I recently stumbled across the winter 09/10 issue of Media Education Journal , which contains at least 4 blog-worthy articles that perked my interest. I decided to condense them into one manageable blog.
First is cover star and cultural icon Jeremy Kyle and his enormously popular daytime show. Last year, The Jeremy Kyle Show was accused by Manchester District Judge Alan Berg of being a “human form of bear baiting”. He went on to say, “It seems to me the whole purpose of The Jeremy Kyle Show is to effect a morbid and depressing display of dysfunctional people who are in some kind of turmoil. It is for no more and no less than titillating members of the public who have nothing better to do with their mornings than sit and watch this show.”
Having recently been on paternity leave, I was surprised to find this show compelling and addictive viewing on a daily basis. The article goes on to describe how using certain camera angles, strategic shots of audience members and Kyle’s interview technique can manipulate the viewers sympathies and provoke appropriate outrage when necessary. As a former part-time viewer, I found the article an interesting insight into the production of the show, but I’m also shocked as to how easy it was to be taken in by these techniques.
Also in this issue are part 1 of an article on the quality of the contemporary American drama series, with a particular focus on the show Dexter (for those who don’t know, a retelling of Jeff Lindsay’s excellent Darkly Dreaming Dexter) – about a sociopathic serial killer with an ethical code, an article on the Batman franchise and it’s ever growing popularity (despite the best efforts of Val Kilmer), and lastly, an article on the advertising of Irn Bru and how it’s become a Scottish cultural icon.
All very interesting reads whether you’re an aspiring media studies student, or like me, just watch a lot of television.
First is cover star and cultural icon Jeremy Kyle and his enormously popular daytime show. Last year, The Jeremy Kyle Show was accused by Manchester District Judge Alan Berg of being a “human form of bear baiting”. He went on to say, “It seems to me the whole purpose of The Jeremy Kyle Show is to effect a morbid and depressing display of dysfunctional people who are in some kind of turmoil. It is for no more and no less than titillating members of the public who have nothing better to do with their mornings than sit and watch this show.”
Having recently been on paternity leave, I was surprised to find this show compelling and addictive viewing on a daily basis. The article goes on to describe how using certain camera angles, strategic shots of audience members and Kyle’s interview technique can manipulate the viewers sympathies and provoke appropriate outrage when necessary. As a former part-time viewer, I found the article an interesting insight into the production of the show, but I’m also shocked as to how easy it was to be taken in by these techniques.
Also in this issue are part 1 of an article on the quality of the contemporary American drama series, with a particular focus on the show Dexter (for those who don’t know, a retelling of Jeff Lindsay’s excellent Darkly Dreaming Dexter) – about a sociopathic serial killer with an ethical code, an article on the Batman franchise and it’s ever growing popularity (despite the best efforts of Val Kilmer), and lastly, an article on the advertising of Irn Bru and how it’s become a Scottish cultural icon.
All very interesting reads whether you’re an aspiring media studies student, or like me, just watch a lot of television.
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