Page 182 - A Handbook Genre Studies in Mass Media

IDEOLOGICAL APPROACH

their “minute” very much, once again reinforcing the appeal of sex and
appearance.
The Bachelor and The Bachelorette also make love appear as an easy
conquest that can be decided upon within eight weeks. By the finale, each
candidate is expected to know whether or not he/she wants to marry the
Bachelor (Bachelorette) and to spend their life with that person. This
storyline reinforces a fairy-tale idea that each of us has a specific some-
one we are meant to be with. Meeting that special someone is a magical
experience, and the two of you will live happily ever after. Ironically,
many of these “reality romances” have fizzled after the show.
Interestingly enough though, The Bachelor’s Charlie O’Connell opted
for a different approach to the show’s usual format and changed certain
aspects to make it more personal. For example, he stayed at his own apart-
ment in New York, instead of being put up in a fancy, first-class hotel.
Also, when he was down to his two final candidates, Sarah and Jen, he
chose to spend two months apart from them, before making his last deci-
sion on the final episode. He wanted to see which one he missed, could
talk too, and have something with when the cameras were not around.
However, Charlie is the brother of actor Jerry O’Connell and he him-
self has had opportunities in Hollywood. He is well-off and financially
secure and does not need the fancy hotel to show his success and status,
or portray the image of a distinguished man. Charlie was that already,
and the show was able to use his upscale apartment and lifestyle to con-
vey the message of the “all-American Prince Charming.” One again, the
virtue of wealth and status is enforced, and influences one’s ability to
“change the game.”
Joe Millionaire presents the idea that it is okay to lie and pretend to be
someone completely different than who you really are when it comes to
finding love. Evan Marriot, aka Joe Millionaire, posed as a suave, upper-
class millionaire heir when in reality he was a middle-class construction
worker. The premise of the show was to see if Evan found someone he
cared for, and revealed his true identity, would they still feel the same way
(basically, without the millions of dollars). Not only does this reinforce
the belief that women are gold diggers, but it gives the impression that
middle-class men stand no chance of getting a girl in this league.

Power: Sit Down and Shut Up! Last, reality television furnishes perspec-
tive into the beliefs of who controls the world and how we should respond to
their control. Shows such as Making the Band, America’s Next Top Model,

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