I 2003 afleverede jeg det afsluttende speciale på mit studie i Engelsk og Film- og Medievidenskab ved Københavns Universitet.

Mit speciale handlede om det amerikanske talkshow The Oprah Winfrey Show .

Jeg har selv haft stor glæde af at se andres skriverier om emnet, og jeg har måtte erfare, at der ikke findes særlig mange specialer om netop dette emne. Så derfor er det vigtigt for mig at dele mit speciale med andre, der måtte være interesserede.

Tryk på linket og læs mit speciale:

The Oprah Winfrey Show - The Fascination of a Television Talk Show  ( pdf-fil - ca. 6 MB ) Copyright © widal.dk
( Bilagene til specialet fylder 17 MB, så de er ikke med i denne fil, da det så ville fylde for meget.)

For at kunne se PDF-filen skal man have installeret Acrobat Reader.  Acrobat Reader kan downloades her.

Kort resume på engelsk:

        The genre of American talk shows has often been accused of addressing the lowest common denominator in the television audience because the shows often display people and their personal problems as entertainment. The shows have consequently been given nicknames such as ‘Trash TV’ and ‘Freak Shows’. However, the talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show differs from the majority of TV talk shows. Since the show started on national television in 1986 it has been one of the most popular daytime programmes. The show has received higher ratings than any other talk show and Oprah has been able to attract the attention of people all over the world. Even now after 17 seasons the show is still the leading daytime talk show on the air. The show has given Oprah such power that people follow her every advice. If she says a book is good, they buy it! If she says meat is bad, they stop eating it! Her influence is that profound. Oprah has used her power to fulfil her mission: to transform people’s lives for the better.

        This thesis explores why The Oprah Winfrey Show fascinates people to such an extent that they follow her advice on how to live a better and more satisfactory life. The thesis discusses the variety of elements in the show that attract and fascinate the viewers. The thesis argues that there are five reasons for the show’s success:

·        Oprah’s background and personality

·        The repetitive structure and comfortable style of the show

·        The selection of topics which are focussed on women’s issues

·        The gratification of the viewers’ needs

·        Methods for attracting the viewers such as creating a sense of identification, intimacy, community and empowerment

Chapter 1 is an introduction to the thesis.

Chapter 2 gives a definition of the genre. It clarifies the distinct features of the genre and places the show in its context. Also the chapter gives an overview of the history of talk shows.

Chapter 3 describes Oprah’s background and personality and how they have played a very important part in the success of the show. The adversity she has faced in her life enables her to show genuine empathy with her guests in the studio. She is open about her own experiences and she has the ability to balance moments of humour and seriousness, and this creates the intimate setting that attracts the viewers.

Chapter 4 analyses two Oprah shows in order to find the basic structural elements of which the show consists. Together the shows “How to Get a Grip on Your Teen’s Lip” and “Dr. Phil’s Weight Loss Advice Part 2” demonstrate all the elements that make the show so unique. The opening theme sets the atmosphere of the show and it acts as the appetizing cover of the show. The structure of the show is very simply and each show follows the same structure which is appealing to the viewers. The style of the show is very calm and comfortable. This familiar atmosphere is created by elements such as slow cutting, soft lighting and Oprah’s use of humour that softens the often serious discussions.

Chapter 5 discuss the topics that are selected for the show. They cover a wide range of issues. However, the general focus of the show is on women’s issues. The topics can be divided into 8 groups: Celebrities, parenthood and children, personal development, health, relationships and sex, angels and miracles, current events and Oprah’s Book Club. These topics all appeal to the women viewers, who are the group of viewers that the show wishes to attract. For the women viewers the attraction naturally lies in the feminine focus, but also in the fact that collectively the topics act as education, information and inspiration.

Chapter 6 deals with the target audience. The producers behind the The Oprah Winfrey Show have taken into account that the viewers watch television in order to gratify a series of needs. They wish to be informed, they wish to be able to identify with people like themselves, they wish to get the feeling of being part of a community and they wish to be entertained. The Oprah Winfrey Show gratifies all these needs and is therefore appealing to the viewers.

Chapter 7 looks into the methods that the show employs to attract viewers. The show takes some characteristics of the fiction genre by adding taped segments that use effects in the camera techniques, and the show focuses on conversation which is very appealing to the women viewers. Also the show makes use of segments that contain identification, therapy and community, which means that the show gives the viewers a sense of being empowered by the show. This is contributory to the creation of the intimate atmosphere that characterizes the show.  Also the show focuses on Oprah as the hostess. Her charismatic personality is the main reason that the show has become as popular as it has.

By Benedikte Widal Kjøller

The Department of English, Faculty of Humanities

Copenhagen University, July 2003  

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