Here are the links for the three reviews of Orange is the New Black that you need to read for Thursday’s class. Just click on “Discussion question 1: Orange is the New Black” and leave your response as a blog comment.
Email me if you have any questions.
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20716247,00.html
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/television/2013/07/08/130708crte_television_nussbaum
http://www.thenation.com/blog/175786/white-new-white#
In case you’re looking for the phone video.
From the beginning of this episode, I could already tell how blunt and graphic the rest of it would be. This style of telling such an unfortunate story can really make or break the audience’s interest. My reaction of the first episode is truthfully to not continue watching. If I was to randomly watch this one day, I wouldn’t have gone on to the second episode. It’s not because of the bluntness or graphic content, I just feel as if the typical stereotypes presented in this first episode will not change over time, and that even though Piper Chapman doesn’t think she will change (and we hope she won’t as an audience), she will undoubtedly become a much different person at the end of this ordeal. It is unfortunate that a mistake from ten naive years before caught up with Chapman when she was in the prime of her life.
In a very strange way, I almost felt connected to her when she first stepped on the facility and entered her new life for the next 15 months. I felt that way just a couple of days ago as a freshman entering college. I still feel that way now. I’m definitely glad my ordeal isn’t as negative.
My biggest question at this point would have to be what becomes of Piper Chapman by the end of this story? Who does she become and how does that affect her family, friends, and fiance.
In the middle of the summer my friend strongly encouraged me to begin to watch the show. Without knowing anything about the show my first instinct was that it was another reality fashion show, as indicative by the title “Orange is the New Black”. To my surprise, the show was exactly the opposite. I reluctantly watched the first episode, in which the directors were quick to showcase extremely graphic content that is undoubtedly intended to shock the audience. As the audience is thorough a somewhat inverse storyline of Piper’s past and present, we are given an immediate action/reaction comparison that highlights the true difference between old and new Piper, and how old Piper is ruining new Piper’s life. The back and forth comparison between Piper’s old and new life do not appear to me as much as Piper having flashbacks, but a direct address to the audience to show Piper’s thorough evolution and downfall.
Something that the writers and directors of the show made sure to include was social commentary. There is enough social commentary in the first episode to end the entire series right there. From racism, same-sex relationships, drugs, and sexism (and those are only a few), the show makes a strong effort to bluntly highlight the graphic occurrences in female prison. As I learned from the articles, the show is based off of a book so that made some sense into how the writers include such a large amount of intimate content of what goes on inside the walls of a female prison. The portrayal of the events within the female prison are so intense that I found myself feeling dirty and contaminated after only watching the show, which lead me to imagine the immense struggle of being inside the prison itself. Thus, the true purpose of the show of acting as a social commentary is not hidden to any extent, but the question of crossing a line arises.
After reading the articles, my opinion of the show shifted continuously. I was lead to satirically criticize, respect, and extremely condemn the show all within the same 15 minutes. The extreme gap of societal opinion of the show brings about the question of how are television series supposed to portray accurate events and portray social wrongdoing without “flaunting” such social wrongdoing.
Overall, I only watched the show 6 episodes into the series, as I couldn’t wrap my mind around watching those scenes for a form of enjoyable entertainment. I also felt that the show was extremely predictable. Piper will struggle, her ex drug lord lover of course has to be in the same prison, she will be pushed around, her and her fiancé will struggle, and then she will begin to fit in and find her “true self”.
Hey Paul! I completely agree with your initial reaction to the episode. They definitely did not waste any time catching your attention with graphic images. Personally, I think if I had happened to stumble across this series I would keep watching. Although I can see your point about the stereotypes, we have to remember that this was based off of Chapman’s real experience and it is told from her point of view. I think it will be interesting to see how her relationships will change with the women in the prison over the course of the season.
