Over the last two weeks, we talked about the consumption and production of telenovelas, and how writers often tackle important issues through their shows. What’s interesting to me is how they do that, and simultaneously keep their viewers engaged. How can writers create a story that brings awareness to tough topics without shoving it down their audience’s throats, and drawing the audience in enough to create a following?
My mind
is immediately drawn to the telenovela we discussed in class, La Mujer
Perfecta. The show focuses on a girl with autism, and demonstrates how she
is able to overcome her personal struggles and end up becoming very influential
in raising awareness for autism. The show also has a terrific plot, and accurately
depicts an autistic woman and without resorting to giving her a minor character
arc or some kind of “cure”. Instead, the show sends a message to embrace who you
are and accept others with love, no matter how different they are.
As
someone who has always been enamored with fiction, I am in awe at how writers
can create such a heartfelt and interesting story while implementing important
topics to educate their audience. They use their talent with words for a good
cause. But it’s not just the writers that we must give credit to. It’s the
entire crew that contributes to such a feat.
For
example, the actress that plays the main character, Micaela, would have had to
dedicate time in accurately portraying a girl with autism, as well as
delivering her performance to engage the audience. Also, the producers have to find
a way to create the show and put it together while maintaining integrity
towards the topic of autism.
Each person signing on to a show with such an important topic has more than a job to do, but a responsibility to maintain. Instead of sticking with popular plot lines they know will get views, they go after something they believe in and take a risk in creating something that can really help people all over the world. I would say that move is brave and worth the risk, because it has the potential to impact so many lives.
I never realized that telenovelas, or any type of fiction for that
matter, held so much depth and integrity when it comes to raising awareness
about issues. These telenovelas committing to a cause and giving their attention to it makes me hopeful that they inspire other to do the same through their own creativity.
Your thoughts on this telenovela, the bravery of writers, and raising awareness are well delivered. Just as you mentioned, I never realized that telenovelas could have such meaningful and important messages incorporated in them. I was really in awe when we were presented the telenovela "La Mujer Perfecta" because the plot revolved around such a "touchy" topic, autism. However, the writer crafted the whole story in such a graceful and non-offensive way that caught my attention.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned telenovelas like this one impacting so many lives, and in fact it has affected mine. I learned that things or even disorders that society deems as "different" or "weird" should not be hidden behind a minor character, but rather embraced and portrayed for all to see. How are people supposed to learn about autism, depression, OCD, etc. if they are constantly hidden? I think telenovelas have a head start by taking this stance. As you mentioned, risk is sometimes worth it because the reward is so much greater than the cost.
Your analysis really made me think about my own "issues" or "differences" and how I should not hide behind them, but embrace them and teach others. If something as crazy and sometimes unrealistic as a telenovela can take the risk, so can I, whether for myself or for someone else.
I think writing a telenovela that brings awareness to a specific issue takes a lot of research. The writer of the telenovela has to carefully craft a story line that isn’t offensive, engages and audience, and gets across a message. I also think that the actors who play the parts in such influential pieces have to do a lot of research. Things could easily go South if something wasn’t accurately portrayed.
ReplyDeleteYour post also makes me think about how touchy subjects are discussed in general. There is a lot of tension around subjects like BLM and even the #MeToo movement. These movements are both about things that are hard to talk about and have only recently become topics of discussion. I have question on whether we will ever see telenovelas about the #metoo movement because of the power dynamic between man and woman in the classic telenovela. I question whether a classic telenovela can bring awareness to the #MeToo movement because in each story the man is viewed as dominant and more significant than the woman.
This is a really well written post. I think you raise an interesting point about how the writer's incorporate a valuable lesson into an enduring love story. In most movies with mental illnesses, the mental illness is presented as a problem that must be cured or "taken care of" in some way. But in this telenovela, autism just makes Micaela, for lack of a better word, Micaela. In other words, they do not find a way to frame autism as the antagonist but make it a positive part of the protagonist's character and while there are still obstacles to overcome, she does so without her mental illness being on of those obstacles. Overall, you bring up a great point!
ReplyDeletePosting on behalf of Haley Whitehead who's having technical difficulties with Blogger:
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful topic to bring up. I was beyond pleased to see the inclusion of disabilities throughout telenovelas. Even in my own telenovela, there is a man with a speech impediment, and he is still the most liked and kindest man in the entire town. Disabilities do not take away from the normality of a person but instead give them a uniqueness unlike any other. I have very strong opinions when it comes to disabilities and their proper representation because my cousin has Asperger syndrome and dealt with a lot of ridicule for the first fourteen years of his life. We knew he was different, but we didn't know why or how until he was finally tested. Because of him, my eyes have been opened in a new light. It goes beyond just the recognition and acceptance of people who have a visible disability. Many people, like my cousin, suffer from Asperger syndrome and display only a few traits of it. Therefore, without his diagnosis many would think he was just weird or awkward. I have been incredibly pleased with the emergence and acceptance of those with disabilities within the world of telenovelas. I think you bring an interesting yet slightly common reaction to disabilities. It may seem inherently more difficult to have a main character be one portraying disabilities but, they are human too and are capable of just as much and sometimes more than what we call "normal" people. Their only difference is in preferences such as the girl who doesn't like to be touched. I 100% agree and really liked how you stated that they aren't barely including people with disabilities by giving them a small part or forcing the plot to have a cure for them in it. Allowing them to embrace their nature and slightly forcing the audience to accept and embrace it too is extremely powerful, needless to say moving. Awareness increases daily for not only culture and race but disabilities as well. Telenovelas like many other television broadcasters carry the most efficient and effective way to create awareness and invoke change.
I love how you chose this topic to write your blogger about! The writers of telenovelas have such an impact on the population and it's important to write about not only plots that will be a great story, but also about things that are truly important in the world. With this influence, writers are also subjected to criticism from the entire world! Bringing awareness to important subjects on such large platforms that reach the entire world, like telenovelas, take courage!
ReplyDeleteIn La Mujer Perfecta, the writers do an amazing job in brining awareness to autism. In other shows, writers try to bring awareness to social issues by brining up those issues in supporting roles, or using it as a subplot. However, the writers for "La Mujer Perfecta" used a girl with autism as the main character instead of a supporting character. They also kept enforcing the idea that the character is deserving of love and didn't need to change or be "cured" to receive that. I really believe that this is such an important message and one that everyone needs to hear as well. They also consulted many other people and specialist to make sure that the portrayal of Autism was accurate and non-offensive. In doing this, the writers curated a delicate story, that brought proper awareness to autism to people all over the world.