Beauty and The Geek Banned in Turkey
Beauty and the Geek is a hit here and in many other parts of the world, in part because it plays on stereotypes and awards contestants who rise about their labels. But the government of Turkey was not amused, and it convinced the TV station running the show to pull it from its schedule.
The show prompted several complaints about its portrayal of women as brainless beauties. For example, Nimet Cubukcu, Turkey’s minister in charge of women and family affairs, complained that the program was reinforcing "negative and humiliating prejudice against women,” according to an article in the International Herald Tribune.
Zahid Akman, head of the Turkish television watchdog, announced that the show would end less than a month after it debuted. Cubukcu sent a letter to Show TV executives thanking them for ending the program, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.
We’re a bit disappointed – yes, we’re sure the women in the first few episodes looked and acted like idiots who only cared about fashion and shopping. At the same time, we’re sure the men looked like socially crippled idiots incapable of interacting with the opposite sex. That’s kind of the premise of the show. And the point of the show is to see these people move beyond their societal stereotypes. The Turkish audience may have started out watching a bunch of brainless bimbos, but now they’ll never get a chance to see the competitors transformed. We think that’s a shame.
What do you think? Is BATG a bad thing, or does it actually help promote equality by showing that pretty women can be smart, and that geeky guys can be great? Does the show not fit as well in countries where the position of women in society isn't as secure? Or are people getting way too upset over what is, in the end, just a TV show?
Comments
First off, I hate the fact that this is not the first time I've read
"Just a tv show" on this blog. A television blog should never ever use that phrase because it is not but a bunch of poo.
Secondly, Though Beauty and the Geek may have good intentions, it does make me want to gouge my eyes out with a fork so the people of Turkey? Not missing much.
Posted by: gabby | August 9, 2007 1:18 AM
'What is, in the end, just a TV show.'
Why do people actually think that line works anymore when they clearly find it important enough to invest millions of dollars in, think up asinine ideas for, and even blog about? This show is not about 'promoting equality' any more than a beauty pageant is feminist, although I have to suspect the Turkish minister's real reasons for banning the show. The statement could imply, 'We've had enough of this lazily misogynistic trash', but may just as well imply, 'Turkish women are not brainless bimbos! They're brainless paragons of virtue.' With both politicians and TV networks, the difference is hard to tell.
Posted by: June | August 8, 2007 2:31 PM