Unrealistic Portrayals of People with Glasses and Teenagers in TV

Have you ever watched a TV show or movie where someone with glasses is portrayed as being practically blind when they lose their glasses? This kind of accuracy in storytelling is quite rare, and it’s time to debunk some stereotypes about people who wear glasses and the teenage experience.

Glasses in TV: A Common Stereotype

When a character with glasses loses their glasses, you might witness a series of exaggerated reactions. The character squints their eyes, shrinks to pinpoints, and genuinely struggles to see with blurry vision. This portrayal is not only inaccurate but also harmful as it stigmatizes people who wear glasses. In reality, many people can see perfectly fine without their glasses, especially if they wear them for near-sightedness or reading purposes.

For instance, I wear glasses and I find these portrayals wrong and frustrating. While some people genuinely need their glasses to see, many only need them for certain tasks, like reading or being able to see distant objects clearly. My own vision is weak, but I can still see without my glasses; it's just that I can't read something from afar. And there are people who wear glasses only for reading and can see very well without them.

The Fictional Rewriting of Vision

Another common trope is when a character who wears glasses discards them for aesthetic reasons or to appear more “cool” or “badass.” As if by magic, this character suddenly has perfect vision without their glasses. This is an impossible leap in vision and detracts from the realism of the portrayal. Most glasses enhance vision and clear up blurry vision, rather than worsening it.

Teenagers in TV: The Idealized Fiction

Teenagers on TV are often portrayed as playing in a garage band, partaking in epic parties, or winning football games that will change their lives. Growing up, I felt like there was something wrong with me because I didn't fit the typical teenager profile. Garages didn't have loud bands; parties weren't attended by the entire school; and far from a dramatic football game where everything depended on the result, there were just normal, everyday struggles.

The Reality of Teenage Life

While some shows like Everyone Hates Chris do a decent job of portraying child characters accurately through child actors, teenage shows often fall short, creating unrealistic tropes. There are countless scenes where teenagers are expected to do everything in a grandiose fashion, which simply isn't the case in real life. Teenagers struggle with mundane tasks, but they also have dreams and aspirations that can't be summarized in a dramatic TV plot.

Conclusion

Portraying people with glasses and teenagers as unrealistic comes with its consequences. It stigmatizes those who wear glasses and distorts the reality of what it means to be a teenager. Accurate representation is crucial, and it’s important for TV and film to reflect the diversity and complexity of real people and experiences.