1. 23 February 2010 · 02:28 AM ·

    Final, IA

    Laura Delarato
    Professor Wilder
    Understanding Media Studies
    1 March 2010
    Intellectual Autobiography

    My personal life is a direct influence on the way I want to study media by researching the psychological and phyical effects women have endured by being subject to unrealistic representations. Growing up, I was given a constant reminder by my family that a woman should come second to a man. My rebellion towards these comments were taken as disobedience instead of awareness, and I was left with my innate sense of humor to me keep company. In “Plotting Your Own Course” by Shannon Mattern, she explains that our inner-workings as a human help with starting our research and continuing our interests. “While this personal ‘baggage’ is commonly regarded as ‘bias’ that we must shed in order to achieve objectivity, Maxwell argues that ‘what you bring to the research from your background and identity’ can be conceived as a ‘valuable component of research’” (Mattern 2). Mostly, I would like to study comedic and plus size women, and the way we are represented and affected by television. While dealing with my family’s views, I was made very aware of the underrepresented average-size 10 and above, funny, opinionated woman on television. In my own definition, I see the ‘real woman’ as someone who is confident in themselves and doesn’t feel the need to change their image to be socially acceptable. According to Associated Content’s article “How to be a real woman,” the standard breaks down into five objectives: be strong, have confidence, figure yourself out, men don’t like projects, don’t compromise yourself (“How to be a real woman”). I don’t absolutely agree with Associated Content with all of their categories, but I’m more concerned with the media delineations. My discernment of the lack in representation has heightened the realization of the backlash that media has on women, and has made me want give television a better illustration of real women.
    Other than my family’s influence, I also want to study media from a feminist point of view. My first realization of this passion is from all the female comedians I used to — and still — watch on television. Comedy is the only medium I saw women who weren’t . In 1995, there was a stand-up special entitled, Women of the Night that aired on HBO, hosted by comedian Tracey Ullman (Women of the Night ). The show featured an all-female cast that didn’t feel embarrassed to talk about their lives in explicitness. This show made me question why these women, with their problems and aspirations, were not represented on television. Even though this is not literature, Mattern describes interest by saying that “Perceived “holes in the literature” (or mediagraphy) have inspired many a dissertation” (Mattern 3).
    The part of me that wants to write for television came from my many internships and leadership experiences. While at Pace University, where I got B.A. in both English and Women’s Studies, I acquired a multitude of professional experience that has given me an advantage in understanding production and research within a media realm. During all my internships, I have been named Arts Editor and Associate Editor for Pace University’s collegiate newspaper, The Pace Press, giving me experience in media and journalism. For four years, I wrote anywhere from two to five articles a week ranging throughout the four sections — news, features, arts, opinions. My first internship came from a media company called MediaBistro where I helped run the Web site and work along the production team to create the web videos. After, I interned at CosmoGirl! Magazine I published a two-page story in the August 2008 issue while being an active member of the Web team. I wasn’t very happy with my time there because I thought I was going to be boosting the confidences of the young women that read their pages, and instead it was a day-to-day reminder that the media really distorts the way we view women. According to HealthyPlace.com, “Experts agree that trying to achieve the “perfect” female body image seen on TV and magazines is leading an increasing number of teens to develop eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa” (“Body-Image Distortion a Growing Problem Among Women and Men.”). It was then when I interned at the editorial and art departments of Playgirl Magazine. There, I learned the value of being appropriate while dealing with inappropriate story topics and photos. It was, however, a great insight into writing for a different genre as well to a readership of women over the legal age. From there, I decided to intern at the famous satirical newspaper The Onion — and found myself really enjoying the process of writing jokes. During my time there, I prided myself in being able to come up with ideas as fast or faster than the male-majority of the office and being one of three female interns out of the twenty-five they hire every semester. After working for print, I decided to intern at Viacom where I really liked the idea of writing for television and the process that it entails.I completed two internships at MTV Networks with the production department of mtvU and the Operations department of MTV/VH1 in one semester. Working for two channels under the big umbrella of Viacom has helped me learn the value of a well-made and handled product by giving me the opportunity to assist on filming TV shows, video editing and writing for on-air copy. Also, it has allowed me to work and learn from the top producers, writers and administrators in the field.
    By taking what I learned from all my real world experience, I want to contribute a better awareness to the image of real women through television. This will stop perpetuating the idea that women have to look a certain way to be happy. “Images of female bodies are everywhere. Women—and their body parts—sell everything from food to cars. Popular film and television actresses are becoming younger, taller and thinner. Some have even been known to faint on the set from lack of food. Women’s magazines are full of articles urging that if they can just lose those last twenty pounds, they’ll have it all—the perfect marriage, loving children, great sex, and a rewarding career” (“Beauty and Body Image in the Media”). This way, women of any age will be able to see a better representation of the wide variety of personalities and bodies we have yet to utilize on television. I, also, want to challenge the networks to put a female perspective on their shows. The Late Show with David Letterman recently hired a female writer, which is a first for late-night talk shows (Harris). There was an article in The New York Times titled “Among Late-Night Writers, Few Women in the Room” that was published in November of 2009 that talked about how there were barely any female writers on these shows
    (Carter).
    The methods I’m using to accomplish my aspirations are through personally motivating myself to write about the things that bother me or make me laugh. I find myself over thinking whether or not something is worth writing, and I need to just write. Also I need to understand design and production programs so that if I do create something for television I will be able to be apart of all the creative processes, which is why I plan to take as many production courses as I can while I am at The New School. Another method I have to use, and teach myself to use, is organization with my ideas and research. American sociologist C. Wright Mills in The Sociological Imagination talks about re-arranging your filing system. “Imagination is often successfully invited by putting together hitherto isolated items, by finding unsuspected connections,” he wrote (Mills, 201). I, as well, need to be more apt to performing my ideas via improv classes. Most comic writers are comedians in some way, and it would be beneficial for me to start performing. My first foray into accomplishing my goals is to keep up with the play I’m writing, which is a series of monologues each describing a woman — funny, upset, big, small — that has not been represented on television. My method for this process is to interview different women ranging in age, race, physical appearance, and telling their stories on stage.
    There are definitely women attempting to accomplish what I want to, and possibly with the methods I’m using. Tina Fey is a great present example of a woman making it in comedy writing because she “is one of the leading voices in a new generation of comediennes — women who not only play comic roles but also perform stand-up and write and direct comedy” (Stanley). While I do believe she is making great strides for women like me who want to break into that realm, I still think there needs to be a variety of different types of women on television. From a personal point of view, I’m tired of seeing well-off ignorant women and pristine teenage girls battling with whether or not to have sex with their boyfriend on television. By the time I graduate I’d like to have written a pilot for a television show challenging the vapid image of today’s woman. Also, I would like my untitled play completed and ready for production. My two starting points will then lead me to a career of television writing, activism, and reveling in the fact that I’m giving all women a voice to be who they are — especially funny.

