Read Diana Kendall's "Framing Class." In the course of her essay, she makes the following points. Choose one of these points, explain what she means, and state whether or not the television shows, movies, and other forms of media you have seen reflect the point she is making. Provide specific examples.
--> The poor are either invisible or depicted as props.
--> The media reinforces stereotypes about the different classes (for example, Homer Simpson's character reinforces stereotypes about the working class being dumb).
--> People think they can buy things in order to live like the wealthy do--and this is one of the reasons so many Americans are in debt.
Reminders:
--Bring your rough drafts to class on Monday. Again, although you should have a total of at least 8 sources, you will need full annotations on a MINIMUM of at least 3 of them. If you want ME to give you feedback on your rough drafts, print TWO copies and bring them to class.
--Again, if you want extra credit, write full annotations on at least 6 good sources and e-mail this to me by this weekend. I'll automatically give 5 pts extra credit to the first couple of people who e-mail me, whether or not I use your examples in class.
--Go directly to Room 827 in the Library on Monday, 3/15. We will *not* be going to our regular classroom that day.
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I agree with the third point. Consumer spending is huge in America; advertisements are going above and beyond to lure people into buying their products. Also, something that's become very popular among famous actors, musicians, and other celebrities is creating their own line of clothing, accessories, or perfumes. When average people see famous people selling these cool new things, it seems bigger and better to have that kind of perfume or that type of denim jeans. This isn't the case with every single person of course, but it truly does have a very great effect on children and teens. Younger kids are easily swayed by advertisements; not only that, but they look up to the famous celebrities who are now telling kids that if they buy their product, they'll be as cool and trendy as a famous person! Similar to when we discussed lifestyles of the 1950s, people were then, and are now, being told to buy the best and newest television set, or car, or appliance. People in return are spending way too much and obviously not suddenly becoming part of a higher class or having greater recognition.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of Kendall's points. In my onpinion, her second point is the easiest to find examples of. Not all, but some television shows depict a kind of dumb "screw up," "can't get anything done right" husband. For example: Tim the Tool Man Taylor on home improvement was always screwing stuff up. The show Family Guy portrays the main character (Peter Griffin) as a duface. Homer Simpson is a great example too as she mentions. The Office is another good example too, however I'm not sure which class they would fall into but all of the characters seem kind of goofy...
ReplyDeleteIn "Framing Class", Diana Kendall brings up the point that people think they can buy things in order to live like the wealthy. With the economy at one of its worst times, people still go out shopping for things beyond their needs of living. The cause of this really has to do with what gets advertised on television. And advertisers spend millions of dollars during commercial breaks to make sure their products are being put out there. Also, in the television shows that we watch are celebrities that wear brand name clothing, use luxurious cars, and have nice homes. A lot of Americans are in debt because they think that they can live the unrealistic lives that the people on T.V. do. Even the young kids want to wear nice things. I think Kendall is trying to say that we shouldn't be spending more than we can afford to just because the wealthy are doing so. In an episode of Suite Life of Zack and Cody, a bell boy spent his money like the heiress of the hotel did and eventually lost it all. This episode really proves Kendall's point of spending just what you have on things you need to live.
ReplyDeleteIn "Framing Class", I agree with the last two points Diana makes; but mostly with "Middle-Class Framing and Kiddy-Consumerism." This section is referring to Americans and the way they respond to advertisement. Diana states that more children in the U.S. than in any other country believe that there name brand clothing defines who they are as a person. I think that is very sad because it is very true. Sometime I even realize when I judge myself off of what I am wearing that particular day, so I know the rest of the world does the same also. I think that Diana means to make these issues alert and maybe America will realize our destruction as a body before it is too late to change it.
ReplyDeleteI think the third point is the most important because companies spend millions of dollars on advertisements to convince people that said product will improve their lives. The example she uses in the article about the jewelry that Paris Hilton pedals, giving people the idea that if you buy this product your that much closer to living the glamorous life of a socialite. The media truly plays a major part in how society is shaped.
