Reality TV - Perspectives

http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/05/lauren-zalaznick

Ms. Zalaznick is incredibly intelligent and articulate. I really enjoyed listening to the way she frames her career, popular culture and the role of the media in shaping the human condition. She is sharp and is very clear in defining her professional goals as well as the goals of her industry. She raises many provocative ideas. These questions struck me:

Is reality TV "sports for woman"? What is this all about? Why can't women enjoy sports as they are? Moreover, why do men and women flock to the drama of competition, rather than the celebration of skill and excellence?

Does reality TV allow us to engage in social comparison and does this process help shape our senses of personal identity? If this is the case, are these borderline pathological people profiled on reality TV serve our identity formation or should we choose other models?

Connections

Are you wondering how all of these topics and ideas are connected . . . ME TOO! Part of the purpose of this blog is for me to collect and organize the big ideas that are interesting to me. Eventually, these concepts will intersect and come together in a way that might even help me shape some future research or writing. We shall see!

Mothers

http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/05/ruth-reichl

What a powerful and compelling program. Resolving the relationships between mothers and daughters is so incredibly challenging and so multi-layered. Women seem to carry their parenting legacies with them in ways that are different from men. We also seem to embody our relationships and hang onto these influences in so many ways. Ms. Reichl tells her story boldly and honestly. She encourages us all to be understanding, forgiving and free to love ourselves and our mothers.