The more I write, the more I show my cards. Shoot! Yes, I watch The Tyra Banks Show. Did I just lose "street cred"? I think there's a reason her show is seeing success. She engages a wide variety of topics, floating back and forth effortlessly between the serious and the frivolous. A few heavy shows on racism and then BAM! a makeover show on spring fashions. Sure, it can be melodramatic or even insincere, but I like that she is confronting some pressing social issues.
Every now and then, I catch some sociological subtext in her show. What? Tyra a social scientist? Nope...and that's exactly the problem! I'm thankful that she chooses to talk about important stuff, but too often it seems like pop psychology and sloppy social science rule the roost. Truthfully, she is free to do that, and many people enjoy it. But it's possible that she's perpetuating the idea that behavior is as simple as cause and effect. In reality, social science is much more complex than that. Research methodology is so important, and we can't afford to allow people to think that social issues and social problems can be resolved in one hour by one "guest expert".
My generation has gotten a lot of flack for being self-centered. I don't think we are. Superficial, impatient, and materialistic maybe,but not self-centered. We care about community problems and world problems, and we're hungry for change, innovation, healing, and justice. But I firmly believe that those things will not come unless we assess, study, and analyze social issues thoroughly and using good science. Not just in universities but wherever we intend to engage in progressive discourse!
What do you think??
Tyra Banks has a god complex. I don't watch her show, but I see the funniest parts in clips on The Soup. When she did the "Moment of Truth" show, she lied about being jelous of Oprah. She somehow manages to turn everyshow into one about herself, no matter who the guest is or what the topic is.
I can see your point, but I have to say, "At least she's trying. I don't think that she's trying to make the topics about her (in a self centered way). I mean it's a show where the title is HER name, it kinda has to be about her alittle bit. It's also said that writers write about what they know. Why shouldn't talk show hosts?
She can talk about the importance of self-esteem, and body issues because she's faced them. She can talk about racism, because she's faced that, too. She can talk about being in her 30s, never married with no children, because, again, she's faced it. I give her TONS of credit for trying to bring topics that are serious to light. I have noticed lately that she has gotten a semi Maury feel about her show (in other words: there's a lot of content on her show that's more focused on "bad" things...like having the Bad Girls Club on her show twice.) But to be fair, "If it Bleeds it Leads", which is true, its the reason Jerry Springer is still on the air.
I don't really care for Oprah, she always seemed to be this highly respected talk show host, and frankly alittle intimidating. Tyra brings it down to where it feels like you're hanging out with a friend. Obviously, people shouldn't take her word as the obsolete truth, but that goes for any show.
~In order to have a better society, we need to CREATE a better society."
I love Tyra Banks. Even though she's a bit self-centered and somehow everything reverts back to her even if it has to do with things that most likely don't pertain to her life. I think she tries really hard to being up social issues that effect our society.
The only thing I don't like is that she sometimes puts ideas into her guests' heads. She will say things like "dont you feel upset about that? or angry? I sense some anger here." Maybe they aren't upset, maybe there is no underlying problem, maybe they do like sleeping around with random guys/girls and there is no complex behind it.
I think it's admirable that she is one of the few celebrities that have great success but haven't lost their mind in the process. She's a real person and she shows that on both of her shows and I think that's awesome.
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"Most intellects do not believe in God, but they fear us just the same." - Erykah Badu
Yeah, you're right. She does often manage to swing everything back around to her. I'll never forget the episode where she put on a fat suit and walked around town in it for a day. Then afterward, she was sitting on the stage with three obese women, and they were comforting her as she cried about what she went through that day!! How turned around is that?!
But yeah, she's a down-to-earth gal, and I'm glad she's engaging real issues. And that thing about putting things in people's heads proves once again that....Tyra Banks is not a social scientist! :) Thanks for stopping by. ;)
I love everything about Tyra. She can get a little crazy sometimes, but it brings attention to her issues. I just watched her show it covered a lot of racial issues. She's proof that a beautiful woman can be intelligent too.