2012 Roles,Rules, and Rebellions: Creating the Carnivalesque through the Judges' Behaviors on America's Next Top Model

Communication Studies

Volume 63, Issue 3, July 2012, Pages 364-384

Open Access

  (Article)

Patton, T.O.^a, 

Snyder-Yuly, J.^b 

^a  Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Wyoming, United States
^b  Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, Iowa State University, 309 Catt Hall, Ames, IA 50011-1305, United States 

View references (51)

Abstract

The concept of the carnival gained popularity from Russian philosopher, Mikhail Bakhtin. Through his work, Rabelais and his World, Bakhtin reconstructs a type of folk humor that challenges the hegemonic hierarchy through humor, masquerades, and performance. This article is a critical analysis of the reality show, America's Next Top Model. We raise the notion of Bahktin's carnival to examine and critique how the show's judges use concepts of the carnival and carnivalesque in a postmodern, televisual era in order to invert standard themes of society through the fashion and modeling industries. We argue that the use of carnivalesque techniques by the judges providea means of temporary power, where they would normally be marginalized or have less access to power in general society. © 2012 Copyright Central States Communication Association.

Author keywords

America's Next Top Model; Bahktin; Carnival; Carnivalesque; Reality Television

ISSN: 10510974Source Type: Journal Original language: English

DOI: 10.1080/10510974.2012.678923Document Type: Article

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  Snyder-Yuly, J.; Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, Iowa State University, 309 Catt Hall, Ames, IA 50011-1305, United States; email:jlsnyder@iastate.edu
© Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.