The Representation of Aging in Television Series

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate aging's dimensional construction and representation from a sociocultural and critical perspective, and then analyze its representation on television. Content analysis was used in analyzing 99 elderly characters from 26 television series in order to demonstrate how they are represented. While the dominant form of relationship is shaped around the family, social support mostly proceeds in an emotional dimension; the social support given is more pronounced than the social support. received. The percentages for stress that is given or received are equal, while elderly female characters have been stereotyped more thaw elderly male characters. The main forms of stereotypes are golden age and physical, cognitive, and emotional weakness. The mythoi of aging that are transferred to the nine characters are disease and disability, depression, loneliness, crankiness, and amnesia. A discourse on explicit age discrimination was observed in only one character, but no discourse on death could be found for any of the characters.