The show is centered around two step brothers, (Drake and Josh) who are complete polar opposites to one another and come to live together due to Drake's father's remarriage to Josh's mother. As you might already understand, living with a new family and especially sharing a bedroom with a complete stranger (let alone someone whom you might not get along with) might not be the most exciting event of your life. Josh is a character who is always the underdog because has to deal with troubles Drake finds himself into while it seems like Drake is the socially adequate one due to his good looks. But why is it that we always categorize the "fat" or "ugly" people as the underdogs and the "troublesome" or "popular" kids as the dumb ones?
Although, I grew up watching the show to love and laugh over the hilarious comments they've made, I feel that stereotypes are so easily dismissed in pop culture worldwide. In this particular episode, Josh finds himself trying to seek revenge on his brother, who crashed their dune buggy, so that he would finally have to pay for his mistakes instead of getting away with it. There is a scene where Josh reluctantly agrees to clean up after all of Drake's mess just so that their parents will not find out. This reinforces the idea of stereotyping among the socially advantageous people. I think that our world loves to classify mankind by the way they look and act because it is simply so easy to point fingers and make pre judgements. Drake and Josh is one show that does a good job at portraying how society stereotypes every day.
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S2T3zO7IHI&feature=related
Hey Jane, first off, I would like to say that I loved to watch Drake & Josh as a kid. I agree with your statement that we do like to classify people, many times without even realizing we're doing it. I remember when my sister and I fought over who would get Drake and it almost like we're predisposed to label everything we see. Your point really across to me as I do remember the dune buggy incident and also think it's wrong to think that just because you may look a certain way, means that you should be treated unfairly like Josh had because he was not as sought after like Drake had been. I enjoyed reading your blog post. :)
ReplyDeleteJane, I loved watching Drake and Josh too! And I think you're right when you say that stereotypes are dismissed in pop culture, because I watched this show for years never actually acknowledging the stereotypical aspect it centers the whole show around. Drake is better looking and gets the girls and is unintelligent, while Josh is less attractive and is very smart and doesn't get the girls. I was unconsciously okay with this, so I am an example that proves your point. :( But it's true about how we unknowingly categorize kids by their looks. It is wrong, but it is true.
ReplyDeleteJane, this post really caught my attention because of how I practically grew up watching the show. I definitely agree that the show takes advantage of the stereotype that heavier people are less attractive than skinnier ones. I also agree that we tend to overlook, whether the tendency is voluntary or not, certain stereotypes present in pop culture. I think that we do tend to give certain advantages and privileges to those that we believe we deserve those privileges, unfortunately those people tend to be what we see as "traditionally attractive." I think you did a great job in addressing such a relevant stereotype in a show many of us have enjoyed watching.
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