Introduction
The general society, an individual’s actions, opinions are shaped thanks to the information that an individual constantly interacts with. In most cases, the information that an individual associate with is a result of constant contact with a given Media. This means that when an individual is in close and constant contact with any form of stereotyped information repeatedly, the individual will automatically be subjected to adopt what the media is advocating or portraying.
According to the research that was previously conducted by the American Institute of Media Studies (AIMS) on children at the age of 15, it was established that majority of the opinions and attitudes that were found on the examined children was as a result of constant contact of stereotyped information they received via the medium of communication they constantly interacted with, and in this case, the common media they interacted with was the television.
Television being the most common and leading medium of communication not only in the United States of America but in the entire universe forms the basis of this paper. The paper will demonstrate and apply the different media theories of stereotyping on the viewers that are in close and constant contact with a TV program, the paper will also provide the reader with a critique and a stereotypical media imagery theory.
The chosen TV program
The television program that I will analyze and critique in this paper is the “Bones Television series” that premiered on American television screens in the year 2005 and it’s expected to run on air to the year 2011 when its last season will be aired (Shrum, 2002).
“Bones” is an American television series that highlights the crime in the United States of America, it also unearths and finds ways in which these crimes were performed at the same time implementing ways of reducing crimes in the United States of America. The program is based on forensic archeology and anthropology by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) investigations on past crimes that were committed on diseased victims’ bones. FBI special agents Seeley Booth and Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan are the lead stars characters in this television series they play a leading role that is aimed at unearthing the past criminal actions that were committed on the diseased victims by studying the victims’ bones.
In the introduction part of the paper, I had indicated that the media has different theories that include agenda setting, framing, hyper-personal theory, representation theory, persuasion, control, and attention theory amongst others that are considered to be the most effective elements used in determining the adopted notion and character of an individual during and after watching a television program or even a movie (Gray, 2005).
Stigmatized group
The “Bones Television Series” is a drama and crime television programs is depicted to be a program that is encompassed lots of violence, this is a clear indication that the most vulnerable characters to be affected in this television series are the women who will be the victims, while the African- Americans considered to be violent people hence perceived as violent individuals. This perception is generally a result of the stereotypical perception that has always been portrayed by the different media in the United States of America.
Media stereotype is defined as the generalization of a “typical” characteristic or behavior of members of a given group. The “Bones” is considered to be a stereotypical television series, this is because it has gone against all the odds existing in America today (Shum, 2002). The stigmatized group that I will base my energy on and the monitor is the white woman who in most cases has been considered to be an object of desire, this is because they aren’t considered to contain any form of blemishes in their skins. This perception portrayed by the media has always stated that a woman is a goddess, and they can’t be compared to their male counterparts who are always depicted to be masculine in a nature possessing a lot of energy.
Critique of the program
In the television series, women are portrayed as special agents who just like their male counterparts are considered to be competitive, productive, and active in identifying and solving the mysteries behind the diseased victims. The television series has recognized the white women who played a very vital role in reducing and controlling the rates of crime in the country and just like their male counterparts. It has become apparent that women just like men are very courageous, productive, and fast in responding to any crime (Bergh, 1999).
The theory portrayed by the television program is the “cognitive constructivism theory “, According to theorist Jean Piaget, the theory states that an individual adapts his or her actions and practices through the interaction from the immediate environment which in most case is through the media (Gray, 2005). He also indicates that there are four stages in the development of an individual’s action this includes sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operations, and formal operations. “Bones Television series” has portrayed the women as the most effective characters who are very productive in coming up with the best possible solutions of any crime incidences as depicted by the lead special agent Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan.
The stage that is being portrayed by the stigmatized group (Women) in the “Bones” according to me is the non-recognized stage, this is where the society that lives around the women don’t appreciate their efforts but instead neglects and disrespect them, this is by taking advantage of their gender (Female species). This is expressed repeatedly in the “Bones Television Series” when the women are patrolling or even conducting investigations they are disrespected by the men till only after they have identified themselves as special agents when suspects and witnesses corporate with them (Shum, 2002).
It is clear that the role of women in society is to offer non-vigorous activities; in this case, the women are seen as the flowery species and therefore they are supposed to hold positions that are considered to be flowery; these positions are receptionists, personal assistants, cateresses and secretaries. The Bones has diverted the viewer’s perception by giving them a new class of women who have taken up jobs that were traditionally occupied by men.
An example in the “Bones” is seen when Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan leads a group of detectives in every crime scene to unearth the cause of death that is reported to them (Bergh, 1999). The most notable stereotype seen in the program is the changing role of women in society; Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan is a very great example of a woman who is very devoted and determined in delivering justice to the offended and at the same time ensuring that the offenders are punished for the crime committed.
Typology is defined as the use of figurative symbols to come up with the real thing happening in the program that is the masculinity and femininity are well defined on seeing a TV work. In the program Bones, Gray’s typology of television images portrayed as a way of highlighting the reality of the crimes being encountered by the FBI special agents led by Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan, (Gray, 2005). Thus in the program, it is clear that the natural difference between masculinity and femininity isn’t well-drawn and this has resulted in equal representation in the duties between the female and male special agents as women, thus stating that both the male and females play the same role in solving crime.
Effects of the program
Several positive effects might be achieved by a heavy viewer of the program, in case a strict viewer of this program happens to be a male chauvinist, who doesn’t believe in the importance and effectiveness of female police officers or special agents. In this case, his opinions and perceptions will change and he will start to accredit the female police officers or special agents, this is because he will believe that they possess the same qualities as their male counterparts. The program will also change his general perception of females and thus consider them as people with the same potential as male (Bergh, 1999).
The theoretical element portrayed in the program is the cultivation theory, this is where the program promotes the image of the white woman in the society and thus ensuring that the woman is well respected amongst the American society thus this boost the relationship and roles of the white woman in the developing of the American economy.
​References
Bergh, J. (1999). The cognitive monster: The case against the controllability of automatic stereotype effects. Lincoln University: Lincoln University Press.
Gray, J. (2005). The politics of representation in network television. New York: Sage Publication.
Shrum, L. (2002). Media consumption and perception of social reality: Effects and underlying processes. Rutgers University: Rutgers University Press.