Class Dismissed [5/8]

Class Dismissed
How TV Frames the Working Class

Narrated by Ed Asner

Based on the forthcoming book by Pepi Leistyna, Class Dismissed navigates the steady stream of narrow working class representations from American television's beginnings to today's sitcoms, reality shows, police dramas, and daytime talk shows.

Featuring interviews with media analysts and cultural historians, this documentary examines the patterns inherent in TV's disturbing depictions of working class people as either clowns or social deviants -- stereotypical portrayals that reinforce the myth of meritocracy.

Class Dismissed breaks important new ground in exploring the ways in which race, gender, and sexuality intersect with class, offering a more complex reading of television's often one-dimensional representations. The video also links television portrayals to negative cultural attitudes and public policies that directly affect the lives of working class people.

Featuring interviews with Stanley Aronowitz, (City University of New York); Nickel and Dimed author, Barbara Ehrenreich; Herman Gray (University of California-Santa Cruz); Robin Kelley (Columbia University); Pepi Leistyna (University of Massachusetts-Boston) and Michael Zweig (State University of New York-Stony Brook). Also with Arlene Davila, Susan Douglas, Bambi Haggins, Lisa Henderson, and Andrea Press.

Sections: Class Matters | The American Dream Machine | From the Margins to the Middle | Women Have Class | Class Clowns | No Class | Class Action

http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=411

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• class
• dismissed
• tv
• television
• working
• economic
• social
• political
• injustice
• capitalism
• globalism
• myth
• system
• individualism
• meritocracy
• critique

[jubitoftw]

"objective analysis"? if you look at statistics, it's a fairly accurate depiction of reality. actually more accurate than any other.

[thejakeman16]

"I don't think so" is fortunately still inadmissible as evidence in serious scientific study.

[32peartree]

I agree with the general thesis but its too simplistic to say all these characters reaffirm negative stereotypes. Often the ' class clown' is cast has the anti hero kicking against the mores of their time, whereas the rich and the bourgeois are often depicted has cold and superficial. Moreover, this is a very old concept; think The Fool in King Lear or Charlie Chaplin's tramp.

[32peartree]

I agree with the general thesis but it's too simplistic to suggest all these characters fit negative stereotypes. Often the lovable slob is portrayed has the anti-heroe giving the proverbial finger to the prevailing wisdom of the day. Whereas the bourgeois are depicted has shallow and superficial. Moreover, this is a very ancient concept - think the Fool in King Lear or the Grave Digger in Hamlet.

[32peartree]

Aren't we forgetting that in our post post modern world all value judgements are relative. What's wrong with drinking beer and watching the tube? This implies that ''middleclass'' left-wing intellectuals are being a little sniffy themselves about working class taste - 'if only we could get them to read books' they seem to imply - their lives would become so much richer. These characters ' holy fools if you will' are very ancient indeed; think the grave digger in Hamlet.

[ubcphysicsyangbo]

Wow I especially like this segment of the video.

[pandorasmk]

Drew was right about the beer you know.

[TripleAgent83]

I love these videos!!!

[SpectacleofDebord]

@TheWilliamcale Then you obviously know nothing about sociology, objectivity, or ideology

[philmontphan]

So many stereotypes, why stereotype people? Why not just depict reality without sugarcoating?

[socrstreets]

Mind trying to support what you say?

[pedalero]

please elaborate