[Topgun]

I have to write a paper for english about how a tv show makes a social statement.
it give an example of Mad Men and how it is against sexism and stuff.
alternatively, I can write about a political ad and how it tries to persuade you.

I don't know what to do, do you know of any ads or a tv show that has a a social statement? the show doesn't have to make a political statement, it just needs to make a social one.


no, Im not writing about family guy

and it needs to be something I have seen, so no BSG, or anything on hbo/whatever.

[Locutus of Borg]

Battlestar Galactica

"You cannot play God then wash your hands of the things that you've created. Sooner or later, the day comes when you can't hide from the things that you've done"

[Topgun]

only seen it a couple of times, don't know much about it.

[General Battuta]

!

Watch it. Immediately!

[Ford Prefect]

Watch anything by Joss Whedon? He's got a pretty well-established set of social polemics that creep up in all his shows-- feminism, particularly.

[Thaeris]

The crap on CNN/MSNBC/Fox vs. intelligible programming on PBS/C-Span.

Effectively demostrates the udder BS the mass media shovels into the heads of millions of people every second of the day... versus the very small amount of intelligible, albeit often boring, programming which the populace tends to ridicule and ignore. It would really help if PBS didn't have all the dull kiddie-shows on all day.

...Heck, my favorite shows as a kid were NOVA and Nature...

That, however, is besides the point.

Abstract the first point to demonstrate how the current programming of the mass media reflects (or even tries to condition) the general populace. Do this and your English professor will cover you in roses. 

[Blue Lion]

Go watch The Wire..... like now.

[Scotty]

Not an indictment, but have you ever cosidered NOT going to the forum for homework help?  I realize we can and will help, but you might be able to do a better job without all of our preconceived baggage.

[jdjtcagle]

!

Watch it. Immediately!

Definitely.

BSG contains so much social and political issues that they went to the United Nations!  BTW, you could watch the broadcast for that event and it may give you an idea of what the show covers and maybe even answers.

[WeatherOp]

Write something about the flying monkeys and how they struck fear into the hearts of anyone who seen them.

[MP-Ryan]

Social statement?  Pick any primetime sitcom.  Social commentary is at its best and most subtle through humour.  Don't pick an obvious drama that's set up to be "socially profound."

[Ford Prefect]

I interpreted the description of the assignment to mean that he's supposed to find a show whose social implications are more or less explicitly intentional.

In any case, I don't think comedy has entirely cornered the market on subtlety (although, now that you mention it, Seinfeld might be a great topic.) As a matter of fact, I would disagree with those who have suggested Battlestar Galactica for precisely the reason that it so adeptly avoids "statements" in favor of more open-ended "observations" (that god-awful ending montage notwithstanding.) "Battlestar Galactica and Society" is more of a dissertation topic than a short paper assignment.

And above all else, if you pick a simple topic, the paper will be done faster.

[mxlm]

Go watch The Wire..... like now.

Why is this the only post in this thread mentioning The Wire?

Okay kids, if you've not seen The Wire? Go watch it. All of it. Right now. You will thank me (uh, and Blue Lion).

[Kosh]

I have to write a paper for english about how a tv show makes a social statement.
it give an example of Mad Men and how it is against sexism and stuff.
alternatively, I can write about a political ad and how it tries to persuade you.

I don't know what to do, do you know of any ads or a tv show that has a a social statement? the show doesn't have to make a political statement, it just needs to make a social one.

There's so much anti-intellectual drivel on mainstream media (CNN, Fox, and a few others), so you have plenty of topics to have a go at. A good topic might be how distorted media coverage leads people to believe things that aren't necessarily true. Another possibility is the polarizing effect that watching only programs you agree with has on our political process (for example, only watching Fox, or only watching Olberman, etc). It's a topic that deserves more attention than it gets.

[Mongoose]

Another possibility is the polarizing effect that watching only programs you agree with has on our political process (for example, only watching Fox, or only watching Olberman, etc). It's a topic that deserves more attention than it gets.

That'd actually be a great topic.  I've seen a few people (rightly) heap derision on Beck and Limbaugh and the like...and then in the same breath slather praise on Olbermann.  They're two sides of the same coin, both equally asinine and counterproductive, but so many out there blind themselves to what they're actually doing.  The sound-bite-driven mass media market of today thrives off of the people who fall into this trap, and I think most of us would agree that we're all worse off for it.

[Kosh]

Another possibility is the polarizing effect that watching only programs you agree with has on our political process (for example, only watching Fox, or only watching Olberman, etc). It's a topic that deserves more attention than it gets.

That'd actually be a great topic.  I've seen a few people (rightly) heap derision on Beck and Limbaugh and the like...and then in the same breath slather praise on Olbermann.  They're two sides of the same coin, both equally asinine and counterproductive, but so many out there blind themselves to what they're actually doing.  The sound-bite-driven mass media market of today thrives off of the people who fall into this trap, and I think most of us would agree that we're all worse off for it.

What's even worse is that it stops people from critical thinking, and instead makes them believe anything those guys say as well as makes them think they know more than they really do. Dangerous combination.

[TESLA]

I have to write a paper for english about how a tv show makes a social statement.
it give an example of Mad Men and how it is against sexism and stuff.
alternatively, I can write about a political ad and how it tries to persuade you.

I don't know what to do, do you know of any ads or a tv show that has a a social statement? the show doesn't have to make a political statement, it just needs to make a social one.


no, Im not writing about family guy

and it needs to be something I have seen, so no BSG, or anything on hbo/whatever.

Acting Family Guy or American dad would be an interesting example. Plenty of social and political examples there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpP7b2lUxVE

Maybe even 'Sopranos'