19th Annual Student Research Conference
Language & Literature
“Get in your undies!”; Rape as Romance on Mania TV
Krystal R. Miller
Dr. Elizabeth M. Clark, Faculty Mentor
Emergent visual media such as Internet television are free of the FCC restraints placed on broadcast or cable television. There were no grievances filed when the host of Mania TV exclaimed to her viewers, “It’s time to get down and nearly naked for me!” She discussed her favorite underwear and encouraged viewers to show her their own underwear through a web camera on live Internet television. Audience members clearly would have complained had this aired on broadcast or cable television to a target audience as young as 13 years old. Legally, Internet producers have the right to display what they wish, but is it ethical? In addition to the issue of sexual content and age appropriateness, viewers see female degradation occur daily. This paper involves an extensive ethical look at the incorporation of rape myths into romance narratives of Mania TV using fantasy theme analysis and James Porter’s ethical guidelines.
Keywords: Internet, television, ethics, FCC, rape
Topic(s):Communication
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 38-5
Location: VH 1320
Time: 2:15