I generally don't have time to watch TV, so most of my viewing is limited to times we are in between semesters. However, this weekend i was attempting to catch up on last season of Teen Mom on MTV.
The segment of the show that i watched was an episode entitled ' As Long as We're Together'
Teen Mom (Season 3) | Ep. 9 | 'As Long As We're Together'
In this episode, Farrah and her parents go on a trip to Arizona; for Farrah it is to look into homes, for her parents it seems to be a vacation. If we skip around to one of the other couples followed by the show, you find Tyler meeting Catelynn's dad for the first time and her reuniting with her father, who is somewhat absent from her life. Amber and Gary still have their problems, but for the sake of the holidays seem to be trying to keep it together for Leah. As far as Maci and Bentley go, she seems to be trying to stick it out with Kyle, but is having problems balancing her schoolwork and time with Bentley.
I think every couple and single parent i have mentioned above is a 'hostage'. Everyone knows and expects Farrah to shoot some snide remark towards her parents and make a scene no matter where they are. Catelynn can be counted on to bring immaturity to the forefront. Amber and Gary are constantly bickering and letting their emotions get the best of them, even in front of their daughters. Lastly, Maci always has boy problems or issues with school, which of course we can all relate to.
Of course i enjoy watching the show, otherwise i wouldn't waste nearly an hour of my time (i ffwd commercials). I think what makes the show so alluring is the feeling of empowerment that one receives while watching someone struggle with life. It's sick, but we all feel that we are in a sense 'better' than those we are watching; whether it be that we are bettered by watching and learning from their experiences or by false pretense. As the audience we have the upper hand to think outside of the here and now, where as if we were constantly being filmed we wouldn't have the 'alone' time or time to clear our thoughts. I also feel that for some of the more vulnerable and impressionable viewers out there, this show might be somewhat idolized in the sense that it is okay for younger teens to have children. It's entrancing to have an inside view on the 'intimate' sides of these young women's lives; we can connect with them on some level because a lot of the things they are facing are the same ones we face everyday. We almost get a sense that we know the people; I know on more than one occasion my friends and I have talked about the stars from teen mom as if they were someone we went to high school with.
We are voyeurs. We enjoy watching others struggle. We are sick.
I agree that after watching a show as intimate as this one you begin to think that you know the people on the show personally. I definitely think in all of this there are bits and pieces that we can relate to. I feel like "Teen Mom" can go postive or negative depending on how you view it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Taylor when you say that you seem to get to know the people on the show personally. I have watched this show many times and I feel that what is alluring about it is that it shows a life that most people have not seen before and know nothing about. Up until lately being a teenage mother was kind of a secretive thing, you didn't want people to know you were pregnant let alone a teenager raising a child and now they are showing it one tv. They are making it public to everyone. It kind of goes back to what Gabler says about its like the kick of peering through the keyhole.
ReplyDeleteI laughed at your last line a bit because I think it's kinda true. Some people watch it because of that reason. It's like saying 'wow I'm glad my life doesn't have that much drama.' I thinks it's because of that we watch it more. I also agree that you do form a connection with the characters and feel like we know them. Especially if you watch the series from the beginning and continue watching it.
ReplyDeleteNot gonna lie, I totally talk with my friends about the "stars" of reality tv like I personally know them. I know that reality shows are a very popular topic amoung our age group, because everyone talks, posts, or tweets about them. I think that we watch them to 1. bring drama into our lives and 2. like you said, to make us feel better about our lives, because we are not going through the hardships they are facing. If I were going through something this personal, like having a child at a young age, I would not want to have my business broadcasted for everyone to see.
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