Influence of Written Fiction to Our Reality

Ben Aslinger addresses some very important factors regarding the shows we used to watch, and how much we, or at least I, didn’t pick up on that included the reasoning behind why these shows did what they did, and still do what they do. Music is essential in TV shows, and is a majority of what tugs at the emotions of viewers, making them tune in to the episode airing next week. What Aslinger points out that I didn’t put together as much while I was watching, is how much of a marketing strategy this was for upcoming artists. “WB’s business and its programs’ textual strategies represent a watershed moment in the history of music licensing for television.”(79) I found it amazing that “producers saved anywhere from three to ten thousand dollars in licensing fees per song.” (81) However, I believe that they were lucky in a time period where kids were not as savvy as they are now in pirating music. Aslinger even points out that statements made regarding piracy in relation to music licensing were “utopian statements.” (82) I specifically remember the show One Tree Hill forever sparking my interest in discovering new artists and being one of the main reasons I love listening to the music I still listen to today. I didn’t realize then that it could have been because I related so much to what a certain character was “going through,” as Aslinger points out how  the emotional and mental struggles of characters would be the “meat and potatoes of the program.” (87)

The last line in Bolte’s article really strikes me: “For us, as audiences and for the protagonists we connect with, alienation means power.” (112) As this is discussed in its entirety throughout the article, I realized how much of a hook alienation is for most successful shows. Personally, I never watched Veronica Mars or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but this article makes me want to start from season one. If you look at plot lines for “teen shows” there is alienation in every single one. If there is not a character to alienate, there is no conflict, and no conflict leads to zero interest for the audience. Bolte mentions class status in Veronica Mars, stating how one of the characters mentioned that there is “no middle class,” “your parents are either millionaires or your parents work for millionaires.” (96) This is such a relevant topic that may unfortunately hold true to the feelings students have in certain school districts/private schools. This “exiled narrative” is the perfect hook for children that constantly feel left out, and so that they have a character to relate to. I also appreciate the fact that it leaves the viewer with an important message to bring back to reality: that “an individual, regardless of age or gender, has the power to choose one’s destiny and, as a result, subverts myths of identity formation and of gender restriction.” (104)

 Teens may not notice the influence both music in shows and plot lines in shows have influenced there reality, but reading this has made me realize how much in TV shows actually has influenced certain areas of my life.