Television entertainment has become one of the most popular sources of entertainment in world over the last five decades because of the ever increasing size of television audience across the world. Researchers have found out that the young people and women form the majority of the audience and in the process making the most probable candidates to be affected either positively or negatively by television entertainment (Bushnell 67).
Television episodes and series highlight and portray different societal values and beliefs that can either be positive or negative. These values and beliefs propagated by television have a great potential of shaping the value and belief system of the society because the young people who are the majority television viewers form the present and the future society.
It is therefore important for television channels to air programs that can promote positive values and beliefs in the society. This paper will discuss how the themes highlighted in the Sex and the City television series and how the series contributes in shaping social values and beliefs.
The television genre of a television program helps the audience to try and understand the cultural and historical conditions under which the program was produced and its subsequent consumption (Bushnell 118). It is therefore very important in television entertainment because of its ability to meet the expectations of the audience.
The generic form of a television program or series how attractive the program becomes to the audience. Most television programs and series like Sex and City have a programming format and genre that is hybridized.
Sex and the City is credited for mixing generic styles and feminine identities as a way of understanding gendered politics (Bushnell 118). Sex and the City can be regarded as a post-feminist joke narrative with a format that highlights the current ideological struggle. This series reflects a romantic comedy genre that focuses on the life of single girls in the city.
The series transforms the past generic codes with generic elements that entirely represent feminism, gender identities. All the themes represented in the series represent gendered cultural performances in a woman’s fantasies. The sex and the City series combines different generic forms such as romantic comedy, s9tcom comedy together with fairytale narratives to highlight the uneasy relationship of a heroine, the pursuit of a perfect body and the fairy-tale romance with a happy ending.
The narrative structure of Sex and the City is very unique in the sense that it highlights the complex issues commonly faced by single women in the society (Douglass 56). The central theme in each episode is brought out by a single character and this helps the characters a great deal in identifying themselves with the audience.
The series has got a voiceover narration coupled with a well developed spectatorship which helps in highlighting how women relate with technology as well as constructing multiple meanings. Carrie Bradshaw, who is the main character in the series, is often used to pose the central theme of each episode.
She poses the main theme in form of a question and this often forms the basis of her topic in her Weekly newspaper column. This series has over 11 million viewers across the world and is among the first programs to present sexually explicit discussions and scenes (Douglas 56).
The four characters in the Sex and the City series are presented as single women who are independent with each having one of them having a success career. Despite being single, their relationships are highlighted in different states such as marriage, divorce, cohabiting and committed relationships (Bushnell 95). This show has a clear format and structure that highlights single lifestyle and multiple personality.
Sex and the City emphasizes on sexual objectification of women which appeal to women viewers in multiple ways. The four women characters in the Sex and the City have successful careers that make them receive a lot of admiration from women viewers (Bushnell 81). Apart from enjoying success in the irrespective careers, these characters have relationship troubles that many women can identify with. The varied use of different locations in New York City brings a sense of realism to the series.
The use of the voice is a very important feature in this series because it gives the show a feminine identity. Sex and the City highlight post feminist attributes as it explores the political issues of race and activism. The show also highlights how women relate with technology, men and fashion (Bushnell 83). The voiceover narration depicts internal struggles with no definite solutions to the dilemma.
The main characters namely Miranda Hobbes, Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York and Samantha Jones have got unique perspectives about life a thing that helps in conveying multiple meanings. These characters have different perspectives on sex and in the basis forming four different stereotypes on sex. The show uses irony, humor and complex relationships in order to present multiple meanings (Bushnell 83).
The central question of each episode in the Sex and the City series is often based on the problematic nature of power, sexuality and gender. Each character deals with the issue of gender ambiguity in a different way. In the episode titled “Boy, Girl, Boy Girl” in season three highlights the gender issues with the major question being whether the opposed sex has become obsolete (Bushnell 98).
The variety of storylines presented in this series depicts quite a number of social themes that different groups of people in the society can relate to. The themes are depicted in a more direct manner and do not require any form of interpretation (Bushnell 24).
The theme of sexual immorality is one of the highly depicted themed in this series. The four characters explicitly represent women as sex object and in process portray unsafe sex as being glamorous without paying any attention to the negative effects associated with it such as sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy.
