Framing Class - Kendall

In a selection from the book “Framing Class: Media Representations of Wealth and Poverty in America,” the author Diana Kendall analyzes the different social classes in America, including the way they are formed, and how they continue to be formed.

Kendall examines how television shows such as “The Simple Life,” with Paris Hilton, reinforce the class system by displaying the working class and their daily lives as degrading.  The spoiled heiress, Hilton, reduces herself to jobs such as working in fast food restaurants, or on farms etc.  The people in the show are not actors.  While watching this type of show you can see how Hilton does everything she can to make it be known that she is not of this class. 

The main issue with Kendall’s rhetoric, and that of many from the progressive movement, is that they do not adequately describe solutions to the problems.  Certainly many enormous and valid issues are brought to the readers attention, however, very few if any quantitative solutions can be found.  To make this type of rhetoric far more successful, the author must demand action.  Michael Moore’s style is a great example of a “how to” manual in demanding action.

There will always be a social class division in the world.  As long as there is greed, there will be those who want the treasure, those who have the treasure, and those who just want more of the treasure they already have too much of.   

Homeless Kids.  Probably need simple things, like food, shelter, and love.

One man's "toy." Probably need simple things like caviar, a 32 person crew, and a fishing pole. And yes, there are two helicopter pads.