This is a class blog run by Dr. Carolina Acosta-Alzuru and her students in the First Year Odyssey Seminar "More than Melodramas: Telenovelas"

Telenovelas-FYOS-2014

Telenovelas-FYOS-2014

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Hidden Messages

After beginning to watch my telenovela for the second time, I began to realize the ideas that the telenovela is trying to get across to the consumers, the television audience. In the telenovela that I am watching, La Fea Mas Bella, the concept of body image is shown from scene to scene. The minor characters from the telenovela are composed of the models and a little inside club, el club de las feas (The Ugly Club). In almost every scene either a model or a member of the club was present and side by side. The juxtaposition in those scenes was evident due to the strong friction between both worlds and by the frequency of scenes involving them. By comparing these two different character groups, the telenovela producers are targeting the female population to encourage them to be proud of the way they are because the members of the club are more liked than the models. The models represent the vision of the perfect female body from society and with them, the consequences that they bring. Such consequences are diseases such anorexia and bulimia that affect many teenage girls all over the world. This isn’t the only problem that the producers allude to, there are many global issues all throughout every single telenovela. If you don’t think that your particular telenovela isn’t hinting at anything, look closer into the characters and watch their surroundings to become aware if there is perhaps a social criticism. 

3 comments:

  1. The fact that you were able to notice this hidden message is crazy! I think it's amazing that you were paying attention to the littlest details in your telenovela to come to this conclusion. I'm also happy that the writers were able to incorporate such a positive and uplifting message to the female population. I love how they were subtly able to encourage females, without making it blatantly obvious by calling specific women out. It's a serious issue that needs to be spoken out about, so I think it's amazing for people to be able to use things like a telenovela to raise awareness!

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  2. This is a very interesting point that you found. I think that it is interesting that they chose to portray this message using the minor characters, rather than the protagonists, as that may in some ways make the message seem more sincere, rather than having it be very obvious. And by incorporating this element into every scene it has more of a chance to make an impression on the audience. I also appreciate that the writers chose to convey this message by making the less attractive girls the ones that were more liked, as this demonstrates that beauty does not immediately guarantee that people will like you.

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  3. Clearly understand what is the Telenavelas telling us is very helpful when you actually don't know what they are talk about. even though, it is not right at all as what you watch before, then I know why I am not right, also know about what is the main point is.

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