Hi Ms. Bennett,
I am a junior in high school and in my AP English class we are writing blogs about any op-ed writer of our choice. I chose you to write my blogs about. If you would like, you can see my blog here: http://www.mollygerth1.blogspot.com/
For our last blog we had to write about an article from our writer and discuss the claim of the essay and whether we agree with it. I wrote about your article The Problem with Women on Reality TV. I enjoyed reading that article of yours, especially because there is a lot of truth in everything you wrote. In fact, I mentioned that in my blog post. I really enjoy your feminist view in all of your writings. As a woman, it is empowering and nice to see someone else stick up for women in our world today. So, if you have time, I would really appreciate it if you could look at my blog and give me your opinion. Also, if there are any other articles of yours that you would recommend to me, that would be much appreciated as well. I look forward to reading more of your articles in Newsweek.
Thank you,
Molly Gerth
Monday, December 20, 2010
Pool of Knowlege: The Problem With Women on Reality TV
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/11/the-problem-with-women-on-reality-tv.html
1If your main source of knowledge about women came from reality TV, this is how you’d see the world: a place where your mom is a conniving, deceitful gold digger, your sisters and girlfriends vicious and catty. You would learn that “sisterhood” is a thing of the past, as Pozner puts it—and that girl friendships are not powerful but spiteful. And you’d understand that women were put on this earth to compete for male attention—when, of course, they’re not busy pulling each others hair our or lounging half naked in a ot tub.. (Bennett's claim)
2.)None of this is to say that reality TV is not entertaining—because, let’s be honest, it is. (concession)
3.) a. And Conger, who auctioned off her ring for charity, might as well have been the secretary of state compared with today’s reality-TV divas, who are portrayed, at least, as money-grubbing, plastic-surgery-plumped fame whores—a cadre of women who seemingly can’t resist a good catfight (or eating disorder).
b. “With few exceptions, [these] shows have framed women as unaware that there is anything more to life than tossing back martinis, lounging in hot tubs, and as Bachelorette Christine suggested, meeting their husbands at the door with dinner and a foot rub ready,”
c. So instead, women are cast to fill specific, sculpted roles that are morphed and manipulated by producers.
1If your main source of knowledge about women came from reality TV, this is how you’d see the world: a place where your mom is a conniving, deceitful gold digger, your sisters and girlfriends vicious and catty. You would learn that “sisterhood” is a thing of the past, as Pozner puts it—and that girl friendships are not powerful but spiteful. And you’d understand that women were put on this earth to compete for male attention—when, of course, they’re not busy pulling each others hair our or lounging half naked in a ot tub.. (Bennett's claim)
2.)None of this is to say that reality TV is not entertaining—because, let’s be honest, it is. (concession)
3.) a. And Conger, who auctioned off her ring for charity, might as well have been the secretary of state compared with today’s reality-TV divas, who are portrayed, at least, as money-grubbing, plastic-surgery-plumped fame whores—a cadre of women who seemingly can’t resist a good catfight (or eating disorder).
b. “With few exceptions, [these] shows have framed women as unaware that there is anything more to life than tossing back martinis, lounging in hot tubs, and as Bachelorette Christine suggested, meeting their husbands at the door with dinner and a foot rub ready,”
c. So instead, women are cast to fill specific, sculpted roles that are morphed and manipulated by producers.
- Women on reality TV are almost always shown as stuck-up, snobby people, who buy their way through life. It is ridiculous to see what people will do to be known or to make money on a television show. It is also ridiculous to think of the fact that people enjoy sitting at home watching women fight or debate over which 1,000 dollar coat they should buy. I don't see how this is considered real television, or even television worth watching.
