Television Studies (Sex and the City)
ATS 1304 : CONTEMPORARY TELEVISION STUDIES
ASSIGMENT 1
TUTOR: CYREN WONG
TUTORIAL: WEDNESDAY 2PM
ATS 1304 : CONTEMPORARY TELEVISION STUDIES
ASSIGMENT 1
TUTOR: CYREN WONG
TUTORIAL: WEDNESDAY 2PM
Article 1 The cast of Sex& the City (S&C) represent a continuum of women’s viewers and dilemmas when it comes to sex, love and dating. The range of perspectives may be one of the reasons why S&C sparks so much interest, enthusiasm and criticism. (S&C) serves as a medium for social analysis; it reflects almost exclusively the perspectives and values of white, middle class, heterosexual women who define themselves as primarily as oppressed victims of patriarchy. Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte are protagonists and subjects whose voices are heard. The telling of their stories centres their perspectives. (S&C) demonstrates a distinct school of feminist theory that is most often associated with liberal feminist politics and hegemonic feminist agendas. S&C master narrative is that the women’s aim to gain equal power to men within the existing hegemonic social structure. Here feminism and its theories take on many forms. The presence of female subjects on television does not equate with the presence or vision of liberatory feminism. There are more issues such as racism and ethnocentrism, sexism and patriarchy, heterosexism and homophobia as well as class exploitation. Here white women focus upon their oppression as women and ignore differences of race, sexual preference, class and age. Throughout the seasons, viewers are introduced with tokenized racism and ethnocentrism where episodes include African American characters appearing as unimaginative stereotypical roles. Sexual orientation is a regular theme in which bisexuals, lesbian and gay male characters are presented in way that marginalize their existence and to regard the dominance of heterosexuality. The ongoing presence of immigrant domestic servant challenges
ASSIGMENT 1
TUTOR: CYREN WONG
TUTORIAL: WEDNESDAY 2PM
ATS 1304 : CONTEMPORARY TELEVISION STUDIES
ASSIGMENT 1
TUTOR: CYREN WONG
TUTORIAL: WEDNESDAY 2PM
Article 1 The cast of Sex& the City (S&C) represent a continuum of women’s viewers and dilemmas when it comes to sex, love and dating. The range of perspectives may be one of the reasons why S&C sparks so much interest, enthusiasm and criticism. (S&C) serves as a medium for social analysis; it reflects almost exclusively the perspectives and values of white, middle class, heterosexual women who define themselves as primarily as oppressed victims of patriarchy. Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte are protagonists and subjects whose voices are heard. The telling of their stories centres their perspectives. (S&C) demonstrates a distinct school of feminist theory that is most often associated with liberal feminist politics and hegemonic feminist agendas. S&C master narrative is that the women’s aim to gain equal power to men within the existing hegemonic social structure. Here feminism and its theories take on many forms. The presence of female subjects on television does not equate with the presence or vision of liberatory feminism. There are more issues such as racism and ethnocentrism, sexism and patriarchy, heterosexism and homophobia as well as class exploitation. Here white women focus upon their oppression as women and ignore differences of race, sexual preference, class and age. Throughout the seasons, viewers are introduced with tokenized racism and ethnocentrism where episodes include African American characters appearing as unimaginative stereotypical roles. Sexual orientation is a regular theme in which bisexuals, lesbian and gay male characters are presented in way that marginalize their existence and to regard the dominance of heterosexuality. The ongoing presence of immigrant domestic servant challenges
References: Brasfield, Rebeeca. “Rereading Sex and The City: Exposing the Hegemonic Feminist Narrative”, Journal of Popular Film and Television, (2007): 130-139. Web. 20 September 2011. Bruzzi, Stella & Gibson, Pamela C. “Fashion is the fifth character: Fashion, costume and character in Sex and the City” Reading Sex and the City.Ed. Kim Akass and Janet McCabe. London:I. B.Tauris & Co Ltd, 2004. 1-273. Print. Lorie, Aine F. “Reversal of the female gender Forbidden fruit or conventional apple pie? A look at Sex and the City 's reversal of the female gender.” Media, Culture & Society (2011) : 35-51. Web. 20 September 2011