My Girlfriend Broke A Plate! (For Jeremy)

My Girlfriend Broke a plate is a piece of work based on the immoralities o f the Jeremy Kyle show. Centred on the aspirations of the contestants and the behaviour of the backstage staff, there becomes a strange juxtaposition in the confusion of unlikely contestants becoming what they imagine the real show contestants to be.

 This work also challenges the roles of authority within a minority influence – if spoken to abruptly, will a participant become defensive or subservient. The Host to the backstage of this publicity shoot is ‘just doing their job’ in her actions, and is un-amused by the participants that she would have to deal with everyday.  Only praising those who make her life easier, those who moralistically choose not to argue are given a hard time. The subservient succeed by arguing and imagining ‘over-the-top’ situations to fit with the shows identity. Unlike the actual show, this is just a publicity shoot, therefore realises a different standpoint to the show- those who ‘want to’ participate.

There are quite sinister themes also appearing in the context of this backstage show, people can view what is happening through a internet link up in the main exhibition space which encourages them to want to be involved, yet the lack of sound indents the knowledge of what they will be getting themselves into. It also uses voyeurism to expand on the thoughts of the immoralities of watching the unknowing participant- suggesting that if they watch, enjoy and ‘want to be involved with the show’ then they deserve to be belittled, embarrassed and confused backstage as well as being watched themselves by the audience.  It can also be noted that the themes of each show are quite dull in comparison to the issues usually raised in Jeremy Kyle- this is to correspond the ability for people to argue over the slightest of things- and even the detrimental action that this can provoke. Domestic issues that are not noted on the show are explored here as issues that are not addressed in reality,  and the imagined aggression between the participants can indicate the lengths of how these circumstances are addressed at home, backstage.