The media of middle-aged women is full of young people
【Culture Analysis】
In the past two months, the variety show "Sister Riding the Wind and Waves" and the TV series "Thirty Only" have become popular, making the topic of "middle-aged women" a continuous focus in the public eye. In "Sisters Riding the Wind and Waves", 30 female celebrities over the age of 30 participated in the women's group audition variety show like thunder on the ground, and "sisters" became the screen vocabulary of various social media. In "It's Thirty", the pressures and joys and sorrows encountered by the three 30-year-old women in their lives also aroused numerous resonances and controversies, which became the topic of this summer.
Two popular works focus on the group of "middle-aged women" and jointly present the image of women to middle-aged. Whether it is a real star or a fictional character, they present the different states of women in their 30s to the public, showing the possibility that women can still ride the wind and waves and continue to grow up to middle age. Some netizens said that after watching the "Sister" variety show, they were "a little less afraid of getting old".
However, these displays of middle-aged women are full of gazes from young people. Since the development and prosperity of the Internet, the upstream and downstream of the traditional film and television industry chain have almost been reshuffled by the Internet, and the influence of Internet communication, Internet public opinion and Internet culture on TV programs is increasing. However, netizens, especially those who love to speak up and participate, are mostly young people. Therefore, in the reputation and popularity of various programs, a trend of "getting young people to win the world" has formed. As far as these two works are concerned, although they show the story of middle-aged people, they more or less take into account the aesthetics and preferences of young people.
In "Sister Riding the Wind and Waves", although the stars and sisters perform hard, the beauty they show is more of a dream of "not getting old". The programs are performed time after time, and the repertoire is getting closer and closer to true youth idols. The talent show, the national style, house dance, electronic music and other young people's favorite performances and styles, are tenaciously performed by the sisters, and they seem to express eternal youth and eternal youth.
If "Sister Riding the Wind and Waves" conveys a desire to retain the youth, then "Thirty Only" matches the anxiety of looking at middle-aged people. Gu Jia, who graduated from a prestigious school and has a beautiful appearance, went to the hall and went to the kitchen, still facing the marital crisis of being cheated; "Hu Piao" salesman Wang Manni loves her job and works hard, but she still can't find a sense of belonging in this city ; Shanghai local girl Zhong Xiaoqin is innocent and innocent, comfortable with ordinary life, but also experienced ups and downs in her family and career. Whether it is choosing a family, career or moderation, I feel that I am struggling and hard to find a couple, revealing a strong "middle-aged hardship" life anxiety.
From this point of view, the two programs have their eye-catching features, but they are not without questionable areas. Presenting the dream of a woman to middle age does not mean to use it as an extension of youth or to hold on to the dream of young people. Rather than show "will not grow old", it is better to show a more age-appropriate and mature beauty, which truly affects young people's "not afraid to grow old". Expressing the worries of women in their thirties does not mean portraying the torment of "this road is difficult" for every road. The life of middle-aged women is not just a piece of feathers that are shattered on the outside and inside.
I don't know when, middle age has become a term that is often "black". "Summer of the Band 2" was launched a few days ago. The "Shui Mu Nian Hua" group was criticized by 23-year-old young audiences as "greasy of middle-aged people", which caused an uproar in public opinion. Prior to this, the "Back Wave" speech at Station B and even many subsequent imitations encouraged and praised youth. Youth is infinitely good, but everyone is destined to enter middle age and old age. And what kind of middle-aged people are shaped by the media is also telling young people what is possible in their future.
(Author: Yang Hui, Capital Normal University College of Cultural Industries faculty)