I have decided to look into the topic of Ugly Betty, as this show is all based around identity, and my media investigation is based on how females and males identify themselves in terms of music. However, despite Ugly Betty being a TV programme and not a music show, it is fascinating to investigate as females identify with this programme greatly. Whether because females like to think they can connect with how Betty permanently feels unattractive, or they simply like to identify with the fashion which is involved with the programme.Ugly Betty was launched in autumn 2007, and quickly became a hit TV show in over 40 countries; winning numerous awards. Despite in usual circumstances and audiences not taking a huge amount of notice over titles in TV programmes, Ugly Betty’s stands for an important message. The moment that the audience are hypnotised into the lovable “kooky” character of Betty Suarez, you are introduced into massive gaudy letters spelling out UGLY BETTY across the screen. This title represents the fun loving character, which however happens to be permanently judged by the actress’s appearance upon screen, which is how Ugly Betty was introduced to the world. On pilot on the first season, you are introduced to the shocking appearance of Betty, yet as the show progressed, you realise that the character of Betty is more complex and complicated than just her looks. For example, the producer’s of the show gave a statement about Ugly Betty which sum’s up her character perfectly: (ABC’s Ugly Betty’s website, 2007)
“In the superficial world of high fashion, image is everything. Styles come and go, and the only constants are the super thin beauties who wear them. How can an ordinary girl – a slightly plump plain – Jane from Queens – possibly fit in? If you took a moment to get to know Betty Suarez, you’d see how sweet, intelligent and hard – working she is. But few people do, because in the world of high fashion Betty is the over sized peg in the petite round hole.”
However, the show Ugly Betty is still un-realistic the sense that yes, Ugly Betty is just average looking in a glamorous setting of a high class fashion magazine full of beautiful stick thin models, and beautiful fixtures, yet Ugly Betty is actually a conventionally attractive woman; taking if her added over exaggerated eyebrows and braces. Realistically, the producers wouldn’t dare place a rough, butt ugly heroine as the female lead, despite being nice or not. Although, despite this, the show Ugly Betty has indeed promoted good messages that beauty is only skin deep, and has been successful in challenging the helpless female stereotype, as Betty does on fact become very strong and independent as the series progresses. The show also makes a nice change from the over used themes in TV shows such as murder and mystery. It is also obvious that Ugly Betty has made a major impact upon female audiences, as the actress who plays Ugly Betty, America Ferrera, said in an interview in 2007:
“Just last weekend, I read a letter from a young girl. I did the cover of Cosmo Girl, and she was thanking the magazine for putting me on the cover, because, “When I watched Ugly Betty, it was the first time in my life that I felt beautiful.” That was overwhelming for me. All you can ever hope to do in this business is touch one person, and yet I’m sure there were others.” (Quoted in Stranchan, 2007)
Overall, Ugly Betty is obviously a show that connects to feminity, and the comments which are shown above indicate that some women have been quite moved by the show in terms of it giving them hope to make a difference in buisness/work etc. Furthermore, females are shown to connect and identiy with the female characters shown within the TV programe and idolize the character Ugly Betty herself.
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