When most people think about wedding-themed reality television, they might picture dramatic dress fittings, over-the-top听ceremonies听or celebrity-inspired celebrations. But for 91影视听Associate Professor of听Communication Studies听Katharine Zakos,听those programs offer a听deeper听window into the ways gender,听celebrity听and听consumer culture shape our everyday lives.听
In her听newly published book,听,听she听examines what wedding reality shows reveal about society, identity and the expectations placed on women.听
One of the most significant findings centers on the often-invisible labor that underpins modern wedding culture.听
鈥淟ike so many things in our society, wedding culture is built on unrecognized and uncompensated鈥攂ut fully expected鈥攆emale labor,鈥澨齔akos听explained. 鈥淲hen that labor is acknowledged and made visible, those performing it are often ridiculed or shamed for doing exactly what is expected of them.鈥�听
Her听scholarship also influences the way听she听teaches听at 91影视, encouraging students to examine their own assumptions about media and culture.听
鈥淩esearch and writing in general听helps听to remind me that we all have internalized biases that we may not be aware of,鈥澨齭he听said. 鈥淭hose pre-conceived notions can have a huge impact on not only our analysis, but on what we choose to study in the first place.鈥�听
That perspective听informs听a central lesson in the听classroom听which is that听if people are consuming something, it is worthy of scholarly attention.听Those ideas resonate strongly with students, many of whom initially feel hesitant to analyze the entertainment they enjoy.听
鈥淪ometimes students feel ashamed of the media they consume and feel as if it is not worthy or of value,鈥� they said. 鈥淏ut in media and cultural studies we emphasize that all media is of value because it contains meaning.鈥�听
Whether examining reality television, blockbuster films or social media content, students are encouraged to look beyond questions of 鈥済ood鈥� or 鈥渂ad鈥� culture and instead consider what media reveals about society.听Discussions often explore how cultural texts reflect social values, shape identities and reinforce听or challenge听existing power structures.听
鈥淲e can enjoy something regardless of whether society has deemed it high culture or low,鈥澨齔akos听said. 鈥淲e should not be ashamed of our viewing habits or refer to them as 鈥榞uilty听pleasures.鈥� We are drawn to certain media texts for a听reason, and听understanding that is the interesting part.鈥�听
For students and readers alike, however, the new book offers an invitation to reconsider the media they consume every day鈥攁nd to recognize that even seemingly lighthearted reality television can reveal important truths about culture,听identity听and power.听
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