What’s The Meaning of The Title for Orange is the New Black??
Television is one of the most sought after form of entertainment amongst the world's population. With new shows being released every month, only a handful of those shows are binge worthy with Orange is the new black being one of those shows.
This series offers emotional attachments to characters and a dramatic story line
that's based on women's lives in prison. If that's not enough to get your attention, then I don't know what is. Aside from the fact that its catchy, once you began to watch the show the title becomes something to ponder on as well.
While working one day, I began to think, " Hmmm the title of the show has many meanings." Now, I haven't gone to google to see if the writers were really clear about what they meant by the title, BUT if you are a viewer and you've
seen at LEAST the first season, you start to put some theories together. Here are some of my theories.
1.) "Orange is the New Black" could mean that the inmate feels as if they are the "black sheep." When an inmate is new to prison, there may be a hint of denial in their head that they do not belong there, like they are out of place. Being the
black sheep in prison is probably a feeling that most of the characters have felt. Piper, aka Chapman, felt this way when she arrived at Litchfield. She had no one to turn to, she didn't know the "ins and outs" of prison and most importantly that was her first time in prison. That's enough for anyone in that situation to feel like the black sheep.
2.) Now, the title could also be a racial suggestion. Orange is the new black could suggest that when the new prisoners that are just arriving to Litchfield in orange are treated as if they are African Americans. This is no taboo to the world, everyone should know that African Americans are treated unfairly when it comes to a lot of situations and they face a fair amount of prejudices and trails. In prison, when one is new they are faced with a lot of the same prejudices no matter what skin color you are. In a way, you are no longer seen as a human.
Not by other inmates, or even the guards. For example, when Chapman entered the prison she had a run in with one of the characters Red that
resulted in her not receiving a meal from the cafeteria for over a week.
3.) Lastly, orange is the new black title could suggest a more personal reason. All of the main characters have a background story that the writer and
director of the show reveals throughout different episodes. Now, in this time the viewer is able to see or understand in depth why the character has
that particular attitude towards life or certain personality trait. Now, in my opinion I feel as if every character has that one trait that is dark,
maybe sinister even. Its that personality trait that can ultimately lead to a further downfall. Again, using Chapman as an example, she has shown that
a dark trait of hers is that she fears being alone, and weak even. Throughout certain seasons she has done unreasonable things that suggest that. For
example, when she called Alex's parole officer and said that she is violating her parole and it got her sent back to prison just so that they can be
together again. Every main character has that one trait about them that is dark in sense, whether they choose to address it or not.
Now, the title of the show is up to your own interpretation. These are just some theories that I've developed throughout the duration of me watching the
show. There's probably a Youtube video of the creators of the show explaining what it exactly means but hey..then there would be no fun in my theories
if that were so.
