Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Parasocial Relationships


If we go back to the second week of this semester, you will recall reading Sellnow’s chapters one and nine for class. This reading is what made me excited about this class. Since I am not a COMM major, I thought I was going to have a difficult time relating to the readings, but I was wrong (for the most part). This reading has stuck with me all semester..probably because I have come to realize how many parasocial relationships I have with TV show characters and certain celebrities…

 

Like what we have discussed in class, a parasocial relationship is a one-sided relationship, where one party knows a great deal about the other, but the other does not. The relationship is based on a bond of intimacy, which is created when a viewer begins to feel he or she really knows the celebrity or character even though the celebrity does not know the viewer.

 

One of my parasocial relationships is with the Kardashians. I do not know why, but I am, and when people talk bad about them, I feel as it is my job to defend them (I know..this sounds ridiculous). I first came across the Kardashians when my boyfriend randomly had “Khloe and Lamar” on and I thought they were hilarious and immediately wanted to know more about them. This then led to me doing my own research and then starting “Keeping up with the Kardashians” (KUWTK) series and then all of the spin offs—Kourtney and Khloe take Miami, Kourtney and Kim take Miami, and Kourtney and Kim take New York. I find them funny, I see their compassion for others, I see how much family means to them, and many other positive qualities. I feel as if I am part of their family because I get their humor, I am happy when they’re happy, and sad when they’re sad. All in all I believe that they are good people and that is all that matters to me!!

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