Assignment 4-1: Weekly Analysis 4

This week’s coursework regarding heroes, celebrities, and reality TV prompted me to think about Dancing With the Stars, a reality show that combines all three. Where else can you witness your favorite Olympic or football hero, talk show or political personality, or TV or soap star take the stage as competitors who are stellar at their chosen professions but often seem out of their element in their first few forays onto the dance floor. Part of the fun of course is watching the stars change their persona with flashy costumes, cheesy spray tans, and awkward dance moves, but the humanity comes through as we watch our favorites succeed or fail in front of their families, friends, co-workers, and millions of viewers. The show always contains a variety of celebrities from larger than life football heroes and famous Osmond siblings to lesser known soap stars like Lisa Rinna, former boy-banders like Joey Fatone, and reality TV stars like Melissa Rycroft who just got an extension on her 15 minutes of fame. Whether it is an established hero, celebrity, or a D-lister, the viewers are always amazed at how someone with little to no dance experience learns the ropes from the successful professional dance partners they are paired up with, people who until Dancing With the Stars were only celebrities in their own realm of ballroom dance and now millions of people are inspired by them every week. According to Browne, a hero is someone who inspires and what could be more inspiring than dancing it is both a physical and mental accomplishment to get your mind and body to coordinate in such as way that you actually appear graceful or at least can hold your own out there on the floor (2005). Although the show is not usually mean-spirited, as in most reality competitions there is the inevitable audience participation factor and a participant is voted off each week. The competition is set to heat up again with the new season starting September 21st with the largest and most diverse cast yet. Who will win this years DWTS trophy and who will hang up their dancing shoes?
References:
Browne, R. (2005). Profiles of Popular Culture: A Reader. Madison, WI: The University of Wisconsin Press.