Some days ago, I watched on TV that Marcelo Tinell was declared “Personalidad Destacada de la Cultura” (Outstanding Personality of Culture), for his long career in the argentinian television as host, producer and businessman. Nowadays, he is the presenter of the high-rated show Showmatch: “Bailando por un sueño” (Dancing for a dream”), a dancing contest where a ‘dreamer’ is accompanied by a celebrity (which are professional dancers, actors and actresses, comedians, models, vedettes, etc) in dance routines of several styles such as Tango, Folklore, Reggaeton, Hip-Hop, salsa, merengue, Pole dance, Strip dance, etc. This TV show has been on air since 2006 and it is now in its 9th season.
There are several opinions about this show, and it seems that society is divided as well,
of course. The show has always been a source of controversy.
On the one hand, some people say that if it wasn’t for his show there are no entertainment programmes on TV to watch. Besides, it is true that he has contributed to the argentinian TV with fiction series, soap operas and programs of general interest.
On the other hand, and in my opinion, this shows represents and promotes the values that we are loosing in our society. Fights, gossip, verbal bashing between celebrities and judges, scantily clad women and sometimes nude women are often portrayed in the show. Objectification of women is another important issue. These ladies in the show are often seen and treated as pieces of meat. What’s more, these women don’t even respect themselves, most of them work with their bodies, but I believe that everything has a limit and they crossed the line. Some of them are not smart and some of them just pretend they are fools so everyone laughs at them.
Most of the people in the country watch the show, and it is dangerous because many kids, girls and boys watch it as well. A tv show where curves, aesthetic surgeries are highlighted, a show where all that matters is your physical appearance. One of the contestants even cried once because her wig had fallen, and she said that she looked horrible and that people wouldn’t love her anymore because her hair was a disaster. I mean, WHAT?
What do children and adolescents who watch the program absorb? That you should work hard to get what you want? Maybe. Maybe not.
All in all, I don’t agree at all with the price Marcelo Tinelli has been awarded. But, he sells what society consumes. Like it or not what we consume good or bad, is part of our culture. Who is to blame, then? Him? Us?
I think that if he didn’t
produce these programs, society wouldn’t buy them, because of course they wouldn’t
exist.Feel free to give your opinion. Thanks!
Links:
http://www.clarin.com/extrashow/fama/Tinelli-distinguido-Personalidad-Destacada-Cultura_0_1233476827.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailando_por_un_Sue%C3%B1o_(Argentina)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showmatch
Personally, I don’t like Tinelli’s show at all, much less him as a person. I’ve always believed that his show promotes certain values which I don’t agree with, mainly in relation to the fact that women are treated (and mistreated) as objects. Of course, we cannot deny that those women participate in the show because they want to. Nevertheless, they do it because Tinelli generated and promoted this idea of getting (financial) success by losing dignity and respect from others.
ResponderBorrarI didn’t know about this award he received until you told me, and I still can’t believe it. There are lots of people in our country who work every day in education and culture so as to make this country to progress, who deserve being awarded in this aspect more than Tinelli. Sadly, it seems that our country is not only living an economic crisis, but also a moral one.
In our society, success is closely related to people who is famous just because, to people who don’t work (los “vivos”), and to people who sell their dignity for some pesos.
Even though he has already received the prize, I strongly disagree with that, as you do. I totally agree with your reflections on the topic!
P.S: I LOVE the last picture hahaha... I couldn’t help but laugh as soon as I saw it hahaha... =)
I agree with you girls. There are so many people that work really hard to create products that promote values and are left aside for Tinelli. He shows a side of Argentinian society that, for me, we should not be proud of. As both of you describe, what the program shows is awful but it's part of our culture. Not many people are ignorant of the program or its content, and many like it.
ResponderBorrar