Media Studies
www.curriculum-press.co.uk
Number 029
Solving Problems: An analytical approach to television issue talk shows The aims of this factsheet are: • To offer an analytical approach to issue talk shows • To discuss the relationship between issue talk shows and their content • To demonstrate how to apply media concepts to texts • To engage with some debates around issue talk shows
What is an issue talk show? Issue talks shows are usually aired during the daytime. They act as forums where themes, issues and topics that are seen as relevant to contemporary society are represented on air. The choice of the content of these shows is varied, as are the approaches to the content material. Often issue shows focus on domestic relationship matters and invariable there is some kind of conflict within relationships. A typical talk-show studio set up Some common codes and conventions of issue talk shows are: 1. A single, central host- the host maintains a high degree of control over the tone of the show. They also create the brand image and are central to its success. Each host presents a particular personality; for example, female hosts such as Oprah, Ricki Lake and Trisha Goddard often adopt a nurturing role in their relationship to their guests, Maury Povich’s approach includes acts of charitysuch as giving gifts to sick children. 2. ‘Live’ discussion – the audience experience a talk show as if it is ‘live’. Whether it is broadcast live or taped in front of an audience earlier it should feel as if they are happening in the moment.
http://selfinterestandsympathy.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/tv-studio.jpg
3. ‘Real people’ as guests – usually he guests are chosen from the general public as are the audience. 4. The discussion of contemporary topics – based largely on domestic issues such as infidelity, parentage, personal relationship conflicts, troubled teenagers, drug/ alcohol abuse etc. Issue talk shows have the appearance of being totally spontaneous and to a certain degree they are, but the talk that takes place does so in ways that have been shaped by writers, producers, stage managers and technical crews.
Ricki Lake
Maury Povich
Issue talk shows are constructs that must adhere to strict time and money constraints, allowing time, for instance, for the advertising spots that appear throughout the show Whilst issue talk shows share these basic characteristics each show has a different way of representing themselves and their content. Oprah Winfrey
Trisha Goddard
http://www.floridadetox.com/graphics/images/RickiLake.jpg http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/ap/cx10309152007.hmedium.jpg http://media.canada.com http://www.nndb.com/people/
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Media Studies
029. Solving Problems: An analytical approach to television issue talk shows
www.curriculum-press.co.uk
Issue talk shows – Representation and Values: The Jeremy Kyle Show Looking at the Jeremy Kyle website we can identify the way in which the show is attempting to represent itself.
http://www.itv.com/Lifestyle/jeremykyle/default.htm
Denotation
Connotation
“One of Britain’s most-loved, watched and talked-about shows.”
This is show that is popular and audiences are gratified by its content which appears controversial and relevant to contemporary life.
“It deals with family and relationship issues and the everyday conflicts that affect our lives”
It identifies itself as having content that will be relevant to audiences and with this a sense of community and a bond of friendship is created between show and viewer through the sharing of common interests and values.
Jeremy has a ‘unique style’, is ‘not afraid to speak his mind’, solve problems ‘through honesty and openness.’
Implies that the host is different to others and that he is trustworthy and a troubleshooter that has all the answers to peoples’ problems.
“Secrets and affairs 18 years ago – today the truth revealed.”
A positive representation of revelation. The truth must be uncovered and the show acts like detective to bring about just resolutions to issues.
“Nothing will stop me marrying your daughter, not even you.”
Drama and conflict are part of the narrative and this creates anticipation and could offer the audience the promise of excitement.
“Have you got a problem? Do you need help from Jeremy, Graham and the team?”
The show cares about its audience and can act offer a public service that will benefit the guests.
On the surface this show appears to offer the viewer and guests a very positive experience. People may well believe that if they decided to call the show and air their problems that they will be treated fairly and with compassion. Often though it is the opposite that happens and the way that the subject matter and the guests are dealt with is constructed in order to maximise entertainment value rather than offering solutions to their issues.
Applying the Conventional Narrative Structure to an Issue Talk Show By analysing a show’s content we can see that HOW the show represents itself and WHAT actually happens are in fact different. All issue talk shows, to a lesser or greater degree, follow a conventional narrative structure.
