Communication and Connection

In Radway’s Women Read the Romance, one of the main focuses is the cultural significance of romance. Young girls and women everywhere find great pleasure in reading books filled with romance. But what is it that some women love so much about these books? I believe it’s the sensation of living the life of someone else, through the eyes of people who don’t know who you truly are. Though many women will say they’re completely happy with their lives, there is usually something missing that they continuously try to obtain. Women that read these books envy the love shared between the protagonists, and they just want their husbands or boyfriends to love them like that. It’s almost as if these women acquire an obsession to this totally unrealistic world, and they literally become addicted to reading romance novels. But, they wont admit this. To keep the guilt away, they tell themselves that what they’re doing is educational, and that’s the main reason why they read in the first place. While this is true in some cases, most women just want a break from their own stressful reality and live life through the eyes of a character in a book. While can always be a good thing, when the book is finished the real world kicks back in, and you’re right back at the beginning.

In Cathartic Confessions or Emancipatory Texts?, Moorti defines “the role of television in Democratic Society.” Phil Donahue first came out with this idea to focus completely on regular people instead of famous people. This was also the “first talk show to market ‘serious’ girl-talk and to concede the importance of the female voice.” This became a popular thing amongst viewers, and when the Oprah Show began, audiences went crazy. Oprah Winfrey had a natural way of interacting with the audience so that everyone felt involved, and no one was ashamed with what was being said. This concept allowed people to discuss their problems in the public’s eye. In this reading, Moorti proved that “communication and individual resolve together can solve most social problems."