    Work Cited

    “Beauty and Body Image in the Media.” Media Stereotyping. Media Awareness
    Network. 2009. Web. 12 Feb. 2010. <http://www.media-
    awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.c
    fm>.

    “Body-Image Distortion a Growing Problem Among Women and Men.” Heathy Place
    Communities. HealthyPlace.com. 10 Dec. 2008. Web. 11 Feb. 2010.
    <http://www.healthyplace.com/eating-disorders/main/body-image-distortion-
    a-growing-problem-among-women-and-men/menu-id-58/>.

    Carter, Bill. “Among Late-Night Writers, Few Women in the Room.” The New York
    Times. The New York Times Company, 11 Nov. 2009. Web. 12 Feb. 2010.
    <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/business/media/12women.html>

    Harris, Lynn. “Late-night’s real problem.” Salon.com. Salon Media Group, 10 Jan.
    2010. Web. 12 Feb. 2010.
    <http://www.salon.com/books/women_writers/index.html?story=/mwt/featur
    e/2010/01/10/women_writers_late_night>.

    “How to be a real woman.” Associated Content. Associated Content. 24 Feb. 2007.
    Web. 11 Feb. 2010.
    <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/149567/how_to_be_a_real_wom
    an.html>.

    Mattern, Sharron. “Plotting Your Own Course: Identifying Your Interests and
    Establishing a Research Plan.” Understanding Media Studies. The New School
    Blackboard Resources. 1 Feb. 2010. Web. 8 Feb. 2010.

    Mills, C Wright. The Sociological Imagination. New York: Oxford University Press,
    1959. Print.

    Stanley, Alessandra. “Who Says Women Aren’t Funny?” Vanity Fair. Condé Nast
    Digital, Apr. 2008. Web. 12 Feb. 2010.
    <http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/04/funnygirls200804>.

    Women of the Night. Dir. Sue Wolf. Host Tracey Ullman. HBO. 1995. Television.