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Jack Schillaci Jack in the Pulpit |
Roseanne - Barr, Arnold or whatever - has proven that this notion actually has some truth to it. She came from almost nothing to be one of the most powerful and influential women in the country. She faced her demons and walked away laughing, and in doing so, changed the very nature with which Americans view not only TV but religion, sexuality and a whole slew of other things.
Born to a Jewish family in a primarily Catholic neighborhood in Salt Lake City, Utah, Roseanne grew up knowing she was a little bit different than her schoolmates. By her early 20s, she had three kids, a husband and led the life she later labeled as that of "trailer trash."
It was at this time that she got her start in stand-up comedy. Drawing on her years as a housewife and mother, she poked fun at the human condition. She capitalized on middle America's stereotypical problems - debt, unemployment, obesity, etc ... and made a colossal joke out of it all. In 1988, "Roseanne" debuted on ABC - it quickly soared to top ratings and hasn't looked down since.
Nine years ago, it was a big deal that someone would dare sing the National Anthem off-key at a baseball game and grab her crotch at a booing crowd. In fact, it was enough for former U.S. President George Bush to whine about as evidence of the patriotic and moral collapse of our nation, ignoring such supposedly miniscule issues as homelessness and welfare. When Roseanne kissed another woman on national television, she was way before her time - Ellen DeGeneres and the movie "Chasing Amy" didn't make lesbianism commercially vogue until a few months ago. Roseanne, for better or worse, has changed us into more accepting people.
Roseanne has a knack for breaking the rules. In both her show and her life, she has proven that she will not subordinate herself to anyone, especially a man. Whether that means screaming at her fictional husband, divorcing her real one or supplanting her show's male producer, she always defies America's patriarchal order. And as far as we like to think we've come, any woman who builds her career around figuratively kicking the good old boys in the groin still scares the hell out of us.
But don't call her a feminist - Roseanne and mainstream feminism have long since parted company. There is even animosity between the two - when The New Yorker magazine asked Roseanne to consult on a special women's edition, several writers resigned in disgust. But she has done more for women in the media than anyone since Mary Tyler Moore portrayed an independent, single girl in a big city. Hers was one of the first female characters that led and dominated. Her character championed the image of the working-class soccer mom before they were even a voting bloc by leading a family, holding down a job and managing a relationship with her husband without missing a beat.
Roseanne has risen to the top of the television industry using her determination and drive to fuel her climb. As her show comes to a close, we can see the indelible mark she has left on society - one that no amount of moralistic politicking will be able to remove.
- Jack Schillaci can be reached
over e-mail at jschilla@umich.edu.