[91aprime]

Hi. I'm currently studying at Oak Hill Theological College and we've been asked to write an essay on a cultural trend. I have decided to write my essay Chris and his show. What I want to know from you all is what do you think are the positive things that The Chris Moyles Show adds to culture, and are there any negative things? All comments are greatfully recieved! Cheers.

[Yudster]

I know lots of people who have been to Oak Hill. One of the few decent theological colleges in the country. If I can think of anything useful for you, I'll let you know, but I'm not really sure that Chris Moyles actually adds to culture at all - I have to think about this.

[Boboff]

Work it out yourself lazy bones !!!!

[timp]

Yuds I think that Chris Moyles and Terry Wogan do add to British culture, being the major two breakfast shows in the UK.

[Yudster]

I'm not sure how that follows though timp. I mean they are there, and a lot of people listen, so they are obviously having an influence on SOMETHING - but is that something "culture"? I think that's questionable.

[foot-loose]

The two of them have the most listened to radio shows in the country. If they put their minds to it, they could easily get certain songs to number one - they have a lot of influence over a lot of people in the industry.

How you could say that they don't have an influence on culture is odd to me. If you consider that Radio One is considered to be a good representative of the music that the "youth culture" listen to, if Moyles is on the Breakfast Show, he must have some sort of influence in there?

[Yudster]

I think I'm just not quite clear as to what is represented by the word "culture". I agree with everything you have said, about the influence and all - but surely thats influencing behaviour, habits, fashions etc - I'm not sure how and when those things become "culture".

[foot-loose]

I think "culture" kinda describes all those things together. We have a UK "culture" where we, as a nation, eat certain foods, wear certain clothes, listen to certain music. But inside that there are loads of different cultures affected by age, location, upbringing etc.

[Yudster]

Ok, that soounds fair - so if we take that as our definition of Culture for the purposes of this question, what has Moyles added which is positive, and what that is negative? I still think its a hard question!

[Andy B]

Hop-on baby! - Couldn't move for people saying that at the time. Whether it was positive or negative though is anyone's guess.

I'd say Moyles comments on popular UK culture rather than shapes it.

[foot-loose]

What about if he heavily pushes a tv programme or a film?

Surely that must have an effect?

[Yudster]

I think things like that are too fleeting to really be deemed to have an effect on culture.

[Sunny So Cal]

But the question wasn't even that. The question was what POSITIVE things does Chris add to culture and what NEGATIVE things. 91aprime's essay is on Chris' influence on culture. That is a given.
Now what are Moyles' positive & negative impacts on the culture? Quite frankly, I'm agreeing w/boboff and thinking that 91 ought to be doing their work on their own.
That said, people that are big fans of Moyles would certainly take his regard (or disregard) for movies/songs/products/celebrities to be recommendations (or denouncements) and therefore his comments would certainly INFLUENCE those individuals' thoughts/purchases, etc.

[91aprime]

I completely agree that I should be doing the work myself. But one of the rules of interpreting culture is that you talk with other people about it so that you avoid potential blind spots created by the limitations of our own experience or presupposistions.
Not many people have said positive or negative things he brings to our culture though. Would we say things like raising money for Comic Relief through the red nose rally was a good thing? And negatively what do we think of his arrogance, his crudeness? Funny yes, but harmful to the youth culture listening?
Let me know your thoughts.

[claradooblue]

As far as Comic Relief and other BBC encouraged fund raising goes, it's probably more helpful to research on the social obligations of TV stations. Focusing on Chris Moyles would be missing the point.

[91aprime]

Thanks, that's helpful. Do you think Chris would have such things on his show were he not obliged to by the bbc?

[Yudster]

Without knowing tha man I don't think that's possible to say for sure, but if what he says and writes is true, then participation in Comic Relief was something he absolutely loved doing and when he was given the opportunity felt very excited by. If he hadn't been given that opportunity, would he have sought it? Only he knows!

I think the cultural impact and implications of such events as Comic Relief are, in and of themselves, far more interesting than the cultural impact of Chris Moyles.

[Sunny So Cal]

Chris' devotion to his family is admirable. Surely his well-known love and respect for his family have a positive impact on the youth of today as he isn't walking about slagging off his parents/brother. Instead he broadcasts to millions his regard for them and his concern over his father during his illnesses. Meritorious? Or normal?? A throw-back to a different era?

[Andy B]

What about his constant flirting with every woman who's ever been on the show despite having a loving girlfriend at home. That's hardly family devotion is it?

[Sunny So Cal]

Meh...I'll not banter semantics. I'll just go with the technicality that they're not married. Hence she's not 'family' -- yet. "Family Fortunes" notwithstanding. Also, that's just part of his act. In real life, it sounds like Chris would be too shy to approach any of these women. Perhaps he needs to have that hydraulic desk between him and his female guests to complete the act?

[SAV1OUR]

What about his constant flirting with every woman who's ever been on the show despite having a loving girlfriend at home. That's hardly family devotion is it?

I think its called entertainment, I'm not sure what sort of role model you want Chris to be for the family, because he doesn't yet have one, further reading (quite insightful) on this is available in his latest book. He has a lot of freedom in his life, so many blokes who aren't like him and are married + kids would envy being like him when hes interviewing Hayden or someone.