Christina Roberts
Language Arts Per.2
July 7,1995

When a commercial comes on television about a vacation to Hawaii, the sun is always shining. If I took a trip there only to discover that it was raining, I would feel mislead. Gates obviously feels the same way about television and how it shows only "the best and the brightest" of people and places. "Beverly Hills 90210" is a good example of television showing only "the best and the brightest" because all of the characters are young, gorgeous, and popular. I agree with Gates' argument, but I don't believe we should show only the "worst and dullest" of every ethnicity. A middle needs to be found because not every middle aged republican is rich or every young, black, teenager in Los Angelas is in a gang. Television cannot make the assumption that people will be one way or another because everyone is unique no matter what their ethnicity is.

As I grew up, television confused me about my own culture. Native Americans were always portrayed as being mean and hating those who were not Native American. A few shows I recall were "Jeremiah Johnson" and most of those John Wayne flicks. Even the cartoons I used to watch showed Native Americans as savages. My family and friends on the reservation were compassionate and cared about fellow human beings no matter what their ethnicity was. I did not know whether to be proud as a family or disgusted as a nation. The other side of "the best and the brightest" is not a better way to show people. Either way, someone is not represented correctly.

For instance, "Beverly Hills 90210" appeals to the younger generation, but not because it is a representation of their lives. Young people watch this show because it is filled with young, popular, beautiful people. In a past episode, Dylan had to choose between Brenda or Kelly and couldn't decide on which girl he wanted to be with. In the end, he chose Kelly and everything was resolved in one hour. When young people watch this show, they know that it is only television, but deep down, it is affecting them more than they realize. Young men wonder why they don't have two girls to pick from and young women begin to think that only the blondes get the guys. A quote from recent piece I read about going beyond the surface of 90210 to probe what actually appeals people to it states:

"What we see is a fantasy of teenaged freedom - both sexual and
economic - beyond anything most of the shows' viewers could ever
experience."

High School life is far from 90210, but everyone in one way or another wishes it was.

Gates argues that showing the "best and the brightest" of people causes overwhelming impressions of failure for those who are not like the characters on television. That much is true, but even if television showed reality, people would still feel the same. No two people are the same and someone will always think of themselves being better or worse than others. I cannot say where I firmly stand with Gates' argument, but I do know that either way television turns, for the better or the worst, the effects will be damaging.

Our society has to realize that sitcoms and dramas are just stories with characters. Maybe when we all become secure with ourselves, we can enjoy television for what it is, entertainment.