Comments on: ‘How the other half live’ fails to tackle real issues http://www.spectacle.co.uk/spectacleblog/poverty-and-the-media/how-the-other-half-live-fails-to-tackle-real-issues/ Spectacle's blog on media, urbanism, workshops and archives Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:00:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Sophia D http://www.spectacle.co.uk/spectacleblog/poverty-and-the-media/how-the-other-half-live-fails-to-tackle-real-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-544 Sophia D Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:56:44 +0000 http://www.spectacle.co.uk/spectacleblog/?p=1424#comment-544 ‘How the other half live’ ‘’aims to show just what it means to grow up in poverty in 21st Century Britain’’ and ‘’raises important questions about how we respond to the poverty on our own doorsteps’’, according to its makers. Only it fails to fulfil either of these objectives. Once again Channel 4 has succeeded in insulting its viewers’ intelligence. We are presented with inequality as though it were a fact of life, having no structural causes and with no relation between wealth and poverty. The poor family who are sponsored by the rich family are considered ‘lucky’ to be given the opportunity to escape poverty, as the Dickensian style handout they receive is the only way that they can possibly ascend the social hierarchy and begin to strive for the same extravagant wealth of the rich family, the seemingly positive new goal which the programme has provided them with. There is absolutely no information provided about the causes of inequality, nor the fact that it might actually be unfair and unnecessary. I totally agree with the above comments, but would add that I doubt the ‘’best intentions’’ of the programme makers which sinbin is kind enough to afford them. ‘How the other half live’ ‘’aims to show just what it means to grow up in poverty in 21st Century Britain’’ and ‘’raises important questions about how we respond to the poverty on our own doorsteps’’, according to its makers. Only it fails to fulfil either of these objectives. Once again Channel 4 has succeeded in insulting its viewers’ intelligence. We are presented with inequality as though it were a fact of life, having no structural causes and with no relation between wealth and poverty. The poor family who are sponsored by the rich family are considered ‘lucky’ to be given the opportunity to escape poverty, as the Dickensian style handout they receive is the only way that they can possibly ascend the social hierarchy and begin to strive for the same extravagant wealth of the rich family, the seemingly positive new goal which the programme has provided them with. There is absolutely no information provided about the causes of inequality, nor the fact that it might actually be unfair and unnecessary. I totally agree with the above comments, but would add that I doubt the ‘’best intentions’’ of the programme makers which sinbin is kind enough to afford them.

]]> By: stoogie http://www.spectacle.co.uk/spectacleblog/poverty-and-the-media/how-the-other-half-live-fails-to-tackle-real-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-513 stoogie Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:17:55 +0000 http://www.spectacle.co.uk/spectacleblog/?p=1424#comment-513 The whole concept of this show is appalling. I agree with Sinbin completely. In this terrible time of recession, when a massively growing number of working class people in this country are becoming ever poorer -- mainly due to rich business people who only care about the ker-ching of profit rather than what people actually need -- a show like this is simply straying people away from the real reasons behind poverty. I'm sure the poor families are delighted to be adopted by some rich bloke or woman due to their circumstances. But thats because they're desperate, which shouldn't be the case in the first place. Its frankly patronising to people to have to make themselves seem worthy to be given money to be comfortable. I'll be boycotting this show for sure. The whole concept of this show is appalling. I agree with Sinbin completely. In this terrible time of recession, when a massively growing number of working class people in this country are becoming ever poorer — mainly due to rich business people who only care about the ker-ching of profit rather than what people actually need — a show like this is simply straying people away from the real reasons behind poverty.

I’m sure the poor families are delighted to be adopted by some rich bloke or woman due to their circumstances. But thats because they’re desperate, which shouldn’t be the case in the first place. Its frankly patronising to people to have to make themselves seem worthy to be given money to be comfortable. I’ll be boycotting this show for sure.

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