Are channel 4 documentaries enlightening or exploitative?

1. Channel 4-
Documentaries
Enlightening or Exploitive?

2. Big fat gypsy weddings
This show broadcasts of different gypsy weddings across the
country. Firstly, the show has thought to have caused a lot
more hate towards the gypsy community after a lot of viewers
are exposed to their private lives and not agreeing with the way
in which they live and avoid tax. However, the show is thought
to educate about the gypsy culture and how they live to help
people create an understanding of why they live on the road.
Overall, I believe the show is exploitative as it is creating more
hate towards the gypsy culture.

3. The Undateables
 The undateables is thought to be very exploitative as its revealing
the struggles disabled people face trying to find a partner.
However, reviews of the show consist of a lot reviews claiming the
shows where ‘funny’ which isn’t the intentions of channel 4. This
creates a laugh at the casts expense which could leave to later
bullying once they have left the show which broadcasts
embarrassing moments the people on the show have endured. On
the other hand, it can make viewers realize that disabled people
are not all that different to people without disabilities.
 Overall, I believe this show is more exploitative opposed to
enlightening as its potential for later bullying

4. Cure me I’m gay?
The documentary “cure me I’m gay” pushes the boundaries of many religious
and un-religious beliefs that homosexuality is wrong and should be cured. In
the program it talks about how the show enlightens people into realizing
homophobia is the issue and not homosexuality.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-
2544546/Cure-Im-gay-Embarrassing-
Bodies-Dr-Christian-Jessen-tests-anti-homosexual-
therapies-new-Channel-4-
documentary.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTMksm
7FHrA

5. The cruel cut
 This documentary is about ‘FGM’ also known as ‘female genital
mutilation’ and the brutal religious ritual that girls as young as 5
have to go through and bringing to peoples attention so it can be
stopped. After watching it myself I felt really enlightened afterwards
as before I never even knew this went on in my own country. This
documentary has raised a lot of awareness and a lot more action
is now being taken to protect this from happening to any young
girls in the future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNCQA9
GMYps

6.  Overall some Channel 4 documentaries are
enlightening but some also exploit the people on the
show for viewers entertainment and profit which is seen
as very morally wrong.