Racial Division on TV March 21, 2007

Racial division might just be the stupidest idea that I have ever heard of! I am sad to say that I missed the airing of this desperate attempt to win back viewer numbers.  In our society today I think that most people have become very aware of what is appropriate when it comes to racial topics and what is not considered morally or politically correct to say. Almost to the point where people have become hyper-sensitive and are afraid to say anything that could be taken to be even remotely racist. But I hope that, that is just the step that we have to take to find an equal balance between all races.  

Reading this got me to thinking that there are so many stand-up comics or comedy shows such as “MadTV”, “MXC” or movies like “Borat” where you often find yourself over-whelmed with racial slur and stereotypes. But for whatever reason this seems to be over looked, I mean I am sure that some of it does get stopped or the producers or comics are punished for expressing these views. But why does it seem to be more acceptable? Is it just that these prod casts are simply hinting at it, or are their producers less well-known? Although I do see some moral and political dilemmas in the latest idea for “Survivor” I do not think that they are that far from what other media sources are producing and showing. I am not sure that it would matter what “Survivor” does, so long as they are separating groups into sub-groups whether cultural, gendered or other, it will appear inappropriate to someone. It seems just as mean, rude and derogatory to me to divide into men vs. women as race1 vs. race2. As soon as you create an environment where there is a specified division, there will be struggles for power and resources. I think that there would be immediate conflict, but I guess that, that was the whole point.  

All I really want to say I guess is that the producers chose the potential to make money over keeping their program morally, politically and socially correct. They are ultimately using man-kind against itself and all to make dime. They are exploiting the social issues that we are currently still learning to deal with in our society.   This also raises a debate on the aspects of “Orientalism”. I am curious to inquire the race of the men and women who are behind the idea of this division of race theme. It would in no way surprise me if they were Caucasian. According to the dilemmas within “Orientalism” western cultures have been aiming their gaze at eastern culture and are therefore holding the power. So if our society is indeed in a position of power, maybe we could be a little more prudent with it and respect other cultures and not subject them to division within reality TV shows. Because ultimately by showing that racial division is hilarious and turns a profit of television what kind of example are we setting for our future generations…? Just as a side note to all you big company producers, this idea was not all hunky-doohray!