- I agree with what Jessica Bennett writes. First, reality TV isn't even reality anymore. Women buying things at a budget of 10,000 dollars is insane. No one in the real world does that. Maybe that is why people are so interested. They see someone who has what they do not so they watch them to see the life they do not have. Also, the portrayal of women is insulting. The women on reality TV have no clue of the what the real world is like. So, it is annoying to see how people who do not even have to work, get paid to have a show about how "wonderful" their life is. Even if it isn't exactly how their life is, the fact that they are willing to put their "life" on TV according to a script given by a producer is just plain stupid. If it is a scripted show, it isn't reality!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
http://www.newsweek.com/2009/08/25/the-truth-about-lying.html
As Jessica Bennett puts it, we are a culture of liars. Although our society likes to think that the truth is most important, it seems as if our actions and words prove otherwise. If you really think about it, lies are told just as often as we blink. People want to be accepted, people need to get out of trouble, people need something other than the reality that they are living in. So, what do we do? We lie. Whether it is a little white lie or a completely made up scenario, we lie. Jessica Bennett, along with other referenced writers, discuss this society of lying in the article The Truth About Lying. Through several studies we are able to see what our world has become and what exactly is acceptable in society. To inform us, Bennett uses specific examples of the everyday things we are told and partake in that make us ponder, "Was that a lie?" In a world where lying is looked down upon, why does everyone do it? If it is so unacceptable, then why do scientific studies prove that in the first ten minutes of a conversation, we lie at least three times, if not more? In our culture, lying has become easier and almost unnoticable. Bennett makes a valid point. At times, we become so wrapped up in this other world we create when lying, we don't even realize that we are being completely dishonest. Jessica Bennett gives her opinion that although lying isn't the right thing to do, it is what our world has become. Through giving specific examples of the famous lies told throughout US history, we are able to see that dishonesty will always be apart of our world. Bennett also makes a funny remark, if lying is such a big part of society now, shouldn't we become better at it? Throughout this entire article, Bennett continually uses rhetorical questions and archetypal language to engage the readers. Everyone can relate to lying. And, through Bennett's writing and continual questioning of the audience, everyone is brought into the realization of the untruthful world we live in.
As Jessica Bennett puts it, we are a culture of liars. Although our society likes to think that the truth is most important, it seems as if our actions and words prove otherwise. If you really think about it, lies are told just as often as we blink. People want to be accepted, people need to get out of trouble, people need something other than the reality that they are living in. So, what do we do? We lie. Whether it is a little white lie or a completely made up scenario, we lie. Jessica Bennett, along with other referenced writers, discuss this society of lying in the article The Truth About Lying. Through several studies we are able to see what our world has become and what exactly is acceptable in society. To inform us, Bennett uses specific examples of the everyday things we are told and partake in that make us ponder, "Was that a lie?" In a world where lying is looked down upon, why does everyone do it? If it is so unacceptable, then why do scientific studies prove that in the first ten minutes of a conversation, we lie at least three times, if not more? In our culture, lying has become easier and almost unnoticable. Bennett makes a valid point. At times, we become so wrapped up in this other world we create when lying, we don't even realize that we are being completely dishonest. Jessica Bennett gives her opinion that although lying isn't the right thing to do, it is what our world has become. Through giving specific examples of the famous lies told throughout US history, we are able to see that dishonesty will always be apart of our world. Bennett also makes a funny remark, if lying is such a big part of society now, shouldn't we become better at it? Throughout this entire article, Bennett continually uses rhetorical questions and archetypal language to engage the readers. Everyone can relate to lying. And, through Bennett's writing and continual questioning of the audience, everyone is brought into the realization of the untruthful world we live in. Meet Jessica Bennett
Normally when I think of journalists, I think of boring yet informative stories about topics I could really care less about. However, Jessica Bennett writes about topics that are prevalent in today's society while also working to keep her audience engaged. Jessica Bennett is a senior writer at Newsweek. Bennett mainly writes about society, gender, and youth culture. Bennett's style of writing is engaging, persuasive, opinionated, and funny. Jessica Bennett truly appeals to a wide range of people. She has recently become very well known and well received in the writing community for her work at Newsweek. In 2010, she won first prize from the Newswomen's Club of New York. Also Jessica Bennett was honored with the New York Press Club's Nellie Bly Award for her story about the dark side of the web. Also, I would say that being a successful writer at Newsweek is an accomplishment in and of itself.
As far as Jessica Bennett's personal life goes, it seems as if it is kept quite personal. Jessica has a twitter http://twitter.com/jess7bennett, and a tumblr http://jessbennett.tumblr.com/ which speaks of some things that she does outside of her work. However, it appears as if Ms. Bennett is simply a normal woman who enjoys writing and is obviously very talented. From reading her writings it is apparent that a successful future is in store for Jessica Bennett's journalism career.
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