After watching the trailer in class, I was very excited to watch this show. While I was watching the first episode, some mixed emotions rose to the surface. One thing that I really liked was the realistic portrayal of prison. There was a strong sense of segregation when Piper was trying to find a seat for her first meal. I found it interesting that the inmates, “Look out for their own” because most inmates choose to care about themselves in order to survive. It was very interesting to see Piper attempt to hold in her emotions while talking to her friend, but then completely breaking into tears in the bathroom. I was really able to connect with Piper at this moment of pure emotion. The show displays the strength of Piper through her courage and ability to make herself seem held together. While the show presents an interesting idea, I did not like the flashbacks of Piper’s younger life. The sexual scenes between Piper and her former lover created some ambiguity of the show’s message. I hope in the later episodes that Piper is able to break through the racial barriers in the prison and solve her identity crisis.
After watching the trailer I definitely expected the show to be better than it was. Don’t get me wrong I thought the way the prison life was portrayed was done pretty well. Of course I’ve never been to prison but I imagine its as bad maybe even worse than portrayed on the show. I guess i felt the racial stereotypes somewhat dull in the sense that they were a little too exhausted and cliche if that makes sense? I felt like everything was pretty predictable. I did however like the concept of the show; an upper class white woman “preparing” herself for the prison life. (Loved the fact that she did some reading on the experience) What i took from this show as a whole is that beyond the difference in race the women of the prison definitely share the burden of the prison life. I’m definitely interested in seeing how Pipers identity is different at the very end of the show.
I was looking forward to watching the first episode after watching to trailer in class. I was not expecting how graphic and real the show would be. It’s almost more like a documentary where the camera’s don’t turn off. This makes the characters, especially Piper, seem more real. I think allowing us to see the vulnerable sides of the characters in intimate settings makes the show to tell a story rather than put on a spectacle.
I don’t like the flashbacks of Piper’s past. The Piper who carried drug money and was in a lesbian relationship, the Piper who was almost too clean cut and uptight, and the Piper who is in jail seem like three completely different characters.
I personally don’t see how Piper can have character development throughout the series. After figuring out the dos and don’ts of prison she will serve her time. I think the show’s main message is exposing what female prisons are truly like. Piper is just a character to experience the prison and relay the shocking truths back to mainstream America.
Before watching Orange is the New Black I was worried about how the writers would portray race relations behind bars. However after viewing the first episode my perceptions of racial tension and the shows portrayal of it met up perfectly. Without question the lunch scene where Piper is immediately accepted by her own race and no others was the climax of the episode. Also it is impressive how the writers are able to put a comical twist on a plot line that is so dark. Starting off the show with Piper in her orthodox environment gives us a good display of her mid to high class status that is stripped away from her by seemingly her own decision. The show gives the audience multiple reasons to continue watching as a sense of mystery still remains in the reason Piper surrendered herself and in her search for her true identity whether being straight or gay.
Apart from the plot, the cinematography of the episode was filled with quick and exiting movements which undoubtably kept the viewers involved and interested at all times. With continually changes music from soothing tunes to aggressive rap the program showed Piper’s daily emotions in a mere forty minute time span. However, I do feel that at times the comedy of the script actually took away from the rawness of the prison itself and the true emotional turmoil that Piper was going through. With such a disturbing story it can sometimes be counterproductive to imbed comedy into situations where true human suffering is also being displayed. All of this being said, I am still very much looking forward to progress further into the season as we will most likely see a dramatic character change in Piper.
I’m about six or seven episodes into the series, and so far I like the honest portrayal of life in a minimum security women’s prison. It seems like the creators aren’t sugar-coating Piper’s experience, nor are they making it grittier. I think this is done by keeping a good balance between the ‘gritty’ side of prison life and the less troubled side, for example showing a fight in one scene and the women chatting at lunch in another. It neither condemns the prisoners nor does it praise them.
On that note, as I watch the show, I find myself less drawn to Piper’s storyline and more to the stories of the other inmates interwoven throughout each episode. It breaks down the stereotypes of the prisoners and humanizes them. More importantly, I think, is the fact that by giving backstory to more characters, it avoids turning them into villains and puts them on the same playing field as Piper. As she discovers in one episode, she is no different from any of them: they all went to prison because they committed a crime. I’m particularly interested in the plot line following the male-to-female transexual woman, as transexual men and women usually serve as comedic stereotypes on television and are rarely seen in a realistic light.
