Growing old invisibly: older viewers talk television

Abstract

This article discusses the findings from a qualitative study undertaken with older viewers, focusing on their perceptions of how age and age issues are covered on television. They are concerned that too many older characters are portrayed in stereotypical roles and with the marginal place of older people across all aspects of the television landscape. They worry that the generally negative way in which older age is represented has an adverse impact on the way in which they are treated by society ‘in real life’. Their own explanations for why these poor images persist is sophisticated, citing the age profile of media workers as a key factor. The ‘good news’ though, is appreciation of programmes which older viewers believe present more diverse and authentic renditions of old age, not positive, necessarily, but rather, realistic, where well-crafted programmes deal sensitively with ageing, sex and sexuality rather than playing older age as batty, pathetic or frail.