Full Version: Does our media export 'cultural greed'?
I thought it would be interesting to start a debate on this. Does our culture export concepts of greed through our media? The following was a posting by moif on an international exchange thread (thanks for the permission, moif 
) :
Just one example?
that doesn't actually prove anything, but since you asked...
The Cosby show.
Was a long running, popular show about a family. But, the actors never wore the same clothes twice. How many families do you know, even wealthy ones, that never wear garments more than once? The lesson quickly became obvious...
The central theme of the Cosby show (like nearly every family sit com ever made) is the interplay between the family members. But in the Cosby family, there were no arguements, at least not real arguements. No drug abuse, no violence or anything of any substance which dealt with the social issues of the day.
In essence, the show, like most others of its ilk, was an escapist fantasy which used wealth and comfort as a focus for family values.
Had the Cosby family been poor, then they would mostly likely still have been able to provide comedy for the audience.
Of course, I am not saying that they should have been poor, only that like most of the other American serials exported to this corner of the world, the Cosby show was a study in affluence... not love.
What do you all think?
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Would you please give me a direct instance...like a specific example of how 'wealth' in the American media is always favored over 'love'? I don't see it...
Just one example?
that doesn't actually prove anything, but since you asked...The Cosby show.
Was a long running, popular show about a family. But, the actors never wore the same clothes twice. How many families do you know, even wealthy ones, that never wear garments more than once? The lesson quickly became obvious...
The central theme of the Cosby show (like nearly every family sit com ever made) is the interplay between the family members. But in the Cosby family, there were no arguements, at least not real arguements. No drug abuse, no violence or anything of any substance which dealt with the social issues of the day.
In essence, the show, like most others of its ilk, was an escapist fantasy which used wealth and comfort as a focus for family values.
Had the Cosby family been poor, then they would mostly likely still have been able to provide comedy for the audience.
Of course, I am not saying that they should have been poor, only that like most of the other American serials exported to this corner of the world, the Cosby show was a study in affluence... not love.
What do you all think?
Certainly, I think we export any number of American values- although nothing forces people who are exposed to our values to accept them. One thing I love about watching foreign films is seeing the world through the eyes of another culture. 
I don't know about wealth over love, but a lot of the TV shows that get shown overseas portray us as nearly all wealthier than we are, and certainly wealthier than a lot of the foreign viewers. I can understand how they might resent our wealth and lifestyle that is so far beyond what they can ever attain.
The TV is too small a window for them to get an accurate view of who and what we really are.
The TV is too small a window for them to get an accurate view of who and what we really are.
There are some interesting connotations attached to this question.
There was a show on English TV some years back called " 'Till Death do us part" starring Alf Garnet.
They lived in a scruffy terraced house, no car and not much money.
The show was taken to America and screened under a different name (I cant remember the name
).
They lived in a big house had cars two tv's etc and it spoiled the whole idea of originally a very funny show.
One other thing I find interesting is that it is almost always a foreign car that fails to start or goes wrong on American shows.
This has possibly to do with litigation rather than show.
Regards.....Alan
There was a show on English TV some years back called " 'Till Death do us part" starring Alf Garnet.
They lived in a scruffy terraced house, no car and not much money.
The show was taken to America and screened under a different name (I cant remember the name
).They lived in a big house had cars two tv's etc and it spoiled the whole idea of originally a very funny show.
One other thing I find interesting is that it is almost always a foreign car that fails to start or goes wrong on American shows.
This has possibly to do with litigation rather than show.
Regards.....Alan
"'Til Death do us Part" staring Warren Mitchell as Alf Garnet became "All in the Family" starring Carroll O'Conner as Archie Bunker. I think the lifestyles of both families fairly accurately reflected the living standards of working-class families in Britain .vs. the USA at the time. American shows tend to show american families as more affluent than those abroad because for the most part, thats the way it is.
tony
tony
Ta London2LA..
Taking a guess at your name I would imagine you lived in London at some time.
Anyway, being born in the UK I can absolutely say that Alf was UK lower working class and Archie was US working class.
My Aunt lived not far from Chelsea and she considered herself working class.
Had a lot more than Alf.........but a lot less than Archie.
Take care mate..........Alan
Taking a guess at your name I would imagine you lived in London at some time.
Anyway, being born in the UK I can absolutely say that Alf was UK lower working class and Archie was US working class.
My Aunt lived not far from Chelsea and she considered herself working class.
Had a lot more than Alf.........but a lot less than Archie.
Take care mate..........Alan
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