Relativity and Reality

Oprah is a driving force in America today. Unlike other talk show hosts who are driven by scandal and perverse detail, Oprah attempts to educate and inform for the betterment of her viewers as well as society. She exposes the unspoken and taboo topics which touch upon all lives in contemporary America. This cartoon exemplifies Moorti’s point that “Oprah…tends to present private acts as socially relevant and the social as personal” (551). Her humanitarian efforts have made a great impact, but what will happen in the future when her talk show is over? Will she still wield power and attempt further good?

In the article “Women Read the Romance: The Interaction of Text and Context”, author Radway writes an interpretation based on women who are said to be “compulsive romance readers” and are further interviewed about their obsession with this genre. One woman’s reasoning was “Because it is an escape and we can dream. And pretend that is our life” (69). The author makes it clear that these women are well aware that the characters and fantasies which evolve on the page have no resemblance to occurrences in their daily lives – this is what attracts their interest, because they are able to have a distraction from their everyday reality. This conceptual idea is used by the media as well, specifically reality TV. We watch and become obsessed with this intriguing programming because it is so unlike our own ordinary daily lives. Like the romance novel, it provides an escape into a perceived perfection of lifestyle.

This image of the Kardashian family relays how very unrealistic their way of life is. You don’t have to be familiar with the program, or know their background to determine that their dress, behavior, and attitude are uncommon. Although this is reality T.V., and some of the portrayal touches on common reality, its glossy image is what keeps viewers watching, just as the romance novel keeps the reader turning pages.