In the UK for example, Cambridge University contacted leading soap operas like Eastenders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale to include a storyline about a character going to Cambridge University to shed their elitist image. They have recognised that a communications tools like popular culture is a good way to communicate this message.

Using the examples of UK soapies again, it is interesting how they can have multi-cultural characters in the shows and have multicultural relationships and it’s very seamless and natural. I think it’s disgraceful that in 2009 that soapies like Neighbours and Home and Away cannot do the same. They have a few ethnic characters here and there but I don’t think I have ever seen a member with dark skin as cast as a permanent member one of these shows. I could be wrong. I think cultural differences and inter-culture dating would be more accepted in Australia if they were portrayed on shows like these.

As an example, I recall Star Trek: The Next Generation where Data, an android, was searching to become human. Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) and Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) help him in many episodes explore what it means to be human. But reruns of Sex and The City still rate more highly than ST:TNG, I would hazard a guess as to the reason being that sex and scandal sell better than exploring humanity.

For the most part we (humans) do not like our values to be challenged, which is why shows appeal to the masses. We like something we can agree with, and enjoy, for the most part without having to think. Sometimes we’ll do a crossword or soduku when we want a challenge, but how often does the average person sit down and decide they want their values altered, or to be told what they believe in is wrong?

In a free market economy, a true capitalist will try to get the most dollars you can. A purveyor of entertainment in a free market economy will try to sell escapism as that is what the people want, even if it means betraying some values for others (dollars).

As a 25 year old male, I found the article interesting and I agree that it is terrible that women are portrayed that way. At the same time, I feel it is terrible that men are portrayed the way Charlie is in Two and a Half Men but the sad truth is, the masses pay for it because that is what that is how they want to be entertained. They either like seeing the stereotypes that are just like them so they can feel a sense of “I’m not alone” (eg Sarah Jessica Parker), or they like seeing stereotypes that are not like them so they can laugh at it (eg Charlie Sheen). This will cover the majority of viewers and there are exceptions, but they are not the rule – at least not at this point.

We need to see that being single is not the booby prize, but that it is a valid option. Even though Sex and the City was one of my all time fave shows and I loved that it was about single women, it was disappointing that they were always angsting over men. We need to see women getting on with life without even thinking about men. Not that I’m anti relationship, but it’s in the search that I lot of misery occurs. When we are single we should live like that is our life and not and in-between, until the next man comes along “oh when will I meet him” stage.

It’s funny what you say about music and media – recently am obsessed with tv show “Mad Men” set in the early 60s and have been listening to the music from that era. One song talks about putting on makeup and dressing for your man or he’ll run off with someone else. All talk about that show (and era) is that times were so different. Sadly, I don’t know about that, plus ca change ………..