THE BACHELOR-Analyzing Reality Television-

By: Melissa Tucker

5 STEPS OF CRITICAL ANALYSIS

1) Description -- The Bachelor is a reality TV show that has 25 women compete for one man. During the show, each week a woman is sent home during the “Rose Ceremony”. At the end of the show, the ultimate goal for these women is to be the one girl that “The Bachelor” gives the ultimate rose to: a ring. The episode I watched of The Bachelor aired on February 22nd, 2016. In episode 8 of season 20, it was the “hometown” part of the show. The “hometown” episode is one of the most anticipated episodes among viewers. This season, “The Bachelor” named Ben is down to four women. The four women in this episode are Lauren, Caila, Jojo, and Amanda. Ben visits each girl’s hometown and meets her family. As every season has done, Ben is asked by all of the woman’s family members how he feels about her and what his true intentions are. After going to all the hometowns, the “Rose Ceremony” commences. Ben ultimately sends Amanda home when her name is not called for a rose.

5 STEPS OF CRITICAL ANALYSIS

2) Analysis -- Some significant patterns that I observed with this show is that crying is a main theme. The women cry a lot. Whether the woman is happy or sad, she is crying either way. I was surprised to see that Ben, “The Bachelor”, cried. He cried quite often in this episode, as well. Another pattern I noticed in this episode was that all the women had long hair, perfect style, and always a glass of wine in their hands. A lot of drinking occurs on this show, which is a common stereotype of a “housewife”. The typical “housewife” stereotype is that the woman stays home and drinks wine all day while looking beautiful for her husband. I also noticed that the woman sent home was Amanda. Amanda happens to have two children, which would not have been ideal for a man like Ben. Society does not see a single mom as ideally “sexy” and someone that could win this show. So naturally, as in most seasons, the woman with the children was booted out.

5 STEPS OF CRITICAL ANALYSIS

3) Interpretation -- My findings show that The Bachelor is based around sexism. The problem with saying this to people, though, is that people say that this show “is made for the women population”. That it may be; however, the person that created this show was not a woman, but a man. Men control the majority of the programs that air onto our television sets and what we watch at the movies. “Women love roses” is a common misconception. Some women may not enjoy flowers, and that is totally normal. The fact that it is a “Rose Ceremony” makes it so that it is an “honor” to receive the rose from the “man of your dreams”. The fact that everyone on the show cries all the time makes it sexist because women do not cry all the time. Another reason this show is sexist is the fact that the women look so perfect every day. Women are not dressed flawlessly all the time. Women can own sweatpants and shirts with stains on it and not wear makeup. These images of women, and men, is extremely harmful to society because it makes these stereotypes of both genders appear real.

5 STEPS OF CRITICAL ANALYSIS

4) Evaluation -- The show is good in perspectives of views, ratings and income. The franchise for The Bachelor is known around the world. People love tuning in to see what girl “The Bachelor” walks to the limo when she does not receive a rose. Viewers especially love the final “Rose Ceremony”, when “The Bachelor” proposes to the girl he has chosen to be with. This show is a network’s dream.

5 STEPS OF CRITICAL ANALYSIS

5) Engagement -- I think this show should have been cancelled a long time ago. It is giving women such terrible views on how they should look and how men should treat them. It promotes multiple partners, needing constant body perfection, and drinking. It is an unnecessary medium that I think needs to be cut. My sister worships this show, but I absolutely hate The Bachelor. It emphasizes the need for a woman to be in a relationship way too much, and it makes men appear very shallow and uncaring. It makes women feel that the shallow and uncaring guy is the guy that they need to be with. This is a terrible message to send to women, especially the younger generations of girls. It is a toxic and disgusting show that should not have another season.

WHO CREATED THIS MESSAGE?

