Okay, I thought this was difficult and I don't think i'd really say this specific media text offers 'sweetness and light' or is 'the best that's thought or said' but I do think it communicates values especially social and cultural ones.
The context i've chosen is TV dramas but specifically the channel 4 drama 'Shameless' and this is why. Even though it's not based on or about real people I think it reflects what a lot of today's modern society and culture is like especially the state of Britain's council estates and their often colourful inhabitants. Naturally the character's are larger than life because after all it is a TV drama, it's not meant to be real, but some of the values it communicates ring true to the lifestyle choices and living situations of a fairly large majority of British citizens. Because believe it or not there really are people out there like Frank Gallagher, scary huh? And children having to look after one another because their parents just aren't capable is at times a very real situation. Even though these situations aren't necessarily 'happy' ones, 'Shameless' manages to make light of some pretty heavy situations without completely dulling their seriousness and well, it's down right rude but horrendously funny and it's hard to find people who don't like it.
The types of cultural values it communicates surrounding Britain's poorer areas and how some of our society act and live is something I think we can all relate to in some way or other and we more than likely know or know of someone in situations like those in the drama. 'Shameless' doesn't try to put a glossy finish on what it portrays, it simply puts it out there for the world to see in all its gloriously shocking technicolour, and that's why I think dramas like this one are media texts that offer us a slice of culture that at times can be the best, and worst, that's thought or said.
No comments:
Post a Comment