Images of Social Class in Mass Media

Today’s reading was about images of social class in mass media. Butsch explored how social class is depicted in television programs and how the industry is organized. I will be examining three media that represent images of social class: magazines, television, and movies.

Social class in Magazines

Fashion and gossip magazines often present readers with information on people who are extremely successful. They tell readers about how much money they make and what they buy with their money. Some gossip magazines show readers the multi-million dollar homes that celebrities live in or tell readers about the vacations celebrities take. They almost always mention how much their activities cost. People magazine has a yearly issue devoted to showing the gowns worn by celebrities at the Oscar awards.

These magazines "show off" the celebrity life to the less fortunate classes. As if I need anyone showing me what I can’t afford.

Ads in magazines are often either about television shows or products that working-class people would go into debt to buy. Expensive cars, jewelry, and clothes are only a few examples of products promoted by these ads.

Social class in Television

Television shows today are often about wealthy people because, according to networks, they are what people want to watch. Sweet 16 is a program which aired on MTV about daughters of wealthy people who bring the audience along as they prepare for their big sweet 16 bash. The point of the program is to show how wealthy people can have what they want when they want it. To less fortunate classes it's like watching a fantasy come to life. When I was 16, I would have liked to be carried to my party on an elephant and receive a luxury car as a gift.

Even though a lot of working class people these days are insufficiently skilled or poor, these characters in television shows are mostly minor roles or lead roles depicted as “baffoons” (Butsch). Such shows as Married with Children is a perfect example because the lead male character is a blue-collar head of household who is shown as immature and dumb.

Social class in Movies

The opposite can also be seen in certain movies. Wealthy characters are shown as evil and greedy while the working-class characters are kind and honest.



Trading places is the story of an upper class commodities broker and a homeless street hustler who switch lives when they are unknowingly made part of an elaborate bet by two wealthy company owners. The wealthy people in the movie are seen as greedy and exploitative while the homeless man, the prostitute, and the butler are seen as noble and kind.

Both depictions of wealthy and working-class people are generally inaccurate and exaggerated to entertain the masses.

Mirella Bertossini