In “Reality Television, Gender, and Authenticity, Marwan Kraidy examines the controversial reality show Star Academy and what the debate reveals about Saudi Arabian politics, religion, and culture. Kraidy begins the article by presenting the methodologies in which the controversy has been studied which include institutional research as well as CDA (critical discourse analysis). These methodologies strive to answer two research questions: “Why has Star Academy been so intensely controversial in Saudi Arabia?” and “What does the Star Academy reveal about Saudi politics, which are highly secretive (347)?” Throughout the article Kraidy answers these questions by describing different aspects of Saudi culture and it’s relationship with the media.

Saudi Arabia is a monarchial government, ruled by the Al-Sa’ud royal family. The country has no way of challenging the monarchy for the establishment of Wahhabiya, a branch of Sunni Muslim, puts royalty in the position of power, allowing them to control political and economic issues while they control the social, educational, and cultural aspects of Saudi Arabia. Politics and religion are thus closely tied, creating a national identity that is largely focused on “authenticity” or not allowing the Saudi Arabian culture to be affected by outside, especially Western, cultures. Thus, television, a medium that exposes a multitude of cultures, poses an extreme threat to this idea of purity. The only reason television was introduced in the 1960s was so it could be manipulated to spread propaganda. Since then in order to regulate what Saudi Arabian viewers see there have been restrictions, most of which attempt to protect “the idea of the pious woman (349).”

Star Academy, a Lebanese television show, goes against all the ideals that Saudi Arabia enforces on its citizens and has thus caused extreme controversy. The show includes “free mixing of the sexes” and “women portraying their charms” which are considered to be Western, and thus immoral, behaviors (352).” Because of this, the show has been deemed “Weapon of Mass Destruction” as well as “Satan Academy (352).” A fatwa, or religious ruling, was even issued in order to prohibit “watching, discussing, voting in, or participating in Star Academy (352).”

Some Saudi Arabians have embraced Star Academy as an event that can bring about social change. For example, because of the television show Arabs are now voting for political candidates as voting for Star Academy contestants allowed them to see that “their vote has value (353).” Furthermore, the controversy has allowed many liberal columnists (especially women) to voice their opinion on the ridiculousness on the Saudi Arabian idea of “authenticity”. In the article Kraidy quotes Turki Al-Hamad, a liberal columnist who often comments on the notion of authenticity. He writes, “Isolation is in truth the weakest protection…even if it appears to be the strongest. History tells us that. (355).”

Star Academy is an example of what is called an “intentional” hybrid. Unlike an organic hybrid, an intentional hybrid is “concrete and social (359)”. The show is an intentional hybrid for Western values created standards for not only Star Academy, but all Arab reality shows. It presents a foreign social world that defies all values of Wahhabiya yet is capable of being comprehended through the understanding of Lebanese social norms. Furthermore, Star Academy redefined the notion of authenticity with the idea that when participants were “off camera” they were being their true or authentic selves. The fact that the viewers of the show were witnesses to these events legitimizes the events even more, making them feel as if they took part in creating this reality.

The Star Academy controversy has led Saudi Arabia’s citizens to question their country’s values, which could ultimately lead to cultural and political progress. However, the reality show brings up the question of whether or not Western media is too influential. In Croteau and Hoynes’ “Media in Changing Global Culture” the “cultural imperialism” thesis is discussed, which states that West is most influential regarding media and is thus capable of shaping the cultures of other countries. But is having a media monopoly positive or negative? What can countries do to preserve their own cultural values when the media is constantly becoming more and more expansive? With the ever increasing influence of media, Saudi Arabia and other countries will have to fight to preserve their local culture as well as well as adapt cultural values of other countries in order to progress.

1. Introduction

Although Goffman says that his evidence regarding the roles of gender behavior in the real world are not valid, his research should be taken seriously. Yes, his selection process was not completely random and yes, gender assignments in the world of advertising are not necessarily the same as that of the real world, but we should still take Goffman’s research seriously for his examples are still applicable to today’s advertisements. When flipping through a magazine, especially that of a “Women’s Interest” magazine, it becomes evident that almost half the pages are filled with advertisements. Comparing these modern day advertisements to those that Goffman used for his research, it becomes evident that the portrayal of men and women is still generally the same, if not only more glamorous.

2. The Analysis

A. Harper’s Bazaar November 2011

B. Total Number of Discrete Ads: 105

Total Number of Ads Containing Human Subjects: 73

i) 48 women alone

ii) 1 man alone

C. (a) “The Feminine Touch” is when women are pictured using their fingers or hands to caress, cradle, or trace the outlines of an object in order to make the product look precious or desirable. This category also includes images in which the model touches herself.

