photocredit: ++frank++ (flickr)
Many people often ask me: “Jaime, what are you doing on my lawn at 2 in the morning?
A few others ask me: “Jaime, what is the deal with Mexican television? Are they trying to make everyone have a heart attack after 20 minutes of watching it?”
Short answer: Of course not. That would kill off our most coveted viewers: the old ladies who watch it to find out which recent pandemic they probably have because they feel 2 out of the 10 symptoms. Long answer: It is a hyperbolic summary of what Mexican life is all about. There is drama, religion, dancing, lust, grandmothers that carry a rosary around all the time, dancing, disappointment in our government, dancing, and love of life.
Univision and Telemundo are the top television channels for those of us with brownish hues here in the United States–and they are dominating the airwaves. Univision averages prime time viewership that rivals, and often beats, the likes of NBC, CBS, and FOX. It’s a billion dollars a year media monster. (Note: I know it is not “Mexican” television as it is Latino television, but any latino will tell you anything Univision/telenovela is almost always associated with Mexicans rather than other Latinos)
In Mexico, the top channels are Televisa and TV Azteca. Televisa essentially founded Mexican television. For over 50 years it was the only real network available. Once TV Azteca appeared, around 1994, Televisa’s share started falling. Currently, Televisa is still no. 1, but TV Azteca has been making tremendous inroads in its short lifespan.
Telenovelas are the cash cows. A handful of them are on each channel every day during prime time. They propel careers, singers, and songs like no other medium. The film industry is not very developed in Mexico, so any actor looking to get their talent get noticed MUST go through the telenovela circuit. Their following (telenoveleros) are extremely faithful, and I am certain that if any popular telenovela were moved to Sunday (el dia de Dios!), those telenoveleros would have an internal struggle akin to Darth Vader in The Return Of The Jedi.
The news is, unfortunately, more like a telenovela than an objective report. All in all, it is not as bad as many who ridicule it say it is (although we do tend to spice up the news with scantily-clad, dancing models whenever we can), but it definitely is more toward the sensationalized end. Mexican news is no Newshour with Jim Leher, that is for sure.
In case you prefer to watch your breakdown of a foreign culture’s style of mass communication, enjoy (and please, don’t judge us–we are just want to dance):
As a Mexican, it’s sometimes frightening to put myself in a non-Mexican’s shoes and watch this stuff. Give me ignorance, please, it’s warmer and more comfy.
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