Right now, I’m curious as to how Piper’s relationships with her fiancé and ex-girlfriend will change, if at all.
First of all, I do agree with you Paul, because after I watched the first episode, I wasn’t that interested to watch the whole series or even the next episode. I am certain that what will be shown throughout the series could and would eventually offend some people. That however, is one way of understanding it, because through another one’s perspective, this could be seen as one of the ways to actually appreciate and learn from all these different stereotypes that are shown in the series. In this particular episode, I did find some things that were quite appealing. The flashbacks that were used definitely caught my eye, because it actually made it a little bit less monotonous by going back and forth in the time setting. Also one scene that was a highlight for me was when Piper tried to find a seat in the cafeteria, and one of the workers in the prison told her to sit with this nice ‘white’ girl. In my opinion, that little scene has highlighted the problems and issues that Piper has to overcome throughout the one year she has to serve in prison. These issues most likely will be connected with Piper trying to fit in into such an unusual environment and into various groups of people. Overall, I am quite excited that we chose this series of “Orange is the new black” because I’ve never seen this much social issue of race and power shown as much as in this series. This racial issue was even highlighted in one of the reviews from The New Yorker when they said, “When Piper arrives, black women glare and white women smile”.
From the start I knew this show was going to be revolved around the stereotypes versus reality of prison life. This show has a very comedic way of looking at prison. Who studies for prison? Chapman read that she can’t cry because it will show a sign of weakness from a book about prison life. This shows how she is so used to the normal life of reading and learning rather than actually experiencing and adapting from there. I noticed right away how in the beginning everything was lively, colorful, and happy then right as she stepped into prison everything became grayish and dull. Reality didn’t hit Piper until she had to take a “bathroom” break from having sex when she broke down in tears. At that moment she realized this safety and happiness of home was over and that is when the somber quiet music tuned in. It was clear that from that point on she is no longer Piper but now Chapman. But there is still hope for her. She is the only one wearing a bright orange suit while everyone else is in their earthy toned suits. That shows that she still has some lightness and hope in her left. I also found it funny that the first things her grandma asked her was, “you were a lesbian?!” and “what did you do with the money”. Both things that don’t even matter when your granddaughter is going away to prison. I loved the first episode can’t wait to keep watching.
When watching the trailer for “Orange is the New Black”, I knew there would be quite a mix of emotions throughout each episode. In the opening scene of Orange, it went right to the shower scene and I knew that would only be the beginning. Although the show got graphic at times, it made me feel as if I was actually there in prison with Piper. Quite a variety of topics were covered ranging from sexuality and drugs, to relationships and a full range of emotions. Watching this first episode actually made me want to cry during some scenes. The actors do a wonderful job connecting with me as an audience member.
As for the articles, “The New Yorker described the characters an the role they play in the show along with how sexuality is the center focus of “Orange is the New Black.” Entertainment Weekly describes what the show is mainly about and gives a brief synopsis. And finally, “The Nation” tells us that “Orange” only encourages “hateful racist images created by a white imagination for profit and frame” which I do not agree with at all because it is from a real person’s true story and what they actually experienced while in prison and is not just a fictional story.
From seeing advertisements I would have thought this show was a comedy. However, the trailer made me realize how dark and realistic the show actually is. After watching the first episode, I can definitely say that I want to keep watching. The episode immediately tries to hook the viewer by using graphic images that depict the rough prison life, such as the black woman invading her privacy in the shower. I have sympathy for Piper because she made one mistake and it has finally caught up to her. Also because I have a good friend who is in a similar situation back home. It is odd to be watching a show with a strong female lead as most of the shows I watch do not. I’m curious as to how she will change as a character throughout the show, if she does at all. However, I do not think anybody can spend 15 months in prison and not come out a different person. The situation with Red will be tough because she has to make it right with her somehow if she wants to eat.
