Globalization of Telenovelas is a direct reflection of the saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". The multiple remakes of many telenovelas but especially Ugly Betty shows how the industry itself is constantly taking ideas from one another and trying to become the very best. If a show becomes popular, another producer is going to try to use the shows plot scheme while incorporating his own twist. This industry shows how impatient viewers truly are. They want shows right now and aren't willing to wait for another season to come. They will start watching another program if a new season does not come out soon enough. It is imperative for companies to pump out episodes as fast as they can because the competitors are lurking behind them waiting for the opportunity to seize the momentum. Globalization of telenovelas shows that producers are willing to steal others ideas just for the opportunity to seize the momentum of others. The best defense against this tactic is for the originator to produce another season as quick as possible. Others are trying to be like one another to capitalize on what works instead of trying to create something new. It shows that viewers are stubborn and don't want change but instead want a show to watch. This is in turn why so many producers are trying to mimic one another and why telenovelas are constantly being rewritten with the same plot. It works and producers realize this so they aren't trying to create something new. It shows producers aren't willing to take a risk and try something new, but try to capture already on the audiences interests. Many shows give the audience new interest but it is being shown that telenovelas aren't trying to reinvent the wheel. Originality is being lost at the cost of trying to copy others thus globalizing the industry.
This is a class blog run by Dr. Carolina Acosta-Alzuru and her students in the course "Telenovelas, Culture & Society" at the University of Georgia during Spring 2021.
It amazes me how often you see a plot remade. They are often so similar but can be so different at the same time. Not only do the producers add their own individual twists to the plot, but so does the different cultures. Depending on the location of where the setting of the show is and where the filming and production take place make huge differentiations in the end result. The same show filmed in Turkey is not going to have the exact same look as the one filmed in Spain. There can be differentiations in clothing, gestures, slang, and many more aspects.
ReplyDeleteHi Kyle. While reading over your post I think you have a very interesting opinion on remakes. I find it curious that you say producers "steal" because I think it is more of a reinvention, which people have been doing for years. My favorite example of a remake is "Betty La Fea" because it was adapted so many times, but her story still isn't the same. One thing that I never fully connected in class lectures is that in American culture and media we see remakes all the time. From The Parent Trap to A Star is Born we still see producers, directors, and actors putting a unique creative spin into remakes. This is also evident in telenovelas. Additionally, I think transcultural remakes can be a very effective way to bridge the gap between cultures. For example, a woman who watched "Betty La Fea" in Colombia may be able to talk with a woman who watched "Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin" in India. This interaction may have been otherwise missed if not for globalization. This being said, I do appreciate that you have clearly formed your own strong opinion over this topic and verbalized it clearly. Good job.
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