Tubes Lessons
Television from the beginning has been a medium where the viewer could seek entertainment, news, and even learn a little something (shout out to PBS!). It's the lessons that we learn on television that are applicable to real life that I'd like to discuss today (I'm being so formal). What got me thinking about about all of this was the petition to save Huge, ABC Family's. It's a show centered on overweight teens at a "fat camp" that deals with issues beyond weight and is actually a sensitive, humorous, enlightening portrayal of an under-served demographic in our society. Yes, it's true that we now see more obese people on television everyday with "The Biggest Loser", "Dance Your Ass Off" and one of the most offensive VH1's "Money Hungry". And while the participants in these shows signed off on all of the craziness, these shows aren't what I'd think would be comforting to people who are facing similar issues. But Huge was a show that showed a real side to the issue of being a larger member of society.
Which brings me to my point. We can all learn something from good television. In my opinion, shows like "Teen Mom" and "16 & Pregnant" are the kinds of television that can actually impact lives of real people struggling with these issues. MTV released data this week that "16 & Pregnant" is making an impression on the that age group about the difficulty of teen pregnancy and parenting. And even to some extent fictional shows like "The Secret Life of American Teenagers" (I've discussed these shows before). And last night while watching "Glee", that episode was about tolerance, as show co-creator Ryan Murphy said himself. Beyond the discussion of tolerating different beliefs, the show covered gay teen issues - a topic that's been in the headlines over the last two weeks- acceptance of the mentally challenged.
I don't think shows need to be preachy in order to get points across (my major bone of contention with "Secret Life") but I do think it's important when shows touch upon sensitive issues that they do it in a manner that showcases the issue well, but is also integrated into the show seamlessly, and not like so "a very special episode" per 80's and 90's tv.
Which brings me to my point. We can all learn something from good television. In my opinion, shows like "Teen Mom" and "16 & Pregnant" are the kinds of television that can actually impact lives of real people struggling with these issues. MTV released data this week that "16 & Pregnant" is making an impression on the that age group about the difficulty of teen pregnancy and parenting. And even to some extent fictional shows like "The Secret Life of American Teenagers" (I've discussed these shows before). And last night while watching "Glee", that episode was about tolerance, as show co-creator Ryan Murphy said himself. Beyond the discussion of tolerating different beliefs, the show covered gay teen issues - a topic that's been in the headlines over the last two weeks- acceptance of the mentally challenged.
I don't think shows need to be preachy in order to get points across (my major bone of contention with "Secret Life") but I do think it's important when shows touch upon sensitive issues that they do it in a manner that showcases the issue well, but is also integrated into the show seamlessly, and not like so "a very special episode" per 80's and 90's tv.
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