Blog Post #5: What I've Learned

    This class opened my eyes to an entire genre of television that I had previously neglected. The biggest takeaway for me was profound impact that telenovelas can have on a culture. What point that really stuck out to me was the concept of communal viewing. I love that in so many Latin American cultures telenovelas are used as a vehicle for building community. I feel watching television in the United States has become a highly individualized activity. In contrast to telenovelas acting as a vehicle for community, television in the United States often acts as a vehicle for secluding oneself from society. The format of the telenovela provides a perfect set up for viewers to confirm this sense of community on a nightly basis, keeping all viewers engaged at the same pace. I also love how telenovelas often involve multiple distinct plot lines. I feel like this allows more people to enjoy the shows by providing different plot lines that may appeal to different segments of the same overall audience. The stories that are told in telenovelas are passionate, heartfelt, tear-jerking, and basically everything in-between. Since starting to take this course, I have found myself actively looking to expand my television viewing practices by seeking out telenovelas as opposed to the typical shows I often found myself watching. As of recent, I have started watching Who Killed Sara? and am excited to watch more telenovelas in the future!