Assignment #5: Sex and the City

I must admit that I was a big fan of Sex and the City, both the television shows and the first film. A fellow classmate had suggested to watch the film, Sex and the City 2, as she seemed to find it to be very racist and unacceptable. The media forms in which we are exposed to are very important, due to the fact that they carry the possibility to have a great influence on us. Therefore, what we see as "normal" or "funny," in films, or any other media form, we may transfer into our own lives, our own behavior, and our own thoughts. However, I also think that we should acknowledge that there should be some media that is meant to entertain, and that may not always be the perfect example.

Therefore, I took my classmate up on her suggestion, with the thought in mind that she was being a bit too critical, and extreme. It turns out, I was wrong and that I found myself agreeing with her. Sex and the City 2 concentrated on a group of girlfriends that leave New York for a getaway to Abu Dhabi. Although the four women may have not understood certain aspects of the culture found in this distant land, they had a general sense of the respect that was to be paid to the people and region. Although some of the characters were able to accept common behavior, there was one character that would not. She refused to accept the forms of dress, and conservative behavior that demonstrated respect.

A film such as Sex and the City 2 is a major film, and due to its cast and popularity, has the potential to affect many people. Therefore, when films or any other media choose to portray characters in such a way, they imply and reassure the idea that white Americans hold power and should be accepted as the norm. It makes one wonder why this subject is even addressed, why must we treat those who are different than "us" as "clueless" or "bad?" Why couldn't all the characters within this film accept the common behaviors and actions in Abu Dhabi without judgement or disagreement? I think that in media for social change, it is important to consider these ideas because our ideas and behaviors are affected by what we are exposed to.