This show has increased the likelihood of teenage pregnancies because the scenes presented in the show tend to influence the young people giving them the urge to practice what they watch in the show (Bushnell 103). Some of the characters practice lesbianism which is still a contentious issue in the society. Gay relationships are depicted in many episodes and this has the potential of changing the perspective of viewers about gay relationships and encourages some of them to start practicing lesbianism and homosexuality.
Feminism is one of the most popular cultures in recent times and is profoundly depicted in the Sex and the city show (Bushnell 103). The feminist voice in the Sex and the City has a great influence on the behavior and life of women viewers. The Sex and the City series depict first-wave feminism. Miranda and Charlotte are drunkards who openly portray the hatred they have for their children. The series celebrates women and their struggle to live liberated lives.
The four female characters put their friendships as the first priority and honestly engage in honest discussions about sex with each giving their independent views (Bushnell 156). Their conversations are female centered and are full of humor with many people labeling the show as a feminist television show.
Sex and the City downplay the issue of marriage and motherhood. The characters appear not to be very enthusiastic on facing the challenges in the institution of marriage and motherhood. The show does not seem to support the people with intentions of getting married and becoming mothers.
The Sex and the City series celebrate wealth and portray the experiences and ideas of women in a particular class in the society. The different conversations on gender highlight the emphasis on gender issues on the show. The show clearly depicts the changing women roles in the society (Bushnell 156).
The characters have varies conversations concerning men and women. Traditional gender roles are completely broken by the characters in this series. Miranda is an established lawyer who is able to take care of her self without having to depend on men. She becomes a shareholder in a law firm and even goes ahead to by her own apartment (Turkle 109).
The men in the show are only meant to satisfy the sexual desires of men. The series represents the fact that the society is no longer dominated by women but women are slowly starting to find their place (Turkle 109). The Sex and the City series tend to be sexist and racist in the fact that it tackles issues related to white women.
The women are also involved in a power struggle with men and are eager stamp their authority in relationships and places of work. The feminist movement in the sex and the city tends to promote gender equality and in the process give more power to women. The female characters in the show are empowered and completely refuse to be under the authority of men (Gurley-Brown 98).
The setting of the sex and the city is New York City and this plays a major role in depict the way of life in the city. New York is one of the largest cities in the world and represents all the elements of city life in a perfect manner. The series is captured in different scenes within the city and highlights the liberal nature of a city woman.
The city is depicted as the epicenter of all economic and social movements (Turkle 78). The city represents civilization but at the same is portrayed as center of moral degradation. The four women characters put on expensive shoes and clothing to highlight how the modern woman is financially independent and can afford expensive things just like men.
The show has actually transformed many women in both positive and negative ways. Women are now able to share their experiences honestly and in the process their friendships have experienced significant improvement. The show has removed the timidity in some women and has given then the courage to confront the challenges facing women in the society (Turkle 78).
The other positive thing about the Sex and the city series is the fact that women can now celebrate ageing. An example of this is when Samantha admits that she is forty five years old and proud of it. The series is however very racist by the fact that it emphasizes on being thin, white and beautiful as a recipe for becoming successful as a woman.
The characters in the series represent extremes and therefore make it easy for women with different preferences to associate with them. The series has a large influence on many women on various issues concerning and is therefore a very perfect example on how television entertainment affect social values and beliefs (Gurley-Brown 34).
In conclusion, it is important to note that television entertainment will continue to shape social values and beliefs of the current and future generations. Sex and the City is a television series that enjoys a large following around the world especially from women and young people.
The characters in the series depict various themes that affect the society such as immorality, feminism, gender, power, city life and women empowerment. The show portrays both positive and negative influences to women and the society in general and therefore one can not afford to downplay the effect it has on the general values and beliefs in the society. Television entertainment therefore has the ability to make or break a society depending on the type of information passed to the audience.
Works Cited
Bushnell, Candace. Sex and the City, New York: Warner Books, 1996. Print.
Douglas, Susan. Where the Girls Are. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1994. Print.
Gurley-Brown, Helen. Sex and the Single Girl. New York: Bernard Geis Associates, 1962. Print.
Turkle, Sherry. Life on the Screen. New York: Touchstone, 1995. Print.