Totals Ads: 37

• Women: 37
• Men: 0

(b) “The Ritualization of Subordination” is the classic stereotype of deference versus superiority. Deference is often shown by one subject being lower than the other or by a single subject laying down (e.g. a woman laying down on a bed or floor). Superiority can be displayed by “holding the body erect and head high” or having one subject higher than the other.

Total Ads: 10

• Women: 10
• Men: 2

(c) “Licensed Withdrawal” is when women or men are shown withdrawn from social situations, making them dependent on others. There are many subcategories within this category including displays of remorse, fear, shyness, laughter, sucking or biting the finger, finger-to-finger position, turning one’s gaze away, head/eye aversion, etc.

Total Ads: 15

• Women: 15
• Men: 1

D. The Feminine Touch

• Touching Objects

• Self-Touching

The Ritualization of Subordination

• Beds and Floors

• Superiority Versus Deference

Licensed Withdrawal

• Turning One’s Gaze Away

• Head/Eye Aversion

 D.

This advertisement features the feminine touch. The woman in the ad is lightly caressing the man’s face while he closes his eyes in pleasure. It is one of the only ads in the magazine that feature a male and female in which neither is subservient to the other.

This advertisement displays ritualization of subordination. However, it is different from most ads featuring subordination because the man is submissively positioned under the woman. This could portray her power over him as she is the one looking into the camera while he is looking up at her with admiration.

This advertisement displays the more typical ritualization of subordination as the woman is positioned under the man in what can be assumed to be a sexual way. While the male featured looks at her with lust, the woman looks into the camera with an unreadable face, seemingly unattached to what is happening.

F.

The model in this advertisement displays no typical female positions that Goffman notes in his schema such as the feminine touch or subordination. She is standing straight and tall, arms by her side, with her eyes set forward in an almost challenging manner. She is not withdrawn and symbolizes a woman of strength.

Yellow Peril

• constructed in West
• has longer history than model minority
• in Europe, referred to cultural threat as well as economic, political, and military threats to the White race in Europe
• in United States, signified the fear of Asian migration in the late 19th century and early 20th century
• Pearl Harbor inflated yellow peril stereotype as well as Communist take over of China, the Korean War, and Cold War

The Model Minority

• two articles posted in 1966 responsible for creating the model minority stereotype
• said Asian Americans had close family ties, were extremely serious about education, and were law-abiding

The Dialectic of the Model Minority and Yellow Peril

• return of yellow peril stereotype occurred under the deteriorating trade relationship between the U.S. and and Asia in the late ’80s/early ’90s
• Asian Americans seen as “unfair” economic competitors
• were “outwhiting the whites”—have higher income and their children outscore and are more academically inclined than white children
• model minority and yellow peril are blended to create a more complex meaning
• movie Rising Sun exemplifies the model minority—yellow peril dialectic
• film portrays Japanese as high achievers in the business world (model minority) while outperforming the U.S. (yellow peril)
• film represents Japan as a threatening entity that is extremely culturally different from the U.S. (yellow peril) which makes Japan exceed economically (model minority)

Racial Triangulation

• Asian Americans less advantaged than Whites but more advantaged than Blacks
• however, people of Asian descent are “less American” than Blacks (“forever foreigners”)
• movie Rising Sun also demonstrates racial triangulation
• includes scene in which African Americans attack the Japanese in order to “save” the two main characters
• scene overlaps with that of the 1992 LA riots in which Asian Americans were attacked by African Americans/Latinos (caused by Rodney King/Soon Ja Du conflict)
• Asian Americans not only a threat to White race but the Black race as well (threatens Whites regarding yellow peril; threatens Blacks regarding model minority)

Questions

1. In the conclusion section of the essay, Kuwai quotes Berg who postulates that, “one of the saddest aspects of stereotyping is the out-group [the stereotyped] members may begin to believe and accept the stereotype”. What do you think of  Asian Americans embracing the model minority stereotype? Is it positive or negative? Could it harm the image of the Asian American even further or cause them to be more accepted in the United States?
2. Do you feel that White Americans have plotted Asian Americans and Black Americans (as well as other minorities) against each other? If so, what could be the purpose of this? How could White Americans benefit from this?

UNCUT-Asian Persuasion

Myth Busting Model Minority Asian American Stereotypes

The Walt Disney Company: Main Assets

The Walt Disney Company has many business assets, of which the main five are media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products, and interactive media. Walt Disney’s media networks include ABC networks, ESPN, Disney Channels Worldwide, A&E, Lifetime, and SOAPnet. The ABC network is a television service that reaches 99% of all U.S. television networks. ABC entertainment shows consist of one-hour dramas (e.g. Army Wives), half hour comedies, (e.g. Cougar Town), and syndicated programming (e.g. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?). Domestic channels are based out of major cities and reach 23% of American households. The various Disney Channels include Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney, Disney XD. Furthermore, Disney owns a radio station, known as Radio Disney. The ESPN network is composed of six U.S. cable channels that focus on sports. The A&E network includes channels such as the History Channel and the Biography Channel. These channels’ programs feature a variety of educational shows focused on historical subjects and figures. Lifetime provides shows and movies that are mainly directed towards women. SOAPnet airs daytime dramas as well primetime dramas. Regarding parks and resorts, the Walt Disney Company operates Walt Disney World Resort, the Disneyland Resort, the Disney Vacation Club, the Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney as well as the operating license to Tokyo Disney Resort. Disney also manufactures and sells a myriad of different merchandise items and home entertainment products for its consumers which can be found at Disney retail stores as well as online.

