Confusion - sheer and utter
confusion is the feeling I get while watching both Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and
My Big Fact Gypsy Wedding. To my surprise, I actually had strong feelings about
both these shows for different reasons.
Here Comes
Honey Boo Boo is a show that I will admit to have watched in the past and every
time it has left me speechless. To begin, I do admit that it took me a long
time to actually respect the family because the only thing I could see was a
manner less family that is comfortable farting, burping, and doing other
actions society deems inappropriate to do. To make matters worse, it disturbed me
that they seemed to take pleasure in the fact that they do things such as the
aforementioned bodily functions in public. They see nothing wrong in being
“rednecks” and actually take pride in the fact they are from the South and are
of a “lower class.” All these opinions and judgments I felt guilty for feeling
and knew that they were a direct result of my upbringing. I was born in a
traditional Catholic family where manners were and are incredibly important. Analyzing
the show in class at a time where I haven’t seen an episode in a very long
while, I do see my opinions changing. For one, I definitely have respect for
Mama June’s parenting style. She is a
mother who has such a positive outlook on body image and I take pleasure in
seeing her relay a positive body image to her children despite my worry’s of
their health. I feel empowered to see a woman confident in herself as well as
her children. I do feel however that the redneck culture, as described in
class, is exploited by both the producers and from the family. The way the show
is edited heightens the stereotypes that are placed on people in the South but
I also feel as though the family play’s up the redneckedness of their family,
for example going to the redneck games. While I respect Mama June, I still feel
a sense of uncomfortableness while watching that I feel won’t go away despite
my newfound respect.
My Big Fat
Gyspy Wedding on the other hand took some time for me to reflect on. For one,
the show is shot in a documentary style that posits the show as a realistic and
truthful depiction of the life of gypsy’s and travelers. I however believe that
it merely sensationalizes the life of the gendered women who are enacting
gendered rituals on the show. There is this confusing juxtaposition between
traditional values and modern morals that I have a hard time dealing with.
These girls come from a very traditional religious family. Most of them are
forced to drop out of school in order to take the traditional gendered role of
taking care of the kids and the home. They then are married off at the latest
by the age of 18 and enter a life of a traditional gender role in which she
takes care of her husband and stays at home taking care of the house the
children. However, their traditional views wouldn’t be evident by the way these
girls dress. Despite their traditional outlook on marriage on gender roles,
they wear skimpy clothing, pile on the makeup and essentially slut themselves
out visually to get a husband.
Overall, I
think it is interesting going back to the readings for this week that class
level is indirectly based on taste. I never looked at Honey Boo Boo’s family as
lower class because of the house they live in or the clothes they wear, it was
entirely their taste and manners that they possess.
I completely understand what you mean when you say you are uncomfortable when watching the show. They do lack regard to know when there is a time and place to do such "bodily" things. Yet, my case like we talked about in class is perspective and the class and social sphere that we come from. Like you I grew up in a Catholic household so I have a similar perspective as you do. Yet, I think that people are so quick to make judgement on other people just because we are unable to relate. Even June considers herself different than "other rednecks" like she has a varying level of class. It just an interesting idea that a majority of the class considered her authentic, when it is hard to even really judge what that means because the show is still scripted.
ReplyDeleteI think class is more of the way that our views were shaped rather than just an outlook on lifestyle choices or personal preferences.Granted those things are clearly impacted by the ways that we are raised, but don't need to be the defining moment in the ways that we think. I think it's hard to be on "reality" television that isn't being shot and distributed by yourself. There are too many confounding factors that will influence how you are represented and portrayed if reality tv continues the way it has been going.
And in regards to the gypsy's I just think they are calling foul, because there is an overwhelming disdain for their cultural conditions. Since not many people are familiar with how they operate and they are showcasing themselves on national television, it is funny how upset they are. CAUTION: Everyone who thinks they want to be on a reality TV show, needs to look at their predecessors first! See how they all turned out.