Since television has occupied a considerable place in the life of people nowadays, and it is considered to be one of the most influential sources of information, it is easy and useful to find appropriate material for analysis among popular modern TV shows and films. The constant presence of television in our life arouses the demand to focus our attention on the issues of crucial importance on which television throws light today. HBO may be considered a reliable source of information for analysis because its “brand identity, technological innovations, and original programming have taken hold of the public imagination and emerged as unique in television’s cultural production” (Leverette et al. 2008: 8). The theme of polygamous marriage is the central motive of the series, thus, the theme of the present research may be defined as the nature and hardships of polygamous marriage in contemporary society as presented in the television show.
The choice of a particular material for analysis, “Big Love” Season One, is determined by its “leaving an indelible mark on the American (and global) cultural psyche” (Leverette et al. 2008: 8). High demand for the series, proven by the fact that Season Two and Three have followed the first one and Season Four will premier in January 2010, have been among the decisive factors, while choosing the material for study. The topicality of the series for this particular sociology course, “The Changing Family”, may be explained by the central focus of “Big Love” on a typical untypical family that presents a rich ground for investigation. The genre of the series is defined as drama, and it is deeper and more philosophical as compared with usual “situation comedy”, though it resembles its structure. “Big Love” combines various types of the atmosphere: ironic, satirical, dramatic, sad, and partially rueful. The fact that it took the creators of the television show, Mark. V. Olsen and Will Scheffer, three years to research the premise of “Big Love” is evidence of the high quality of material presented.
“Big Love” is aimed at a vast audience, though it contains scenes of sexual character, this is why it is inappropriate for children. However, it is created for a diverse audience, and it may be perceived and interpreted in different ways by different viewers: as a domestic comedy with the only peculiarity that the family is “a mutant” with three housewives instead of a traditional one; as the embodiment of dreams and the subject of envy for men who would be happy to have three attractive wives who share the bed with their husband in turn, having a draft of their “turn” or “duty” on their dining room table. Still, the question remains for every viewer to solve if the main character is a hero or an unhappy person. “Big Love” is aimed at female and male audiences equally as both sexes are responsible for a healthy and harmonious family. The point of view of those who live in polygamous marriage presents great significance for the present research as well, as they are also among the target audience of the series and their response and reaction show the nature of polygamous marriage. “Big Love” inspires both: approval of real polygamists who say that “It’s a more realistic view of a polygamous family that lives out in society than people have known” (Lee 2006: par. 4) as well as the disapproval of particular episodes and overestimation of sexual relationships, such as the inclusion of a special emphasis on Viagra in Episode Two “Viagra Blue”. The polygamists say that their men do not need Viagra, it is alien to their culture on the whole, and they do not put pressure on men sexually (Lee 2006: par. 20).
The important fact is that the characters of “Big Love” belong to fundamental Mormons who are characterized by the practice of plural marriage, “the single best-known feature of Mormonism in the nineteenth century and even now”, according to Bushman (2008: 86). The church emphasizes absolute loyalty between husband and wife and eternal companionship. When Mormons are asked about the reasons for their being in such a relationship, their answers are grounded on “the spiritual blessing of being sealed eternally and of submitting to God’s will” (Bushman 2008: 88). At first, polygamy was practiced secretly, but then it “flourished openly after 1852 until its official church prohibition in 1890 and 1904” (Atman and Ginat 1996: vii).
Thus, the main character of “Big Love” is Bill Henrickson, a practicing polygamist. He has a relationship with three women: Barbara, his only legal wife; the second wife, Nicki, who appears to be a secret shopaholic; and the third wife, the youngest one, Margene, whose age and temperament force Bill to resort to Viagra in order to provide his youngest wife with physical satisfaction. All in all, the family has eight children and it is Bill’s duty to provide such an extended family. He is a businessman who owns the chain of home improvement stores “Henrickson’s Home Plus”.
