Increasing Trends

I don’t know about you, but the long awaited premiere of the final season of LOST was much anticipated for me. This show combines thought provoking questions of time, faith, science, trust and betrayal with what I think to be an excellent cast of acting and directing. Each of the characters has intriguing backgrounds, as well as current struggles, that drag you in to the twists and turns of the plot. One of these characters that I find particularly relevant to our discussion of mass media is that of Kate. Her story is fascinating, largely because it defies much of the stereotypical, victimized, portrayal of women that some think the medium of TV tends to give us. Is this an increasing trend?

Kate’s personality in LOST is captivating. She is beautiful, yet not overly concerned with her appearance (although, being stuck on an island is not exactly conducive to beauty products and perfect hygiene). She is an individual, she is tough, and she knows what she wants. Kate is often struggling, but she does not let it control her. She is intelligent and strong. She is capable of taking care of herself, and it is unlikely that anyone will get her to change her mind about something once it has been made up. A good example of this is found in the most recent season six episode, What Kate Does (episode three). After Sawyer leaves the rest of the group with a distinct command not to follow him, Kate decides to go after him anyway. Others tell her that she cannot go alone, and, as they are preparing to leave, one of the men remarks to her, “Better not slow us down.” She replies, “Better not slow me down!” These characteristics are part of Kate’s appeal.

I find Kate’s character interesting because I think it represents a changing stereotype of the women portrayed in media. An article by Gaye Tuchman, written in the 1970s, entitled The Symbolic Annihilation of Women by the Mass Media, holds the distinct view that television often portrays women as inferior to males, likely to be victims of violence, and dependent on their family roles for success. It seems as though this portrayal, assuming that it was true at one time, is, in some ways, changing. Strong, female characters such as Kate, or the many detective type agents in our abundance of detective type shows, or actresses that often play those types of roles (Angelina Jolie comes to mind) seem to permeate our entertainment world. This is not to stay that some of the more traditional stereotypes do not exist, but there seems to be a definitive shift. We are, perhaps, creating a new stereotype.

A few questions, then, are worth considering. First, if the creation of this new stereotype is occurring, what is causing it? Have our society’s values and awareness of media stereotypes changed enough that there is a conscious effort from the producers of media to stray from the portrayals of women that may seem a bit trivializing of their abilities? Or is the media simply beginning to reflect a different culture of women that are emerging more independent and self-sufficient? Next we must ask ourselves, do we like the new stereotype we are creating? It is enthralling to watch women that are smart, independent, and sexy. As with any entertainment medium, we have a tendency to think those that are strong and brave are “cool.” Is this a good thing? It’s an honest question; I am not sure what the answer is.

What do you think?