Media Representations of Work

What does it mean to work in America? According to the media it sucks. I suppose many might say that is redundant, that no one likes to work, but I don’t believe, like the media suggests, everyone hates their job. In most media representations work means putting on a suit and sitting in a cubicle for 8 hours a day doing something completely uninspiring and seemingly unnecessary. Office life is dominated by technology and is often isolating. Workers sit and stare at a computer all day long. They communicate via email and text and fax and phone, rarely in person, and when they do its over drinks after work. It seems that workers have no relationships outside of work and their only way to have a romantic relationship is with their fellow co-workers. Work is also portrayed as white-collar, where everyone is able to make car payments and go out for drinks at happy hour. Work is clean, sterile and usually unsatisfying. There aren’t a lot of shows or films where the principle characters are construction workers or fast food employees. And if they are, inexplicably they are still part of the upper-middle class. I thought these commercials were clever but contributed to the image of all office workers hate their jobs. Also I have a mini-slide show with some photos of “work”

Careerbuilders.com Commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-En-JrsBBc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCsLITgWzTI