No passes for thick glasses

By Ben Pobjie
Updated November 10 2012 - 12:13am, first published 12:00am
Jason and Kristy in <i>Beauty and the Geek</i>.
Jason and Kristy in <i>Beauty and the Geek</i>.

CALL me crazy, but sometimes I suspect that every now and then, the television industry has a tendency to reinforce stereotypes. I know what you're saying: "But Ben, what greater force is there for shattering damaging preconceptions and promoting more nuanced understanding of the diversity of the human race than television?" But it does seem to me that some TV shows tend less towards "let's get to know each other better" and more towards "let's laugh at that girl's ugly dress". For example, Everybody Loves Ray-mond perpetuated the stereotype that men are gormless morons and women are humourless harridans; while Big Brother perpetuates the stereotype that a just god does not exist.