The Politics and Sociology of Media and Culture Essay

The Politics and Sociology of Media and Culture - Essay Example However, a particularly vulnerable sector or demographic are adolescents, not only because of the access they have to virtually all forms of media – such as the internet, television, radio, newspapers and magazines – but also because they are at an age where they are particularly vulnerable. They have yet to develop sufficient maturity and discernment necessary to filter out potentially destructive messages and unhealthy ideas streaming in from various media sources. One such threat to adolescents in particular and to the general viewing public in general are reality TV shows. There have been a slew of reality TV shows out in the market over the past few years. Some of them test one’s physical mettle like Amazing Race, others have to do with the search for love like The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, others test one’s aptitude in various fields of endeavor like The Apprentice, and yet others talk about undergoing physical transformations like The Swan, a reality TV series in the United States produced by Fox TV. The show â€Å"The Swan† is rife with political and sociological meaning. While it is indeed very entertaining and riveting, it is loaded with so many negative messages that present trouble for the impressionable adolescent girl-child. First of all, it breeds stereotypes. It has long been established that factual and fictional media portrayals have a propensity to activate culturally shared racial and gender stereotypes and affect judgment involving those who belong to stereotyped groups