Significant Changes to Disney’s Corporate Profile

• acquiring Marvel Entertainment Inc. on December 31, 2009

• agreeing to distribute movies made by DreamWorks over the next seven years in August 2009

• closing Lyric Street Records in April 2010

• closing five ESPN Zone restaurants in June 2010, leaving only one operating • beginning in 2012, SOAPnet will be transitioning to Disney Junior (a 24-hour program featuring children’s programming)

• agreeing to sell most of the assets of Miramax for six hundred and sixty- three million

• a new Disney theme park will be built and operated in the Pudong district of Shanghai as of November 5, 2010

• agreeing to sell two of its stations in Michigan and Ohio markets

Disney’s Risk Factors

Outside sources pose many risks to the Walt Disney Company. A shift in the United States economic conditions as well as the economic conditions of other regions of the world can destroy any of Disney’s many business assets. The previous economic slump resulted in a significant loss of sales at the Disney Resorts, affecting the company drastically. Changes in consumer taste and preference can decrease demand for certain Disney products and services, thus resulting in a lost source of revenue.  Furthermore, if there are new technological advances, Disney must evolve its products and services to fit the new design, resulting in a loss of financial resources. Disney’s success is extremely dependent on the quality and protection of its intellectual property rights. If there is illegal use of Disney intellectual property rights, this will increase the cost of protecting them. Uncontrollable events could hinder Disney’s ability to release certain products or maintain certain services. Furthermore, something such as an unpredictable natural disaster could damage a theme park, resulting in lost profits. Competition from other corporations that provide the same products and services might raise the costs of business. Also, the costs of pension in the United States could reduce profitability, especially as Baby Boomers are reaching retirement. Changes in laws and policies both within the U.S. and outside of the U.S. can have possibly negative effects on Disney’s ability to operate as a successful and profitable company. Lastly, Disney’s procurement of Marvel might result in a short-term loss of profits. However, Disney predicts that over time the merging of the two companies will be extremely profitable.

Top 5 Competitors 

1. News Corp.
2. Time Warner
3. NBC Universal
4. CBS Corp.
5. Viacom

    In Edward Sapir’s “Communication” and Neil Postman’s “The Information Environment” both authors state that communication is not only a necessary part of our society but is what essentially creates our society. Whether it be language, gesture, or some other form of behavior, a society would not exist without some form of communication.

    In “Communication”, Sapir discusses the importance, techniques, and different types of communication. Towards the end of the essay, Sapir states what he thinks to be the two most significant consequences of the “multiplication of far-reaching techniques”: first, it greatly widens the scope of communication and second, it creates a world without boundaries. Because of the technological advances that have occurred throughout the past century, the actual geography of the world is irrelevant. Sapir even suggests that the world could technically be remapped sociologically and psychologically rather than geographically. These results can be viewed both positively and negatively—these changes could cause citizens of the world to view each other differently, regarding social classes and nationalities as obsolete. However, the ease with which we can communicate could also become detrimental in that it could become increasingly more difficult to communicate with a specific idea in mind.

     In “The Information Environment”, Neil Postman discusses the relevance and significance of communication both past and present. More specifically Postman discusses how we must not let any form of communication or specific message tyrannize the society we live in. Postman also posits that one of the central purposes of education is to be able to recognize when you need to “adjust and balance” when a situation such as the one stated previously occurs.

    Although both of the essays mentioned previously were written far before social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter were even mere ideas, the concepts of communication mentioned in these literary pieces are applicable to all forms of current social media.. Sapir describes how technological developments in a sense make the world “smaller”. With the technology we have today it is easy for an individual to communicate with someone half way across the world within seconds. The ease with which we can communicate with people may cause us to see others in a different light, more similar to us than previously thought. However, the same risks mentioned in Sapir’s essay are still present today. The ease with which we communicate may not allow us to get our message across clearly.

    Postman’s main message was that in a society we shouldn’t let a single form of communication or a single idea take over. With technologically advanced forms of communication it is even more plausible that this could occur. With the speed and efficiency that corresponds with these forms of social media, it would be very easy for a certain idea to spread like wild fire or for a certain form of communication to monopolize. The relevance the ideas of these two essays pose demonstrates how although forms of communication have changed tremendously, the idea of communication is still essentially the same.