Television Rules the Nation

In an effort to bond with my host family and absorb some Setswana I decided to start watching the show Generations with the family. Yes sitting down to stare at the t.v. is considered bonding in South Africa too. The show is a prime time soap opera. Actually a lot of shows in the prime time slots are soap operas. I don't know how they became so popular, they are so incredibly cheesy. Well anyhow I am in the mix now and I think it will have been a good idea in the long run.

The show contains probably 4 languages with an English subtitle. Some characters quickly change between 2 or 3 languages in one scene. Setswana makes its appearance every now and then and I have been able to pick up bits and pieces. More importantly I have been able to decipher what everyone around me says about the show while it is going on or during commercial breaks, which can very entertaining and enlightening themselves. If I'm able to keep it up, I will probably end up knowing how to say "adultery" and "coma" in Setswana in no time.

I have no idea what it was originally supposed to be about but it so far it is just a bunch of different stories of people living in some city in South Africa, I have little experience with soap operas but that seems to be the gist of it. There is actually a lot more to talk about concerning the show and its influence but I think I will just mention it for now.
Socks and Underwear: Television Rules the Nation

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Television Rules the Nation

In an effort to bond with my host family and absorb some Setswana I decided to start watching the show Generations with the family. Yes sitting down to stare at the t.v. is considered bonding in South Africa too. The show is a prime time soap opera. Actually a lot of shows in the prime time slots are soap operas. I don't know how they became so popular, they are so incredibly cheesy. Well anyhow I am in the mix now and I think it will have been a good idea in the long run.

The show contains probably 4 languages with an English subtitle. Some characters quickly change between 2 or 3 languages in one scene. Setswana makes its appearance every now and then and I have been able to pick up bits and pieces. More importantly I have been able to decipher what everyone around me says about the show while it is going on or during commercial breaks, which can very entertaining and enlightening themselves. If I'm able to keep it up, I will probably end up knowing how to say "adultery" and "coma" in Setswana in no time.

I have no idea what it was originally supposed to be about but it so far it is just a bunch of different stories of people living in some city in South Africa, I have little experience with soap operas but that seems to be the gist of it. There is actually a lot more to talk about concerning the show and its influence but I think I will just mention it for now.

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