Climatic Event Maximum confusion
Action/Tension Growth Resolution of confusion
START
THE END
http://www.6amhoover.com/viva/chapter_two/imgs/drama_arc.jpg AQA/OCR/WJEC? Issue talk shows could be considered in a case study based on lifestyle programming (AQA) or as an industry based case study (OCR). All awarding bodies require that you analyse a range of different types of texts in preparation for the unseen analysis question.
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Media Studies
029. Solving Problems: An analytical approach to television issue talk shows
www.curriculum-press.co.uk
The Jeremy Kyle Show: “You cheated on me with a friend so prove I’m the father” – An Ideological Analysis via Narrative Structure Narrative
Content
Values and Ideologies
Exposition
Kyle gives the background information about the guests before they arrive on stage. He states that Miss X is accused of cheating on Mr Y and that the child she claims is Mr Y’s may not be his.
1. 2. 3. 4.
Infidelity is wrong Children deserve to know their biological parentage Women lie Men need to have proof they are a biological father in order to accept responsibility 5. Women look after the children not men
Problem/Development Miss X denies the accusation and each bring another person on the show to ‘prove’ that they are not lying. Mr Y accuses Miss X of sleeping around
1. Men and women don’t trust one another 2. Individuals need to feel supported by others in order to validate their points of view 3. Problems can only be discussed and solved by involving other people 4. Women should not sleep with multiple partners
Climax
Kyle has the DNA test results handed to him. There is an extended pause and the results are read out. Mr Y is the father.
1. The host can is able to offer a way for people to be ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ on the issue of parentage 2. Science is always right
Resolution
Miss X jumps with joy and begins to taunt Mr Y that he’s a liar. Host suggests that Mr Y should accept that he now has responsibilities towards the child. Mr Y leaves the stage.
1. The show offers a way for people to prove their parentage through science 2. People can reject or accept a child on the basis of DNA 3. Being proved right and therefore not labelled as a liar is the guests’ priority 4. The man should take responsibility for the child
Looking at the way that issues are represented can tells us about the ideologies of the show. In summary: 1. The host’s opinions are morally right 2. Proving parentage is necessary to the order of society 3. Relationships are dysfunctional and in need of rectifying 4. Being proved right or wrong in the public arena is a way to take revenge on someone 5. People are untrustworthy and ‘out to get each other’
Activity 1. The Institutional Perspective Look at the following comments about The Jeremy Kyle Show. It was a statement issued by a judge after a man on the show assaulted his wife’s lover on stage. (Mr Staniforth is the husband and Mr Mahoney the lover.) The Jeremy Kyle Show ‘is human bear-baiting’ By Nigel Bunyan http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/25/wkyle125.xml
The Jeremy Kyle Show attempts to represent itself as a show that searches for the truth and therefore offering a chance to restore ‘order’ within society. The show promotes the idea that it is able to provide answers to what it sees as societal problems by offering professional counselling and mediation services to its guest, but in effect its function is to entertain audiences through the drama created by the conflict between the guests and the aggressive attitude of Kyle.
“It seems to me that the whole purpose of The Jeremy Kyle Show is to effect a morbid and depressing display of dysfunctional people who are in some kind of turmoil. It is for no more and no less than titillating members of the public who have nothing better to do with their mornings than sit and watch…a human form of bear baiting.” ¾ According to the judge what pleasures is the institution attempting to target? ¾ How far do you agree with the judge’s comments?
In many instances the guests are subjected to incessant interrogation by Kyle and are not given an opportunity to actually respond to his questions or statements. He frequently states, ‘this is MY show’ and with that the guests are censored and silenced. We can read this as the host having total control over the way in which the show develops and the guest having very little autonomy.
2. The Audience Perspective Look at the following discussion points. My friends and I are always talking about who was on Jeremy Kyle. I like the entertainment created by the drama and conflict
Exam Hint:- At AS level it is not enough to simply identify features of a television programme or make general comments - you must link your observations and ideas with the media language used in the text and the way it acts to present values.
