There is a new fashion-related TV show that began this January called Jane By Design. I’ve caught a number of the episodes and am highly attracted to the fashion elements. It is full of creative outfits and most of them worn by the main character are modest and adorable. The trouble, as with many programs today, is that the show glorifies bad actions that lead to good results.
For example, Jane is mistaken for an adult and is hired to be the assistant of one of the top executives in the fashion design firm. In order to get away with it she has her best friend forge documents that say she is older than her 18 years. She lies to her guidance counselor in order to get permission to intern for part of her senior year. She lies to her brother, who is her guardian, also telling him it is an internship. She lies to everyone at the fashion company, working hard not to reveal her youth and inexperience. She gets her best friend to lie for her almost daily.
Each show revolves, in some way, around keeping up her farce. Her excuse? This is Jane’s dream job and she’s never been this happy in all her life. Awww… The situations she finds herself in are humorous and certainly make for an interesting TV show. But the trouble is that her lies grow by each episode and she’s sending the subliminal message that it’s ok to lie in order to find happiness or pursue a good.
At the same time, the show does a lot of good in speaking about a person’s style and personal dignity. Jane stresses the point that each person is an individual and there is no need to cow to the popular or expected when it comes to life and style choices. Oh the contradictions.