• This show may seem realistic, but to me it is beyond unrealistic. The epicenter of this program is ABC, the American Broadcasting Company. They control this show, and the creator of the show is none other than Mike Fleiss. I have never heard of him until further researching the show, but I was not at all surprised that ABC chose a man to make a show aimed for women. ABC is the main source of sponsorship and production of The Bachelor. I am assuming they pay for this show, along with other people involved with the production, because it has been successful among its viewers. The intended audience for this show is women. I know this because it has a very “feminine” stereotypical theme. Women looking perfect, having long hair, drinking wine constantly, and crying is the essential stereotype of women today.

WHAT CREATIVE TECHNIQUES ARE USED TO ATTRACT MY ATTENTION?

• The use of creative techniques helps draw the viewer into this show because it makes it appear realistic. The music is either romantic/whimsical or dramatic depending on the situation that is occurring. The camera angles and lighting make it seem like it is happening without any crew there, even though there are a bunch of camera men around the person or people being filmed. The props and clothing are very glamorous, even when it is daylight. The women always look gorgeous and “The Bachelor” always looks polished and handsome. This is more attractive to the audience because people like looking at “pretty people”. All of this makes me hate the show even more, but that is just me personally. I think it is a very fake show; however, viewers that watch feel intrigued and captivated by the action that is being focused on and they want whoever is “The Bachelor” to find “true love”.

HOW MIGHT DIFFERENT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THIS MESSAGE DIFFERENTLY THAN ME?

• I am sure that many groups of people find this show to be offensive, including myself. The main group I think would find it culturally offensive is the Muslim culture. Women are expected to be covered, and the outfits on the show are definitely not classy at times. Americans find this show to be very entertaining and interesting to watch. Other cultures that “court” women differently may find this show to be hysterical. The subtext of the message is that if you are the hottest girl with the least amount of baggage, the man of your dreams will pick you to be his wife. The persuasion techniques being used are glamor and sex appeal.

WHAT VALUES, LIFESTYLES OR POINTS OF VIEW ARE REPRESENTED IN, OR OMITTED

FROM, THIS MESSAGE?• The media message says that women should only care about men and they are

objects to be picked. I cannot see any real positive messages within The Bachelor, except that some of the women are employed. The negative messages in the show are all based around sexism. The main thing being sold in this show is sex, and that if you are a women you need to look good so a man will marry you. The story that is not being told in this show is how the women really feel. They do not discuss alcoholism or body issues. They remain on the topic of these women all chasing after a hot man. A man of another race or sexual orientation has not been on this show, and women of other races or sexual orientations is not promoted on this show. These untold stories could be told through the people that have maybe auditioned for the show or people who have pitched ideas about an LGBTQ Bachelor.

WHY IS THIS MESSAGE BEING SENT?

• Product placements in the show that I noticed in the episode I watched was Apple, and some alcoholic beverages they were drinking. Maybe fashion can also be a product placement for women who watch the show and look up who designed a certain outfit or gown that one of the women wore. Also the cars they drive in the show. In the hometowns, they would show some of the local shops too. Some of the items in the show were blurred out though, due to copyright. This message empowers people from these brands and companies that are trying to sell their products. This message disempowers the audience and makes them susceptible to being “TV Zombies” and buying things just to buy them. The media maker gets money from the companies that it sponsors, so it is only being empowered by these messages. The dominant culture loves these items because they are expensive and it is what is trending and “cool”. People want to be fashionable and stylish, so they will want to watch the show to see what is “popular”.

DO YOU ACTIVELY CONSIDER THE MEDIA’S MESSAGES WHEN TAKING THEM IN? WHO GAINS

AND LOSES FROM THIS MEDIA, IF ANYONE?

• After becoming a Communication major, I definitely have become even more aware of the media’s messages and how I should take them in. I realize that everything is strategically put in my face on TV or in movies to make me act and think a certain way. I think the media giants gain more than the public does from media, but in reality it is all a big cycle. Media giants produce what the people “want” and then when the people get what they “want” then the media giants start the cycle over again and again. The media giants, though, are the main winners because they suck people into buying and doing things that would not actually be bought or done without the media.