I enjoyed the flashbacks of her crime because of just how much she changed as a person over 10 years. That makes me think about what kind of person I’ll be like when I graduate from college. There is some dark humor but I believe that is just a result of well written dialogue. The stereotypes are the only thing that bother me. Most of the black and latino characters act in a similar way, at least in this episode. I hope that in future episodes the show will focus on other characters in the prison and how they got where they are.
Before watching this show I had no idea what to expect. After watching the trailer in class I wasn’t sure if it was a comedy or a very serious and meaningful plot. This first episode showed a humorous side to the series when depicting the vast differences between Piper’s life with her fiancé and her new life in prison. I found this first episode very intriguing. The racial, sexuality, and gender tensions that are portrayed in this prison give the show a much deeper meaning rather than just a woman who made a mistake ten years ago and must serve 15 months. I am so fascinated to see how it all plays out in future episodes.
The way that this TV show is shot and the graphic scenes make a huge difference. Although the graphic scenes are shocking and at times seemed a bit much, I think they really add to realistic life of living in a prison. In the “New Yorker” review of the show it explains how the series really seems to “blossom as it explores the women she meets in prison”. The first episode obviously didn’t go into too much depth about each of the woman she meets, just a brief introduction. It is easy to tell that they all do have a large background story themselves, just as Piper does. I think that will make the show even more intriguing.
The way that the first episode ended left me wanting more. Piper was finally starting to completely break down. The twist at the end with her old girlfriend showing up really foreshadows the problems that are going to occur. This could be the potential spark to the changes that Piper will obviously go through over her 15 months in prison.
Overall, I am glad that I watched the first episode to this show. Life in prison is not something we are easily exposed to and also must be very hard for producers and writers to portray realistically. I think the creators of this show really did a good job in the way that the lines, graphic scenes, and filming were done. It really makes the audience feel as though they are in the prison with her and experiencing prison life themselves.
When we watched the trailer in class I was expecting a typical prison series but this show is far from it. I was shocked from the first scene of the show, where very graphic situations took place, popping up casually and portraying many different sexualities of women. The show’s subject matter is heavy, but they almost make the entire situation a joke. The entire show is mainly comprised of comic relief, with few dense and serious seems. Although the characters are all very dynamic, the show is not subtle about communicating the nature race plays in a prison setting. I thought the first episode was very interesting and it definitely made me want to carry on with the series.
I just viewed the first episode of this show for the third time in my history of watching the series. I’ve seen the whole season, but I can’t say that I am a fan of it. Unlike most of the people in the class, I have to strongly disagree on the idea of this show being an accurate representation of the culture and life in prison. The first episode represents every racial stereotype that is offensive for the races represented within the prison. My view on the topic nearly mirrors that of the author of the “White is the New White” article, I believe that the episode reinforces the idea of the stereotypical rich white woman who comes into this prison filled with ghetto black women and Latinas, and the few Asians who are in the show just happen to be the silent type, once again fulfilling every stereotype that can be easily thought of. The main character, known as “Chapman,” instantly comes off as the “goody two shoes” style of white woman that is so commonly thought of when presented with the idea of a white female stereotype. Two of the black women in the show are introduced as “Tasty” and “Crazy Eyes” and the Latinas are introduced with a young girl and her mother confronting her, showing no decorum and reflecting the stereotype of the inattentive mother that seems to be a common misconception about many Latina mothers. Overall, I feel the show should convey the women in either a less stereotypical manner or go full force. What I mean by that is that the show forgets to show prison in its full “splendor.” Sure you have some rough and tough looking women throughout the show, but the directors were shallow in their approach on the factors that cause the women within the prison to choose alliances. Of course there is the racial aspect, but what about gang affiliation and other sorts of activities that SHOULD be prevalent in a women’s prison? I do not see any of that happening in the show, which really makes me question how much of the true story the producers followed for the show. Just curious, does anyone else feel like the show overbearingly uses lesbian sex to try and desensitize people to the subject?
