This statement is very true, as almost everybody owns a TV or has access to some other type of media, such as a computer or tablet. The views and information displayed within these types of media are easily transferable to the viewer, and even though they choose whether to believe it or not, they will still know of the opinion and keep it in consideration. For example, in the 'IT Crowd', Moss and Roy are based in the basement of a huge business, and are looked upon by the other workers on the upper floors as outsiders or weirdos. They are treated this way because they know everything about modern technology and computers, when the other 'normal' people know nothing at all. Out of the millions of people who have watched as much as one episode of this programme, there will be a minority who will develop the same view that is being portrayed though the characters by the writers as comedy. After all, this programme is funny due to these characters being different, and most people do view nerds as strange as they have a dedicated interest in something most people know only a small amount about. You could even go as far as saying that the writers are expressing the view that all IT technicians are weirdos, but of course the programme isn't portraying this view seriously, if not at all. The same can be said for Boogie's comedy Youtube videos that focus on the main protagonist Francis. Through seeing Francis, people may then think that all serious gamers are really fat and have some kind of speech impediment, even though anybody can enjoy computer games. They may think that anybody who plays computer games must have no life outside of these virtual worlds, and that you cannot enjoy comupter games unless you dedicate your life to it. Of course this is wrong, as you can enjoy the occasional computer game no matter what stereotype you are classed as.
Stuart Hall - 'Media seems to reflect reality, but in fact they construct it'
This statement relates well to 'The Big Bang Theory', as I personally feel that my own view of nerds has changed as a result of this programme. When this programme first started,the characters portrayed typical nerd characteristics, but one that I have notice change is the characteristic of being bad around girls. This is a central characteristic of a nerd, but I think it has changed somewhat as the seasons of this programme have progressed. All the characters are dreadful with the opposite sex in the first coupe of seasons, but eventually they learn from their mistakes and in the current season, all the characters have or have had successful relationships with women. Their social skills as a whole have improved and they still enjoy all the stuff that they did before, such as comic books and video games. In modern times it is not surprising to see a nerd have a girlfriend, but it used to be. This was because everyone thought that nerds were only interested in their video games and school work, and that that they didn't have any time for anything else. 'The Big Bang Theory' has gone someway to changing this perception
No comments:
Post a Comment