Over the past decade, women in talk show television have been extremely popular and influential figures. The impact they have on viewers far surpasses the hour they air on weekdays, when they bring on guests and discuss trending issues in our society. Three examples of these women include Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and the five women who host The View. Although they may be different in personality, the influence they had, and continue to have on our society is astounding. To demonstrate this, I have analyzed three episodes of these women on their shows. The first is an episode of Oprah titled “Oprah Talks, Law Of Attraction Stories: Strong Women Around The World!”, that aired in 2013. The second is an episode of Ellen titled “Sam Smith …show more content…
By watching talk shows such as those of Oprah Winfrey Ellen Degeneres, and the women on The View, public opinion can be influenced by these women on particular issues facing society. Meaning, these public figures have an influence on the viewers watching their television shows. Research has shown that day time talk shows are a positive aspect of television. Author Helen Wood discusses this is her book “Talking with Television: Women, Talk Shows, and Modern Self- Reflexivity.” Matelski emphasizes the positive aspects of day time television talk shows saying, “One of the most profitable daytime programming categories for adult women throughout television history has been talk shows/news magazine…all maintain the objective of informing the audience, while giving a healthy a dose of entertainment” (as cited in Wood, 2009, p.9). Oprah Winfrey certainly had no problem successfully informing and entertaining her viewers. According to the article “When Oprah Intervenes: Political Correlates of Daytime Talk Show Viewing”, “A recent issue of Time Magazine named Oprah Winfrey as one of the 100 "People Who Shape Our World," categorizing the daytime talk show host in the same group as other "Leaders and Revolutionaries" such as George W. Bush, Pope Benedict XVI, …show more content…
The shows emphasize repeatedly that there are problems in child care, keeping families together, and personal health and fulfillment. The presentation of these problems rarely involves specific demands for government action. However, as individuals become more aware of and concerned with a given topic, they are more likely to become advocated for change in the public sphere, whether through voting or other forms of political behavior” (Glynn et al, 2007, p.
Ulrich, C. (2006). THE OPRAH EFFECT. Essence (Time Inc.), 37(6), 19—192. Retrieved February 27, 2014 from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.oclc.fullsail.edu:81/ehost/detail?vid=7&sid=103f969f-aada-4d23-8d20-.ab2a8e1b5a6b%40sessionmgr115&hid=117&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=22301879.
...n Oprah for Time 100's Most Influential People of the Century. Her article highlights Oprah's achievements throughout her career, and explains how Oprah managed to steal the spotlight from other talk show host through her reinvention of "rapport-talk," to one based on back and forth discussion everyday issues and friendship. She states that Oprah's legacy is that she evokes a sense of caring because she herself cares about her audience. Tannen appeared frequently on the Oprah Winfrey show and had the opportunity to be featured on the show when she released her book, "You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation" which Oprah praised and related to.
Oprah is one of the most well known and revered celebrities worldwide. What make Oprah distinct from mainstream celebrities is the entwining of the person and the product of Oprah. In each chapter, of Oprah: The Gospel of an Icon, Lofton compares materials from Oprah's many productions and religious culture. Lofton specifically focuses on the prosperity gospel as practiced by many churches and preached by Oprah, who gives gifts and fills pages of her magazine with products intended for a better life. Lofton also discusses celebrity culture and contemporary evangelism and how the brand Oprah thrives on the inseparable nature of religion and American capitalism
On September 20, 1984 a show aired that changed the way we view gender roles on television. Television still perpetuates traditional gender stereotypes and in reflecting them TV reinforces them by presenting them as the norm (Chandler, 1). The Cosby Show, challenged the typical gender stereotyping of television, daring to go against the dominant social values of its time period. In its challenge of the dominant social view, the show redefined the portrayal of male and female roles in television. It redefined the gender role in the work place, in social expectations, and in household responsibilities. The Cosby Show supported Freidan in her view of “castigating the phony happy housewife heroine of the women’s magazines” (Douglas 136).
Few people on television are able to bring joy to others just by being themselves, but those who can are known as modern day icons. Certain individuals have the ability to get up everyday and entertain crowds of hundreds. Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres are prime examples of people who can brighten others’ days and do so for a living. Oprah and Ellen are two memorable women who have accomplished careers as daytime talk show hosts; they have two separate histories that have formed them into the idols we know today. Viewers have grown up watching both women on television, and have learned meaningful life lessons from doing so. They are often thought of as important role models for young women and men in today’s society (Happiness Weekly). Although their stories may
Perhaps the most notable triumph of Oprah Winfrey is her job as host of her own television show, "The Oprah Winfrey Show". Because anyone is free to decide what they choose as a career, she had the opportunity to create this show. The viewings and acceptance of the consumers to her show allowed it's prosperity. Keep in mind that Oprah had no control of the success her show would receive, although she had free decision to do what she pleased with it, it was the decision of the consumers
Television has come a long way from the first black and white silent show to its current craze, which happens to be the television talk shows. In the nineteen eighties, the daytime airwaves were monopolised by soap operas and game shows but the trend gradually evolved to talk shows towards the nineties. Being before my time, research appears to imply that the talk show intrusion of our airwaves all seemed to start with the originals such as Geraldo Riveria, Donahue and Sally Jesse Rafael. Surprisingly though, some of the morality and the topics remain somewhat similar throughout the years, such as the improvement of society and the quality of life often show on shows like the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Montel Williams Show.
