Monday, December 7, 2009

Perception

While I was watching Nick-at-Nite, I noticed that most of the people on the older television shows would be considered as being "Poor" by today's standards.
Archie and Edith Bunker lived in a drab house, with drab furniture, and lived dull and uninspired lives.
But this was a life shared by most of the "Middle-Class" in America.
Or so the producers would have you think.

But of the few "Black" shows still on the air (There are no (or few) Black shows - only integrated ones.) - most of the characters live better lives than what was considered as "normal" in years past.
The Kelsey Grammer produced The Game features characters whose lives revolve around their professional athlete boyfriends or spouses.
These women live in nice homes with nice furniture and most have nice jobs.
But the funny thing is - some in America would consider these people to be "Lower Class" or "Ghetto".
(Kelsey also portrayed a percieved better than average lifestyle of Blacks in his other show Girlfriends.)

Even Lucy and Ricky would be considered as being "Poor" by most people today.
The couple lived in a one bedroom apartment with really bad furniture.
(Except for the Mid Century Modern couch.)
The odd thing was, Ricky was supposed to be a successful entertainer.

By contrast, Bernie mac lives across the street from Carl Reiner in Beverly Hills with his blended family
But this show is supposed to be considered as "Ghetto"?
Well, I guess his house does only seem have two bedrooms.
The Brady Bunch also lived in cramped spaces.
Three bedrooms and two baths in a home designed by an architect?
But this too was thought of as a bit more glamorous than the average household at the time.
I'm not sure how many bedrooms and bathrooms The Paynes' home has - but my estimation is that this home is better than what most people own in America today.
(Maybe he got it cheap because he lives right across the street from a fire station.)
There is really no point to this post.
I was just struck by the relative poverty portrayed by those on television from past eras.

4 comments:

CNu said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
CNu said...

Having grown up in somewhat Brady/Bunkeresque circumstances during this period, I wholeheartedly agree with your observations.

I had not noticed the transition. But now that you've called it out, it seems perfectly obvious and omnipresent.

Really good eye man...,

brohammas said...

We are more consumerist than we once were... maybe saying more consumerist is too understated...
Cribs, My super sweet 16, OC, all the housewives shows.
Kids see the more than rich and think thats how things should be.
Drives me nuts.

uglyblackjohn said...

But many only have the "Illusion" of wealth,
and many see no need to do any better than having the illusion.