The first episode of the “Orange is the New Black” was very compelling. When the show was first aired i was really interested to start watching but I couldn’t find the time to do so during the summer. The opening scene caught my attention, not because of the nudity but because the first scene is the main character, Piper, was being harassed by an inmate. The show is very emotional, confrontational and sexual. I felt Piper’s pain when she was entering the prison system because I knew how hard it would be to leave a loved one before you get married. The show also has many backstories pertaining to Piper’s life. One, she was in love with a lesbian drug dealer who ultimately landed her a 15 month sentence in the penitentiary. Also when the drug dealer ex lover appeared and reintroduced herself to Piper, I was ready to watch episode two. That scene made me want to continue watching the series because now I want to know more and more about each character.
The flashbacks to her past were really what kept me interested. These flashbacks gave me insight into her past. The memories showed us her lesbian lover and her fiance’s proposal. Each memory revealed a little more about Piper’s life that tied in to why she was incarcerated. The flashbacks to her past made the episode make sense because I was lost when the show first began.
There was also discrete racial tension that I saw between the various races. They portrayed the black women as being mean and confrontational. The other races all seemed to not get a long with one another. The different races all clicked up and stuck together to look out for one another. This makes you think about what prison is really like for women.
While watching the show, I was a bit surprised at how gruesome and graphic it was. I had only expected it to be to a certain degree but it passed my original expectations. I noticed the very sudden transitions used in their editing process. From first showing certain happy moments of Piper’s original lifestyle and then cutting to scenes of her prison life, it really puts the before and after into comparison, showing the gritty, gruesome nature of prison.
I am looking forward to seeing Piper’s transformation as a person. She went into prison fully believing that with her determination, she can survive the fifteen months and resume her normal life. But after seeing the different moments of her life, the different Pipers, I firmly believe that she will change into someone else, just like she has in the past.
When I first heard the name of the series I could not have fathomed it was full of of the forbidden fruit. This show hits the ground running. It catches the eye upon first glimpse and sets the tone for the entire series. As the show progresses, the protagonist, a former inmate, has recurring flashbacks from several years prior. She was a lesbian drug dealer who believes she can get whatever she wants. Chapman had a fiancé who she would cheat on with another women because she was experimenting with her sexuality. There is nothing wrong with her exploring her sexuality however while having a fiancé goes to show who she used to be, and how susceptible she is to succumbing to performing the wishes of others.
The focal point of this episode occurred when Chapman was having lunch with Jones (the older women who resembles Ellen Degeneres). Jones then mentions “mandala”. She describes it as sand laid out into big beautiful designs and they are wiped away by the wind. She then compares mandala to life in prison. Chapman had so much going for her, however it was all taken away in an instant. Jones then provides some wisdom to Chapman and she tells her everything is temporary as a coping mechanism due to the reality of life behind bars.
I’ve been hearing more and more about “Orange is the New Black” lately, as my sister became completely hooked and I believe watched every episode in two days. I was interested to see what it was about, and am glad this class gave me that opportunity because I don’t think I would’ve gotten around to it had it not been a part of school. After watching the trailer, the first episode, and reading the articles which gave more context, I can see why the program has attracted widespread attention. It presents a serious story of a woman out of place in the daily life of prison while incorporating comical situations as a relief from the intensity. “Orange is the New Black” presents an image of prison that is very different from what is generally shown through film and television. This is primarily done through comedy, and by not depicting prison as a violent, dark place every hour of the day. The other way “Orange” stands out is by cleverly portraying the dynamics that go on within the prison. Using the focal characters that interact most with Piper, the protagonist, the writers are able to reveal the roles that race and power play in this prison. This gives the audience another interesting aspect of the show, as the role of the rest of the inmates begins to collide with Piper and her life.
Overall, I was intrigued by the first episode of “Orange is the New Black”, and thought it had a lot of ways in which the story could go. It will also become more interesting to see the daily life inside the prison and how the dynamics within continue to develop and mingle.