, they can relate to the characters, they can understand what is going on. The emotional connection establishes a constant viewer.

Rosneblum also says, “These are interesting people with interesting stories and different personalities, all of which is very compelling. Everyone is feeling some economic pinch these days, and how that
affects families and relationships makes for great stories.” These stories are very compelling also because sometimes it gives insight into a life that is often talked about but unknown. None the less the biggest factor is the association between people, the ability to attach to the emotional that is being described. The story can continue to change and the actual content can change as long as people can be one with the emotion in the character.

Therefore, this genre has a very broad range of ways that it can attract audiences. Because all that it really needs to aim for is a story that can be related to.

Until next time

The more I think about blogs the more of a continuous cycle I find myself going in to.

After class on Tuesday when we addressed many elements of the genre I found myself exploring new possibilities. This idea of import/export seems so foreign to me because when watching our "version" I really don't think about where it came from. But, I do find it very interesting that different places around the world find the same thing attractive to the eye and further willing to follow the lives of the characters.

The idea that each of these shows really tells the same story is so true, although it seems different because of the replacement of setting and characters. I like how this is all tied into transmedia storytelling, but in a different way entirely. The viewers are supplied with the means of interacting further than eye to screen. The experience is not complete until the viewer participates in some way, shape, or form. The "forcing/need" to interact leads to investment in the show itself, if one needs to do more than just sit and watch they feel they do not want to lose the effort they have put into the show.

The direct access to the characters basically provides the character with information without having to work for it. This may be a turn off for some, because the ambiguity of what is going on keeps people interested. The search is intriguing, and the viewers are in for the thrill and the roller coaster ups and downs of twists and turns that keep tricking.

The viewers not only don't have to search for the information, they also find themselves having to sort out through everything that is supplied because there is more information than needed. This process makes them think about what is important rather than searching for the missing links.

The different format does not remove work, it almost just reverses it. I find this very interesting because to me it explains why the genre may be so popular. Viewers are used to a certain way of watching, but now they are put into a different environment and a different type of "storytelling" this is what brings viewers in. however, those who are so extremely pleased with the construction of shows often are deterred by the format, and if beginning as fans they are eventually not a fan. I have never thought of the genre compared to other shows, using the same elements and framework and the way it is used.

The last class really put a different perspective toward the genre for me, and the framework that I am looking at makes me see it in a different light than a consumer who is "addicted" to this form of junk, supposed reality. The realisticness of the show is slowly diminishing for me, and the framework is exposed to show how they can draw in the greatest amount of viewers.

It's a big category for me, and I'm interested how it will continue to attract viewers, or broaden to include those who has of now have no interest because of the way information is just given.