"In 1992, a new era was born. Cable channel producers of Music Television (better known as MTV) gave birth to a show about pre-assigned complete strangers moving in together in different parts of the United States and overseas. The brainchild became none other than the Real World. Continuous drinking and bickering enabled this show to hold a timeslot for over 15 seasons. This show planted the seeds that eventually bloomed into the phenomenon that we know and endure best as reality television."
During the first years of the twenty-first century, millions of viewers were watching participants argue, struggle, eat bugs and rats, and reveal the most intimate details of their lives. From time to time Reality TV had changed again—this time into a contest where participants competed against each other to win love or money.
Reality TV in the twenty-first century became a "new way of telling a story which [is] half fiction—the producers and creators set up a universe, they give it rules, they make a setting, they cast it according to specific guidelines as to who they think are going to provide good pyrotechnics. But then they bring in non-actors with no scripts and allow this kind of improvisation like a jazz piece to occur." (Robert Thompson)
In the past half century, American television has become more dramatic, more violent and sexually explicit. Nevertheless, many viewers still enjoy reality TV. The main reason for the popularity of the shows is that viewers identify theirself with the ordinary people who are chosen as participants and then become famous. Maybe they even see their own chance to get famous like the people these shows.
Despite their lucrativ and popular status, many analysts find current reality TV shows ethically and morally reprehensible. In additon to that, reality TV is often a poor example for teenagers, (whith whom the shows are especially popular) when they glorify characteristics such as physical beauty over spiritual strength.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/59150/the_fake_world_of_reality_television.html?cat=9
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It's great to read your first post, Denise!
ReplyDeleteAnd what about you? Do you find reality TV 'ethically and morally reprehensible', or can you think of some potential benefits?
Well, Reality TV is everywhere. Whatever channel you turn on, you are bound to see something unscripted.
ReplyDeleteAnd actually most people hate reality TV. And most people who act as intellectuals will happily state how much they hate reality TV, and how it’s for “stupid people.” And I can understand that view, but nevertheless i have to admit that i sometimes do watch them, and i often enjoy them.
Of course Reality Tv has many disadvantages like the line of morality that get's lower and lower, and analysts remarked that realism in TV programs increased the aggression and involvement of the viewer. They claimed that the high violence shown in reality TV programs adversely influenced viewers'perceptions; such programs made viewers regard the real world to be violent as that shown on TV.
But there are also unexpected benefits of reality tv.
First it has a lower cost to produce,asides from that, reality TV also benefits TV with no repeats. How annoying is it to want more of a show only to see it preempted for repeats? The overwhelming majority of reality shows displays original material week in and week out and does not fall prey to constant repeats and lackluster storylines.
And the most remarkable point is that reality Tv can enlighten people to think in another way (not only aggressive and rude).
The "Real World" and "Road Rules" for example, brought to us by MTV, are the original reality shows. These shows have provided so much to viewers, including perspectives on gay culture and lifestyle, AIDS, abortion, racism, psychological disorders and so many more issues. Sure, these topics are portrayed on soap operas and dramas, but it is reality TV that brings real people with real problems into our lives. So sure there are many disadvantages and a lot of criticism but when you look at them you have to consider the advantages as well, even if they often get lost between so much negative statements.
You have indeed found the positive side of reality TV, a very impressive analysis!
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