Ultra-orthodox representations in Israeli radio satire

ABSTRACT

The growing power of the media to define social values and perceptions is a conspicuous feature of contemporary life. Radio is one such shaper of social reality perceptions. While much of the media research focuses on secular organisations operating in a Western, liberal context, not much attention has been paid to this tension between religion and modernity within media outlets. This article examines representations of Israel’s Jewish ultra-orthodox minority in Israel’s daily radio satire shows, a popular and intuitive medium. It shows that content is usually based on the broadcasters’ spontaneous feelings contrary to other media. The findings in the article depict an isolated community out of touch with public consensus and mainstream society.

KEYWORDS:

• Israel
• Radio
• Ultra-orthodox
• Entertainment
• Satire
• Sectorial presentation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Mishol-Shauli and Golan, “Ultra-Orthodoxy on Public Social-Media,” 438.

2. First and Enbar-Lankri, The Absent and the Present 2013.

3. Kama and First, On Exclusion, 52–53.

4. Russo-Netzer and Bergman, “Patterns among Ultra-Orthodox,” 233–248.

5. See note 1 above.

6. Nielsen, “Audio Today 2019,” 10.

7. McQuail, Mass Communication Theory, 3–5.

8. Mariotti, “Adorno on the Radio,” 434–5.

9. Hall, “Encoding/Decoding,” 393–4.

10. Luther, Lepre and Clark, Diversity in US Mass Media, 32–33.

11. Kama and First, On Exclusion, 59–60.

12. Habermas, The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere, 171.

13. Curran, “Media as a Public Sphere,” 50–52.

14. McQuail, Mass Communication Theory, 17–19.

15. Pickering, Stereotyping the Politics of Representation, 1–9.

16. First and Vermer-Bial, Elderly Representations in the Satire Program, 29–30.

17. First and Abraham, “Diversity in Commercial Television,” 135–137; and Luther, Lepre and Clark, Diversity in US Mass Media, 62.

18. First and Abraham, “Diversity in Commercial Television,” 137; First and Enbar-Lankri, The Absent and the Present 2013, 12–13; Luther, Lepre and Clark, Diversity in US Mass Media, 12; and Saeed, Media, Racism and Islamophobia, 460.

19. First, Arabs in the News, 27–31; First and Enbar-Lankri, The Absent and the Present 2013, 63; and Saeed, “Media, Racism and Islamophobia,” 443–462.

20. See note 8 above.

21. Kellner, “Cultural Studies,” 13–15.

22. Saeed, “Media, Racism and Islamophobia,” 444.

23. Georgiou, “Diaspora in the Digital Era,” 94–97.

24. Gamson, “News as Framing,” 158–9.

25. Mahtani, “Canadian Media and Minority Identities,” 79–85.

26. Ibid.

27. Hargreaves and Hardin, “Competing against Media Stereotypes;” Luther, Lepre and Clark, Diversity in US Mass Media, 334; and Saeed, “Media, Racism and Islamophobia,” 443–462.

28. Mahtani, “Canadian Media and Minority Identities,” 30.

29. First and Enbar-Lankri, The Absent and the Present 2013, 12–13; Lemish, “Images of Female Immigrants,” 347‏; Mahtani, “Canadian Media and Minority Identities,” 3; Mendelson-Maoz and Shteier-Livni, “The First Arab-Israeli Sitcom,” 34–39; and Saeed, “Media, Racism and Islamophobia,” 443–62.

30. For example: The Absent and the Present in Prime Time – The Reports from 2004–2013.

31. For example: The Absent and the Present in Prime Time – The Reports from 2004–2013; First and Enbar-Lankri, The Absent and the Present 2013, 62; Lemish, “Images of Female Immigrants,” 344–47; and Mendelson-Maoz and Shteier-Livni, “The First Arab-Israeli Sitcom,” 34–7.

32. Kahaner, Malah and Hoshen, Haredi Society in Israel, 7.

33. Bergman et al., “Discrimination among the Ultra-Orthodox,” 32.

34. Neriya-Ben Shahar, “The Medium is the Danger,” 28; and Wasserman and Gabel, “Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Media,” 13–14.

35. Wasserman and Gabel, “Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Media,” 5.

36. Cohen, “Media Information and Jewish Clergy,” 7; and Wasserman and Gabel, “Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Media,” 5.

