In the Adam Ruins Everything episode, “Adam Ruins the Suburbs”, Adam Conover dives into the history behind the seemingly perfect American suburb. He explains many issues such as the inferior cul-de-sac style of living, to the underlying segregation of schools and neighborhoods. Adam is not necessarily trying to accuse, but bring to light the many uneducated Americans who are contributing to a long standing stigma. He wants people to know that they are not exactly what they seem, and that people didn’t just get there by working hard. They got there with the help of a trend that has really been around since the 1800’s: if you are poor or lower class, than you don’t deserve to live among “suburban life”.
Adam brings in professors in the fields of environmental studies and writers of civil rights issues. He uses real world examples not only for comedic effect, but to show the severity of these underlying problems. I think relating to an audience that can see the issue, but also appreciate the humor in things is very effective. It broadens the span of who this episode can relate to. I also think that not only this episode, but his entire show, flips how we receive research and facts, making it so we look at things from the bottom up, not just surface level.
I learned through Adam’s investigations that the “sprawl” of suburban neighborhoods actually makes a fraction of the tax income that populated cities make, making it harder for them to maintain their own infrastructure. I also learned through this episode, (and Inform to Media Studies), that Levittown communities are more segregated to begin with because of the lack of a grid system when they were built. Without that, people need transportation to get everywhere, where as with a grid system it’s easier to get around and enjoy your community around you.
I think this type of research is so important when trying to reach an audience that may be misinformed or even uninformed about certain subjects.
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