It is necessary to mention that society plays a major part in the series. The polygamous marriage of Bill Henrickson is kept secret by him and his wives from the rest of society. The whole action is built on the basis of the danger of their exposure and their attempts to evade it and save their polygamous marriage. The bright example of the attitude of society to polygamy may be observed in Episode Three, when Roman defends polygamy in the interview to “Los Angeles Times”, saying that plural marriage is the gift sent to Mormons by the Almighty. The reaction of the reporter who asks about the violence towards children represents the general politics of society, and Roman’s final statement about granting approval and freedom to homosexuals suggests the necessity of granting Mormons the right “to live in peace” as well. A picturesque episode is when the Henrickson’s get new neighbors and Barbara has to visit them and she brings a cake along with the made-up story about single mothers who live nearby. Finally, the brightest reaction of society may be observed in the final episode of Season One, when the family is exposed during the “Mother of the Year” Award when the family’s worst nightmares come true and the truth about their relationship is revealed.
On the whole, the family of the characters is presented as a constantly moving and disquiet organism with tension and enduring passions that determine the inner atmosphere in the family. The members are trying to make their life at least a bit ordered, for instance, they establish a special schedule of having an intimate relationship with Bill. Nevertheless, the family is unstable because the women do not get enough attention from their husbands; their treatment of the women is unequal. The family is, by all means, extended (with three wives and eight children), and as it is suggested by Cheal (2003) concerning extended families: the needs of the whole family are more important than the wishes of the separate elements in it (p. 332). Thus, Nicki’s idea to make Wayne’s birthday party at an expensive resort inviting more than one hundred people without any discussion of this “smart” idea with the rest of the family, as well as her squabble with Barbara because of the Award in the final episode show imperfectness of their relationship. Sarah’s behavior and her disapproval of her father’s faith are evidence of an unhealthy relationship inside the family. Finally, it is clear that Barbara is also against this type of marriage, the decisive factor that keeps her in this situation is her love for her spouse.
As for the class as depicted in the series, the Henrickson’s are presented as members of the upper-middle class. The emphasis on financial status is made because it is the duty of the head of the family to satisfy his wives’ demands. Through all episodes he is torn between being a successful businessman and a good husband, sometimes, he finds it impossible to combine these spheres with equal success.
The matter of age and gender may be vividly observed in “Big Love”. In the first place, the wives are of different ages, this factor causes inconvenience and jealousy of the two wives concerning the youngest and the most passionate one, Margene. In the second place, the problem of the generation gap may be observed among Bill and his daughter Sarah who condemn her father’s way of life. As for Sarah and Ben, they also represent the oppositions of views according to the faith-based on their gender. One more important thing connected with gender as presented in “Big Love” is the hint at the abuse of patriarchy presented by Roman who, evidently, has at least one teenage bride. The complexity of the relationship between genders and sexes is also illustrated by the example of Frank Harlow and Lois Henrickson, Bill’s parents, who are in the state of a constant feud.
Drawing a conclusion, it may be stated that “Big Love” is the rich ground for sociological investigation. It is known, that polygamy is still present in society nowadays. This is why the situation described in “Big Love” is realistic. However, the behavior of the women is depicted as a bit hyperbolized, which may be explained by the figurative presentation of events in the series and its comical atmosphere. The depiction of characters borders on satire and sympathy towards them. Important questions of physical relations, age gap, gender problems, pressure from society are brightly shown in the television show.
References
Altman, Irwin and J. Ginat. 1996. Polygamous Families in Contemporary Society. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Bushman, Richard L. 2008. Mormonism: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford university Press.
Cheal, David. 2003. Family: Critical Concepts in Sociology. New York: Routledge.
Lee, Felicia R. 2006. “‘Real Polygamist’ Look at HBO Polygamist and find Sex.” The New York Times. Web.
Leverette, Marc, Ott, Brian L., and Cara Louise Buckley. 2008. It’s Not TV: Watching HBO in the Post-television Era. Abington: Taylor & Francis.