The art of framing is heavily illuminated in every aspect of media. Any one subject can be framed in a countless array of possibilities; it all depends on how the creator of the message wants you to comprehend the material. They want to tell you how to think about a given subject or topic. The concept of framing has helped me better grasp an understanding of the popular reality television shows that our generation has become so fond of.
Reality shows (such as those on MTV, VH1, and E!) typically try to convince the audience to accept their formulated take on different stereotypes in society. Let's take the television show MADE, for example. In 2005, MTV came to my hometown of Killeen, TX and did an episode on a "fortunate" girl at one of the four high schools in the area. MTV scripted the entire episode, and made their starlet to appear as a social outcast that longed to be a member of the dance team, which was thought to be comprised of the "popular" girls of the school. As it turned out, the girl that was featured in the episode actually had plenty of friends, and I have had plenty of different sources say that they scripted the entire thing, and only showed a selected part of the student body, so that they could showcase their own views on what American high schools should be like.
So, to cut to the chase, the company went in with their own agenda to set, and aired an episode that would tell their audience how to think about American youth, and what is associated among American teenagers. Reality television shows are fabricated and scripted, and consequently, give false impressions. Everything is faked because they believe that mainstream society will better be able to identify. Reporters have the power to make you believe what they want and how to believe it, regardless of the truths or lies behind it.
Here is a MADE episode (a fraction.) I couldn't find a link to the one that was made in my town!
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