I can pass time whilst I watch the shows. They are relaxing
Issue Talk Shows and Audiences
I can solve my own problems by watching the shows.
Historically issue talk shows have been aimed at a female audience who are assumed to be at home with children but the audience can also be expanded to include anyone who is able to watch daytime television. For example, issue talk shows are very popular with students. We can think about audience from two perspectives: The Institutional Perspective – the way producers construct texts to target certain audience pleasures The Audience Perspective – the way audiences use and are gratified by texts
I like to see people get their comeuppance when they’ve lied, cheated or treated people badly
¾ How far do you agree with these views? ¾ What pleasures do you get from watching issue talk shows?
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Media Studies
029. Solving Problems: An analytical approach to television issue talk shows
www.curriculum-press.co.uk
The American Way of Handling Issues –The Jerry Springer Show U.S issue talk shows have been on air longer than their British counterparts and as a result have developed more in terms of their formats. The most predominant differences between U.S and British issue talk shows is that U.S shows actively engage with the studio audience. U.S audiences are represented as very vocal and are often asked by the host to comment on the action taking place on stage. In this way it is possible to read the texts as being a way for the general public to express their own values and moral stances upon others in society, but we could also read this as a way for the audience to judge the actions of others and feel better about themselves. This is not to say that U.S audience participation is totally spontaneous. The Jerry Springer Show for example has devised ways to elicit certain responses from its audience and guests in order to maximise entertainment value. It is quite clear that The Jerry Springer Show is not attempting to represent itself as a formal arena where people can find answers to their problems and issues, it merely allows them to have a platform to confess and air their views in order for audiences to be gratified by the conflict that this causes. Unlike Jeremy Kyle, Springer’s approach to content matter is actively self-aware. The following list identifies the way(s) in which the show attempts to be entertaining and humorous through its choices of media language. The following are some of the choices made: Media Language
Effect on the Studio Audience
Analysis
Boxing bell sound effect
Guests begin fighting and audience cheers. Host is seen to ignore this behaviour
Guests provoked into battling is seen as entertainment Guests are represented as violent and mindless people
Animal noise sound effects
Audience laughs and joins in with the noises
Guest made to look as dumb as animals and perhaps no better than them
Pole dancer as part of the mise-en-scene
Audience whistles and yells approval
Women are objectified and are seen to exist to entertain the audience
Security men as part of the mise-en-scene
They offer security to the audience and this means that they can challenge guest without fear of repercussions
The promise of violence or conflict is expected by the audience
The focus in The Jerry Springer Show is not on the solving issues or problems but on getting the guests to act in what the shows sees as an entertaining way. The actual issues are not treated with any real degree of seriousness and often the topics for discussion are presented as being sensational. Some examples of programme titles are; ‘I married my horse’, ‘I’m really a man’ and ‘I’m a secret crossdresser’.
Activity Using the page below, select some of the signs from the website and complete the table, considering the following: 1. How is the programme attempting to represent itself? 2. What audience pleasures is the programme targeting? Audience Pleasure
Media Language Choice
Representation
Jerry Springer wearing a cowboy hat in a wanted style western cowboy poster
Springer as a Entertainment comedic figure connotes the idea that the show is not serious. Could imply that Springer’s guest will be from the south of the U.S and that he is a ‘wanted’ host
Audience participation Sense of community ‘Jerry’s Angels’
http://www.jerryspringertv.com/
‘Crossdressing Caper’
The Jeremy Kyle Show and The Jerry Springer Show are extreme examples of the genre. However, even the more supportive and less dramatic programmes are equally as constructed in their narrative structures and act to reinforce the perceived dominant values of their audience. Their primary function is to entertain the audience although some may also inform on specific issues offering help-lines and access to support for the issues raised within the show. Kyle and Springer rely on sensationalism and shock to entertain and engage the interest of their viewers with promises of conflict and action. The guests are simply devices used to provide the conflicts necessary for the shows to create an impact. Acknowledgements: This Media Studies Factsheet was researched and written by Di Naylor
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