Talk shows: A thematic exploration deciphering commodification, branding and links to capitalism in the media sphere

Abstract

Celebrity talk shows are perceptive illustrations of how they are rooted in profusion of flattery for the bourgeois class, and applaud class consciousness to the extent of normalizing it. This paper encapsulates the trends and patterns in the media sphere through the talk show, Simi Selects India’s Most Desirable and how it flourished as a celebrity’s brand augmenting platform. The study reads into commodification of content, links it to capitalism and also how it is a celebrity branding or rebranding platform. Using the talk show as an apparatus, this work integrates the political economy of communication approach with Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA).