An example in which real life influences theater and in turn these representations influence society is the TV show America's Next Top Model. The objective of this reality show is to find "undiscovered" talent and train young women through challenges and photo shoots on how to become a legitimate model. America greatly values appearance and the contestants are chosen mostly on looks to begin with. These women are extremely thin and beautiful--traits that every American woman wishes they were. The contestants strive to look "fierce" in their photo shoots and are judged by a panel on how they look in the shot. The idea that the contestants stand before a panel every week reflects society's tendency to judge others by their appearances and not necessarily by their personality.
America's Next Top Model in turn influences society because it reinforces the traits that are important to have in order to be considered "beautiful". It shapes the characteristics that women strive to have. For example, most of the women on the show are at least 5'9 and weigh about 120 pounds--a stature that most women do not even come close to. However, because these lanky contestants are praised for their body types on the show, this may make viewers want to look like these "models" in hope that they too will be considered beautiful. These types of shows shape our society's views of what is beautiful and what is ugly.
1 comment:
Good observations and clear written style (you presented your idea and followed through with concrete examples). You hinted at your opinion or viewpoint on the issue, but didn't make an explicit statement. You can add sentences that state: "I think that..." or "I argue that..."
Also, make sure you don't end sentences with prepositions, conjunctions, or verbs as in this sentence: "chosen mostly on looks to begin with." Instead, "To begin with, they are chosen mostly on their looks."
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