As I did research for this week’s journal article I came across a word that gave me inspiration for a topic that I wanted to cover. The word was rehab, and I immediately thought about the current popular culture of rehab inflicting Hollywood, reality television, and the personal lives of people throughout the Country.
The article that is being used is called, “Jeremy London's 'Celebrity Rehab' visits a scam”. In the article, the author discusses the reality television show, “Celebrity Rehab”, which is a cable network production about celebrities that are sent to, or request to go to a rehab facility, and are videotaped throughout their process. The reasons that people need rehabilitation vary from drug addiction, sex addition, alcohol addiction, and even behavioral issues. While these are all serious issues, and topics the current pop culture is handling, dealing with, or seeing these problems, and the people experiencing them as something “cool”.There has been musicians, athletes, celebrities, politicians, and many well known people enter into the reality television show. Either some take it seriously, while others make fun of the situation, which sets a very bad example for the viewers, or they are kicked off the show for not remaining on their set plans for rehabilitation. Regardless of the reason why someone may need rehab it is never “cool”. People that are suffering from an inability to live a socially responsible life, and function as a productive member of society are situations to be considered “cool”.
The individuals who are influenced by popular culture and may be vulnerable to the influence of reality television shows are receiving a message that is not correct. Doing things in your life that lead to the need for rehabilitation is not “cool”, and the process of rehab is not “cool”. People who have went through rehab and remain focused on living a productive life is “cool”, but that is not the information that the media follows, or makes reality television about.
References
Scheffler, J. (2010, July 30). Jeremy London's 'Celebrity Rehab' visit a scam ? Retrieved October 23, 2010, from Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-in-cincinnati/jeremy-london-s-celebrity-rehab-visit-a-scam
Hi Shelby,
ReplyDeleteBoy do you make a good point! Rehab establishments and programs are being glamorized due to shows like this and people, especially young people, do not understand the seriousness, or the consequences of the actions that landed the individual in the program in the first place. But if you notice, there are many subjects being glamorized on television, which in real life can be devastating. For example, the show The Secret Life of the American Teenager glamorizes teenage pregnancy. Although the writers try to show the responsibilities that come with having a baby, this show portrays teenage pregnancy as though it is the norm. I just think that we, as a society, are treading on dangerous waters when glamorize things that in real life, can cause much difficulty.
Thanks,
Lisa Theis-Juniper