Discussions concerning minorities in the media can get touchy along with painfully politically correct. Race often takes center stage when discussing minority groups and topics like class and wealth receive less attention while dominating our television and film industries.
If there’s one U.S. minority that gets constant airtime, it’s the wealthy. Most Americans aren’t millionaires, decked out in designer clothes, driving Range Rovers—even if primetime TV portrays them in that light.
Primetime can’t get enough of rich people. Big Shots follows four extremely wealthy, country club men. Dirty, Sexy Money is about the Darlings, a New York business tycoon’s family that, shockingly, has so much money it causes continual problems.
Gossip Girl revolves around wealthy, New York prep school kids featuring fashion trends that most high school students can’t afford. Attractive doctors in L.A. live comfortable lives on Private Practice. Even shows like the former Gilmore Girls about a single mother raising a daughter brought money into the picture in that she came from a very wealthy family. The list goes on.
Even shows that don’t blatantly discuss money, like friends, portray lifestyles that are financially unrealistic. Average people can’t afford enormous apartments in New York City, yet Friends makes it seem pretty run of the mill.
With all the wealth, it’s not too surprising a recent study found that 74 percent of college seniors believe they will be millionaires. Not that TV alone caused this—it’s just too bad that one of the few minorities in the limelight is the rich.
No comments:
Post a Comment