Page 146 - A Handbook Genre Studies in Mass Media

CULTURAL CONTEXT

“When I come to Europe, we’ll get to hang and you’ll get to see the
real Omarosa—they’re not going to see that here,” she says.
Obviously upset, Caprice leaves the room, breaking down moments
later into the arms of Bronson Pinchot, TV and film star. Her emo-
tions are real, she says, but she is confused about the actions of her
housemates.
“I don’t know if it’s for TV or real life; I don’t know,” she sobs.
This grotesque display of public celebrity hits all the points Braudy
makes—in creating a heightened reality, these celebrities have blurred
the lines between their true identities and the surreal reputations they
build for themselves. Looking at the worldview of this group of people,
the ideologies represented are grossly distorted versions of American
culture. The seven people populating one California house are larger than
life, and most compete to be the center of attention. Some of them insist
on being real, like Caprice, raising the question, how real can anyone be
when in front of a camera? Some of them are blatantly acting a part, like
Omarosa. Nevertheless, all seven are inflated stereotypes:

• Omarosa: Self-described “bitch” who feeds off a public she says
cannot tell the difference between acting and being real
• Janice Dickinson: Self-described “world’s first supermodel” and
wild child who keeps no opinion to herself
• Caprice: International model who uses assumptions about her as a
blonde beauty queen to her advantage
• Pinchot: Actor typecast in roles as the goofy foreign guy, who in
“real life” lusts after model Caprice and resents his abusive father
• Jose Canseco: Former star baseball player forced into early retire-
ment by injuries, and who revealed his use of steroids in an autobi-
ography titled Juiced
• Sandy “Pepa” Denton: A member of the hip-hop trio Salt ‘n’ Pepa,
most famous in the 1990s
• Carey Hart: Freestyle motorcross daredevil who insists that he is
just a normal guy willing to break his bones

The cast list resembles the stereotypes of a high school classroom.
Carey is the skater kid who keeps out of the mainstream; Janice is the wild
child in a group of outsiders; Omarosa is the success-minded member of
the academic crowd; Jose is the athlete; Caprice is the popular beauty;
Pepa is the quiet choir member with soul. These are people everyone

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