NEED HELP! College Homework! Anyone who watches TV!

[urban dreamer]

Ok I am in a rut: Im 20 years old, in college, and I never watch TV. I simply have no interest (better things to do with my time) and its a fight to get me to watch a movie. I have a 1200 word essay to write about race and sexual stereotypes. I have to compare and contrast two characters either from movies or TV and describe how thier common racial or sexual stereotype has changed through the years. One movie/TV show has to be before 1990 and one after 1990. Example: a single white woman in a 1950s movie vs a single white woman in a modern Tv show. I don't know where to start! If anyone knows of two TV shows or two movies or a TV show and a movie that I can compare, PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks!

-the culturally ignorant

 

[chickenkid68]

If it doesn't have to be a single lady, a good old one to watch would be "Leave it to Beaver" to see how a wife acted in the 50s or 60s compared to any tv show with a working (outside of the home) mom today.......
Or, Wonder Years would maybe be a good older one too.
Watch one episode of All in the Family for any racial and sexual stereotypes. I still can't believe that show aired in the time it did.
Good luck!
Hank

 

[fordmommy]

For that matter, if you use "Leave It To Beaver" the oppisite would be "Melcom In The Middle".

 

[bargain]

Hi, I suggest that you can access the interenet tv programs and try I love Lucy and Lleave it to beaver

I really think you may have to watch a little TV or internet tv to grab these shows.


Glad you're not watching too much tv!

Have a blessed day

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

I'd love to help you but I have a 3 page paper to write on internal vs. external locus of control

If you want to get a general idea, check out hulu

 

[Joz]

Do you read? Ask your professor if you can compare books instead. Professors are remarkably willing to work with you if you make an effort to communicate with them. It sounds like they are trying to make the assignment achievable to everyone, and would likely offer other suggestions to get you going. Don't be shy about approaching them either after class or during office hours... Professors (or instructors) are always pleased when a student is engaged enough to care about the assignment.

I would avoid shows of a different era, tho... "the wonder years" was set in a different decade from which it was created, and thus is affected by the (then) current stereotype and political correctness. ie, it's the 60s but affected by the mid-80's. Stick to shows or movies that represent the timeframe in which they were created. Except for science fiction, which is purely speculative and colored by the relationships and interaction of the time it was created.

Hill Street Blues vs NYPD Blue (which has the added bonus of a specific character crossing decades), or LA Law vs Boston Legal, perhaps...... I would think that the portrayal (and treatment) of women in a legal office in the early 80s vs early/mid 00s would be interesting.

Hmmm.... you don't mention that you need to stay within one genre, but it would offer a lot more compare/contrast material to stick to a theme (cops, legal, family, singles, sci-fi).

(re sci-fi... did you know that the first interracial kiss on TV was on Star Trek? Pretty cool. Like, really interracial, not fake alien interracial-ness.)

Since you don't seem stuck within a specific or single genre, you can compare most anything that's of the appropriate timeframe. Questions to ask: Are they relegated to one stereotypical position (secretary, service), or do they hold positions of equality? Do authority figures treat them differently? what tone of voice is used to address each one? how are they portrayed physically? Emotionally? Are they respected? Are they appreciated? Are they acknowledged at all? Is their race/gender an "issue"?

I'd skip "Alien".... Ripley is a pretty progressive action herione for 1979, tho is still contrast-able to her character in later aliens movies.

imdb.com is a pretty good resource for movie information (actors, dates, summaries).

Sorry... I'm babbling. I kinda miss writing essays like this.

 

[urban dreamer]

Ooh! These are good ideas! I should have gotten on here for my last two paper! (sigh) English comp... glad I only have Nov and Dec left!

 

[mom'sfolly]

A TV show that was considered "groundbreaking" in its time might work....Maude, the Jefferson's, Soap, The Cosby Show etc. Look at why they were considered groundbreaking and if the stereotypes and assumptions have changed.

Some other examples might be:
Cagney and Lacey vs. the women on CSI

Star Trek the original series vs more modern version or the new movie with discussions of male and female gender roles, costuming of men and women over time, racial stereotypes and mixed racial couples, jobs taken by men and women....

Look at the depictions of family life in Leave it to Beaver, Roseanne and the George Lopez show. What are the assumptions about what family is, what are the dynamics of intergenerational living, what assumptions of race and gender are there.

A more extreme example would be the single fathers in something like the Andy Griffith Show and Two and a Half Men. Look at issues of adult sexuality, the roles of grandmothers/older women, parenting by men, etc.

Compare Marcus Welby to House.

Watch Rear Window and some more modern suspense movie. What are the stated prejudices, the things everyone justs accepts as fact? What are the assumptions of women spending time with men they are not married to? Who takes the dominant role in the relationship? What are the assumptions about the man's role and the woman's?

With TV or movies, costuming and makeup can say alot about how the character is supposed to be conceived. Wacky, sophisticated, nerdy, sexy, dangerous, sometimes even superior vs subordinated are all done with clothing. Discussing costuming options for setting tone and reinforcing sterotypes can be a good way to go....for example a black character in a business suit compared to one wearing baggy pants and large gold chains.

 

[arabookworm]

I love lucy would be good for the pre 1990 show. and for a newer one, cuddy in House MD is very different.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I thought of another example....old James Bond movie, something like Goldfinger compared with something new like Casino Royale. Keeping in mind that James Bond is supposed to be a stereotypical uber-male, there have still be changes in the way male and female characters are portrayed. The role of the male seducer/rapist early Bond versus the more seducer/lover later Bond, how is male sexuality showed, what are the characterisitics of a "highly desireable" man, how is masculinity shown are all good questions. Bond women tend to be very cookie cutter, but even those have changed over the years, the most obvious being the role of M (?), Bond's boss.

The good thing about movies is that with four hours of watching you're done.

Another options might be picking something like recent and old versions of a classic like Jane Eyre or Emma. The differences between original source intrepretation are largely due to the prejudices of the time they are done. Making a particular female character more or less forceful, playing up parts for the men, who they decide is a minor character that can be omited is also valid. This works for Shakespearean interpretations too. The classic Romeo and Julliet from the '70s is very different from the 1990's Romeo + Julliet.

I think I watch too much TV and movies....