Examples:
1. Herbert from Family Guy
2. Top Youtube search for old people is "Old People Falling."
3. The Clapper and "Help, I've Fallen and Can't Get Up" advertisements
4. Frank and Marie from Everybody Loves Raymond
5. Elders React to Dubstep Video
Similarities:
Each of these examples have one thing in common. They illustrate a large gap between how the youth and the elderly are viewed in today's modern society. Elders are portrayed as perverts in Family Guy, as Herbert is often referred to as "Herbert the Pervert." It also makes elders appear creepy and people you would want to avoid. The Youtube search refers to old people as helpless people who are clumsy, and only provide entertainment through their clumsiness. The advertisements refer to the stereotype that old people are brittle and probably deserve to be in nursing homes, their job is basically staying alive. Frank and Marie provide the characters on Everybody Loves Raymond who are unrelatable to the younger audience. Their kids usually have differing opinions on how to solve problems and have different theories on how to live. The video "Elders React to Dubstep" effectively illustrates the gap in values as something that is culturally meaningful for the kids sounds like alien music to the adults, if they even consider it music. The media portrays adults in a much different light than youngsters, making fun of their disabilities, their ignorance to modern culture, and their personalities/values.
Unique Representations:
A unique media representation of the elderly came in the "Elders React to Dubstep." While most of the video was dedicated to exaggerating the cultural differences between young and old, there were a few elders who loved the music and thought it was fresh and interesting. They maintained the idea that Dubstep is a cult, but didn't immediatly disregard the new idea. Another unique representation was Herbert from Family Guy. Not many media outlets show elders as perverts. In fact, many people probably don't think elders have the energy and physical capabilities of being perverted. I think most people agree that elders typically don't view elders as perverted, but Family Guy was able to find a way and provide a fresh and unique media interpretation of our older folks. Many people don't view a Youtube search as a media representation, but I think that this search was too interesting not to include. The search highlighted the entertainment potential for elders in their clumsiness, contradicting a current stereotype that old people are too boring to stand or even be around.
Consequences:
Elders are never going to be viewed in the same light as the "in crowd" in the media. Their differences rather than their similarities will be exaggerated and the gap between the old and new will grow. Your elders may seem unrelatable, but remember, that is what the media has told you. Is the media always right on everything? Maybe our elders aren't as different as we think they are.
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