Tv dramas has helped define and redefine our cultural values and attitudes

TV DRAMAS AND THE KENYAN FAMILY

Television is considered a form of family entertainment. Most kenyans home had only one television set,
and many families would gather around in the evening to watch programs together. Due to this
programmes were created suitable for a general audience such as family shows for example : mother-in-
law which is a family drama based on the set-up of nuclear and extended family . The drama revolves
around the kind of mother-in-law people should expect in kenyan community. Throughout the show
people have learnt how to deal with mother-in-laws in such a way that both side wouldn't look bad .
Also the set up is so well redefined as it is located in town were its uncommon for such family to have
lived or stayed hence part of the cultural and expectations is lowered as we have to view it as a modern
kind of a family. The roles are also define as women can have asay in the family the main character
being a woman it has really paved way for the girl child to atleast feel that the can say things in front of
men and be listened in turn there request being granted. This is contraly to the culture we know of
kenyans which women don't have much say in the society . In this case the attitudes formed to us is that
of posutivity towards women and that inlaws can be understood well and taken care of as long as we do
what they say .

The comedies also are one of the medium which drams have tried to emulate kenyan family : a good
example of a comedy drama is house help of kawagware . The all story revolves around this house
helps whom are in a kenyan family setup were they are considered from different ethnicity were
different characters depicts what there community does in the day to day activity hence we learn
through this comedies and our perspective towards certain community tends to change with time since
there is so much of stereotypes which involves certain community which is then outnumbered by the
coming to know the society in question.

TELEVISION DRAMAS CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL CLASSS

In addition to race,gender, sexual orientation and family television has shaped the way kenyas think
about issues of social class . The programs have featured the upper- middle class, professional people ,
working classand poor characters . The upper class have been potrayedin a negative manner. The
working class also have been potrayed as selfish, immature clowns who have a trouble seeing others
people point of view by contrast ,the women in working class tv families have tended to be more
intelligent and sensible than men . The middle class families depicted on television ,the mothers and
fathers are more likely to be presented as equally mature and responsible parents .the poor families are
potrayed full of problems and argument .This is a message of people towards the attitudes of Being in
middle-class. The percentage of people who think wealth will solve every problems get to know that not
all problems is removed by money but having that amount that can sustain oneself it's the greatest thing
of all hence the aspects in the society of how things should be handled by the upper-class is overuled
since also the middle class can do so much. The attitude created os that evey one should stay on there
social class and if is to change one should not change there ways just to fit in were he/she can't be able
to be comfortable enough hence should just try atleast to be contended with the small they have on
there class . A good example of a tv drama that has actually brought out social class in the light is the
drama of zora ..has gladly brought out the class which are in the society and we see how people from
the ghetto are treated since they are poor and is not expected the upper class to interact or rather see
the people of upper class see something good on the poor but the middle class always outshine and are
loved by both the upper class and the poor. This is how we are made to redefine the cultural aspect
towards social class that all class can interact freely as we see that the poor getting married to the rich
and vise versa this clearly makes us feel that nothing is impossible with this class being there or existing.
Hence class is viewed on the society as something common.

RELIGION ON TV DRAMAS

Religion is prime in any society it being featured in tv dramas eg Christians ,jewish and muslims
characters coming together and appearing on the programs this creates picture of things being different
as it shows that the ways of people is with hold with the biblical teachings . Some of the dramas have
depicted religion and even people of the so cold "religion" to be of malicious aspect all they want is to
be extortionist and want to just portray to be good on the eyes of the people not on the way the
teachings are and this is were people go wrong wirh such misconception things will never be right and
inturn the religious peoe as presented to us in the society they are people who gives us hope and light
but in this case they are far from even showing the light but they tend to show darker side of the world.
A good example is the drama portrayed in the famous papa shiradula were fake pastors appear anly to
please the guy so as to remove the money .we see also during prayers when food is to be served there is
alot going on the pray long prayers which are necessary. While in contrast to other tv dramas the
religious men try out to correct the wrongs in the society also they go to the extend of repremanding
some things that are not supposed to be happening . Eg the drama of maria the priest there as an
epitome of religion brings out the way religious men are perceived and this makes them to be much
stronger. We get this characteristics very clearly hence we are changed the perception of believeing
everything said by religious men hence the religion gets redefined again in such ways we feel not
offened in any way .
TV DRAMAS AND POLITICS

The presence of dramas collectively featuring political aspects creates alot of notion of how politics is
viewed mark angle tv drama in Nigeria have gladly show the extend of how politcs is dirty and how
things go wrong opponent getting to the point of losing the sit just becouse of the things he has in order
to get power . Politcs on the other hand has been viewed as a good kind of gesture if you do things the
right way but in return not all thing go well . Also the arm if government the court is part of this ordeal
that corruption is there up to the court and justice cannot be dispensed correctly so its upto us to
handle justice in our hands . Through this people's mind have been redefined towards certain ways in
order to fit in and is not that everything will go as it should be but some things might go sower also .
Cultural aspect of taking cases to elders is no more as its proven some cases handled by elders is based
on the wy they are treated hence many opt to go for courts which has clearly redefined the whole
society at large .

Conclusion

In conclusion its justified to say that the tv dramas have clearly redefined and define the cultural
values and attitudes as clearly depicted above . Hence the tv dramas is a mirror to us and hiw things
are done in the society at large .