ReplyDeleteI can fully agree on the third point that she makes. In 'the realities of hedonistic consumerism' her 1st paragraph depicts this problem so well. People buy stuff but dont have the money, so companies try to help the consumer by providing 'no money down/ no payments till' so that they can continue to spend at their stores. One of the reasons why the economy is so far down is because of this specific problem in our society.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the third one as well, only because its probably one of the most common ones seen today. So many people out there are being convinced to purchase these expensive things just because of its name brand. Alot of people feel the need to spend money on certain things to make themselves feel like they fit in. I am guilty of this as well. I find myself spending so much money on clothing just because its a name brand. I find it sad how some people out there will actually judge a person for not wearing a name brand.People like that cause every other person to feel like they have to buy certain things in order to be liked. Many people express themselvs with what they drive and what they wear. Money speaks but it does not say who you are. Everyone strives to be like these models,singers and actors, when really they need to realize that those people are all out to get our money. We make them rich. Advertising medias strongly advertise all their products using celebrities knowing that young teenagers would be wheeled into it. Its every where, from magazines TV, the movie theater, internet and many other places. Everyone wants to be "cool" so they'd get the materials needed in order to get that title. This is causing people to become in depth without even realizing. They are spending their money on things they do not need and they still sit there and question themselves what happened to their money.If you can not afford it do not buy it. People need to be more responsible with their money and how they spend it.
ReplyDeleteIn my cultural anthropology class we are also discussing the American spending. The 3rd point is very much real here in America which bases much value in materialism. Average people want to feel a sense of happiness or success in getting what they want. Advertisement is also a major factor that shapes our society. Even growing up at a young age we are targeted by corporations and businesses and taught to be consumers. I feel the desire for temporary happiness (material goods) is the root cause for the people in debt.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kendall's third idea. The American dream has been altered by the media. The easiest target I feel is our youth who are highly influenced by the media. The media gives us a distortion on what reality is. It has taught us to value materialism. Once one of these products are bought, you feel a sense of happiness, although it can put a damaging hole in your pocket which is why it can leave you in debt.
ReplyDeleteIn the article "framing class", I agree with the third point because modern people look up to what they see in media such as "The Simple Life" and "The Fabulous Life Of". People tend to set the celebrities as a role model to achieve what they have and whatever they do. people are blinded by the fancy materials that they see in television and purchase what they can barely afford. Therefore, our current poor economic is due to our over spending and greeds that can be satisfied by achieving what the upper class have.
ReplyDeleteAs Kendall mentioned, middle class are the backbone of our society and middle classes are the ones that look up to what the upper class have the most. cars they drive and brands they wear. over spending brought our country to where we are today.
In Diana Kendall's article "Framing Class", I would say I agree most with the third point. A good chunk of why America is in so much debt, is do to people with unpaid credit cards. They think they are capable of buying new cars, houses, and whatever else they see celebrities buying, but in the media that's who they look up to. However, once they get that credit card bill every month, they easily fall behind because they didn't really think about how much it was going to cost them vs. how much they make. Kendall states "In a mass-mediated culture such as ours, the media do not simply mirror society; rather, they help shape it and create cultural perceptions." I think this is such a powerful statement because nowadays people are looking so much into the media, it literally becomes their lives. I think it's too easy for society to get lurd in by the expensive accessories, that they tend to forget who they are.
ReplyDeleteDiana Kendall in “Framing Class” points out that many people excessively buy things that they don’t need in order to live like the wealthy, resulting in huge debts. She makes the point that this is result of hedonistic consumerism, an obsession for consumerism as being the main source of happiness for a person. I agree that television shows, movies, and other forms of media are so focused on selling products and making money instead of focusing on the truth and issues in our society. Through the media, America’s children are being taught and brought up with the idea that one’s possessions defines who they are and what their social status is. Therefore, America wrongly accepts the idea that it is all right to buy what isn’t affordable, resulting in life-long debts.
ReplyDeleteFor point number three Diana is simply describing "trying to beat the Jones family". People are buying things so they can win the "who has the better toy" competition. They buy things even though they don't have the money which cause them to get into debt. The media has a huge affect on this. Majority of advertisement is buy buy buy. But once a person buys that one object and new and better one comes out and they will soon go out and buy that one.
ReplyDeleteI would most likely have to agree with the third point Diana makes, about people buying stuff with out the money. Companies always bring up the no money down and pay later stuff, and that just gets people into debt. Look at the recession were in now a big part of that is because banks brought up this loan that started off cheap but the interest rose rapidly so suddenly no one was able to afford the house and the housing market crashed. The same thing goes for cars motorcycles and etc.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of Kendall's points but mostly with the second one since it is true that many working class people are depicted as dumb since they don't speak properly like people in the higher class society or because they all have working class jobs because of a lack in education.
ReplyDelete