Winfrey’s early life was filled with arduous hurdles from the beginning, she was raised in a small podunk town in Mississippi that was anything but safe for a young girl, but on top of that she was raised by a single mother who was not around nearly enough. However the most formidable part of her upbringing was, she was sexually abused by ‘family friends’ and relatives on multiple occasions starting from the age of just nine. At twelve she was sent away to middle Tennessee to live with her father, there she realised her passion, she began giving speeches in front of her church and ultimately came to the conclusion that she wanted to speak for a living. Without her parents divorce Winfrey might have never figured out her passion of speaking to people until it was too late, this was a hidden advantage in the making of her success. However all too soon she had to leave the comfort of her father’s home where she could pursue her interest and journey back to her mother, where she was sadly yet again
With improvements to broadcasting technologies and greater access by more families, television was now in more homes in the 1960’s, bringing news, advertising, and family comedy shows to the nation. Moreover, the influence on social aspects of people’s live was apparent when it came to depicting women and their gender roles through acting. Consequently, television played another role regarding social dynamics thus, showing the realities of civil rights and the horrors of war. Additionally, television brought the political candidates to the forefront and had a strong influence on the American people’s political ideologies, as the first ever presidential debate aired on television. Finally, television aided the economy by waging advertising campaigns that convinced consumers to purchase their products. Coupled with consumer’s extra income contributing to a strong economy, despite the slightly high unemployment rates. As can be seen, television played a key role in the social, political, and economic culture in the 1950’s and
Oprah Winfrey is an inspiration to many all around the world. She did not have a very good home life up until the age of 14. She was abused as a child and did not see her mother very often because she was a housemaid who was gone almost every day all day. Vernon Winfrey, Oprah’s father, was a big service in her life when it came to keeping her in a nonviolent manner. Oprah also had her career going for her when she became Miss Black Tennessee at age 17. When Oprah became Miss Black Tennessee she was offered a radio broadcasting job and a full scholarship to Tennessee. Oprah had quite a few talk shows yet she made the most money off her own show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and now has her individual network called The Oprah Winfrey Network. Oprah Winfrey’s influential style greatly impacted those who came after her in the entertainment industry.
As we watch, listen, and are entertained, trash television talk shows are changing our perceptions, rewriting our cultural roles, altering our social relationships, and ultimately our relationships with the ordinary world. Talk shows offer us a quasi-world of indefinite margins. They create a sensational community, without any of the social and personal responsibilities that are attached to real life. For some, the concept is an appealing notion: therapy as entertainment. The central distortion that these shows advocate is that they give useful therapy to guests and useful advice to the audience. Whether you believe it or not, trash talk shows are arenas for real people.
Basically, women’s talk is devalued because women are the ones doing it and it differentiates it from the opposition of a “man’s world” from a “woman’s place” (Kramarae, Jenkins, 1987). Dow also adds that the show “blurs the distinctions between public and private by highlighting the private functions of women’s talk within the public discourse offered by television, thus extending awareness of the positive functions of such talk to a public
Winfrey has brought so much change to the world that one cannot just write a simple paragraph about. She has used her platform to discuss topics that are truly life changing such as Weight Issues, Reading, Give Big, and Taboo. Topics about weight have always interested the public, and Oprah was one individual who discussed it for the world to put their input in. She has talked about her own weight and made it clear how diet and exercise is important for the body. She strived to put the message in people’s ear’s that being healthy is what’s right. The next topic is reading, and this came from her “Oprah 's Book Club”. Oprah has always believed that reading is a fundamental skill and she wanted others to hop on the bandwagon and expand their knowledge. She started this book club for many reasons and it surely brought change to society. Give Big is the next topic of discussion and this changed society in a positive way. In 1997, Oprah wanted her viewers to make a difference in other people’s lives by donating their spare change. Shortly after that, she transformed that into the charity known as “Oprah 's Angel Network”. This charity was a huge success and has helped a lot of individuals in need. The final topics that will be discussed are taboo topics such as abuse, infidelity and addiction. These types of topics are what made Oprah Winfrey’s show such a success. She was so open about her childhood and other obstacles she had to face in her life that people began to trust
Oprah Winfrey once said, “The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude” (Flanagan 118). This quote is a testimony to her personal life. Born in 1954 whenever African Americans were still fighting for equality, Winfrey had racism to endure. Additionally, her family faced much economic hardship. During her childhood, Winfrey encountered physical and sexual abuse. Somehow, she persevered against all odds to become one of America’s most significant philanthropists. Oprah Winfrey is an inspiration to all because of her dexterity to conquer her adversities to attain any goal.
One of the most powerful women in the world is Oprah Gail Winfrey. Oprah is one of the richest businesswomen in the world, but she wasn’t always rich and successful. She had a very tough life growing up and didn’t have much money. She has always been a hard worker, and she had a passion for hosting and acting. Oprah is very good at what she does and that’s how she raised to the top of being one of the most influential women in the media.