Giving Birth to Misconceptions: Portrayal of Childbirth in Popular Visual Media
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Producer
Director
Performer
Choreographer
Costume Designer
Music
Videographer
Lighting Designer
Set Designer
Crew Member
Funder
Rehearsal Director
Concert Coordinator
Advisor
Moderator
Panelist
Alternative Title
Department
Haverford College. Department of Anthropology
Type
Thesis
Original Format
Running Time
File Format
Place of Publication
Date Span
Copyright Date
Award
Language
eng
Note
Table of Contents
Terms of Use
Rights Holder
Access Restrictions
Open Access
Terms of Use
Tripod URL
Identifier
Abstract
Giving Birth to Misconceptions is the study of how childbirth in popular media for the sake of entertainment and dramatic effect can influence how the audience understands childbirth. I take a closer look at how reality television shows like 16 & Pregnant, and fictional films and television shows, like Knocked Up, Up All Night, Juno, and Baby Mama, depict the childbirth process and how these are understood and internalized by some viewers. Through the use of a critical lens I analyze the previously mentioned forms of visual media using the theoretical lens of authoritative knowledge, the birthing body as a machine of production, childbirth as pathological, the media effects of editing techniques in different genres, and artifice of visual media productions. I then expand my research with the help of a focus-group to understand how these forms of visual media influence the audiences’ understanding of childbirth through editing techniques and creation of expectations. These analyses provide a closer understanding of how despite the participants' awareness of editing techniques and plotline fabrications, are still influenced to understand childbirth as it is depicted in fictional films and television shows.