37. Wasserman and Gabel, “Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Media,” 13–14.

38. Ibid.

39. Neriya-Ben Shahar, “The Medium is the Danger,” 28–29.

40. Wasserman and Gabel, “Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Media,” 4–5.

41. Abraham, Elephant-Leffler and First, The Absent and Present 2004, 12–13; and First and Enbar-Lankri, The Absent and the Present 2013, 12.

42. First and Enbar-Lankri, The Absent and the Present 2013, 12–61.

43. Laor, Elephant-Leffler and First. The Absent and Presents 2006, 16–52.

44. First and Enbar-Lankri, The Absent and the Present 2013, 12–13.

45. Ibid., 19–20.

46. Ibid.

47. Ibid.

48. Mishol-Shauli, Nakhi and Golan, “Ultra-Orthodoxy on Public Social-Media,” 438; and Zilbershlag, “Virtual Ultra-Orthodox,” 42–43.

49. Zilbershlag, “Virtual Ultra-Orthodox,” 42–43.

50. Hellinger and Rashi, “The Ultra-Orthodox Minority,” 120–1.

51. Struch and Schwartz, Perceptions of Conflict with Haredim, 20–24.

52. Hellinger and Rashi, “The Ultra-Orthodox Minority,” 122.

53. Zeidman, Humor, 15.

54. Zeidman, Humor, 133–136; and Koestler, The Act of Creation, 393.

55. Abraham, Elephant-Leffler and First, The Absent and Presents 2004, 76.

56. First and Vermer-Bial, “Elderly Representations in the Satire Program,” 29–30.

57. Steier-Livni, “Hegemonic Memory on Eretz Nehederet,” 14–15.

58. See note 55 above.

59. Shwiki, “Listening Habits Survey.” 3; Laor, Lissitsa and Galily, “Online Digital Radio Apps,” 22; and Lissitsa and Laor, “Generational Differences in On-Demand Radio Use,” 6–7.

60. Laor and Galily, “Communal Musical Taste Mix in Israel,” 928–959.

61. Bonet and Fernndez-Quijada, “Public Service,” 5–7.

62. Irvine, “Commercial Radio: Serving UK Communities,” 38–39.

63. Rothenbuhler, “Commercial Radio and Popular Music,” 125–7.

64. Laor, “Educational Radio in Israel,” 890–907; Laor, “Added Value of College Radio;” Laor, “The Development of Educational Radio,” 716–738; and Laor, “Music Programming in College Radio,” 1–25.

65. Laor, “Radio Programs and Popular Posts,” 80–87; Laor, “Visual Radio in Israel,” 1050–1052; Laor and Steinfield, “Radio Stations on Facebook,” 279–281; Laor, Tamir and Galili, “Radio Presence in Online Platforms,” 963–964; Samuel-Azran, Laor and Tal, “Who Listens to Podcasts,” 490–491; and Steinfeld and Laor, “Public and Commercial Radio Stations,” 194–209.

66. Laor, “Radio Consuming Habits in Israel;” Moshe, Laor and Friedkin, “Radio Listening and Digital Divide,” 361–84; Laor, “Internet Radio in Israel,” 830–47.

67. Dushnik, “Qualitative Analyses,” 137–139.

68. Yuval Hamevulbal is the stage name of a popular actor and star of children’s performances, Yuval Shem-Tov.

69. Hellinger and Rashi, “The Ultra-Orthodox Minority,” 138.

70. See note 52 above.

71. First and Abraham, “Diversity in Commercial Television,” 140–142; and First and Enbar-Lankri, The Absent and the Present 2013, 12–13.

72. First and Abraham, “Diversity in Commercial Television in Israel,” 1–60.

73. Zilbershlag, “Virtual Ultra-Orthodox,” 42–43; Hellinger and Rashi, “The Ultra-Orthodox Minority,” 138.

74. First and Enbar-Lankri, The Absent and The present 2013, 3–4; Hellinger and Rashi, “The Ultra-Orthodox Minority,” 138; and Laor, Elephant-Leffler and First, The Absent and Present 2006, 16–52.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tal Laor

Tal Laor is Founder & Head of Radio & Broadcasting track, School of Communications, Ariel University, Israel.

Yair Galily

Yair Galily is Deputy Dean of the Sammy Ofer School of Communications, Reichman University, Israel.