Allow me a moment to express my bewilderment of the media and, more specifically television and reality shows.
Almost all cable channels are adulterated with at least one ‘Reality show’ which portrays a reality that cannot be further from the actual world. And even if the portrayal is realistic, don’t we have enough reality in out lives – every minute of every day?! Come on, do you really have to hurry to your TV set in order to see ‘The Real Housewives’? If you are not one yourself, talk to your neighbor. She has 6 kids, too and she is a real housewife! Ask about her life. Ask her what it all feels like. It doesn’t get any more real that that.
I assume that the initial idea behind reality shows was to reveal the life of worthy individuals, who do have an incredible story to tell and who can inspire us, or bolster our spirit. At least I hope this was the idea. Maybe it was just good math for profit, because it is shockingly popular TV that will continue to bloom as long as there are people more enthused about the season finale than their real life. Today, reality TV is not about worthy individuals – not always anyway. It is about Megan, who apparently “wants a millionaire”, Bret Michaels who has been looking for true love on “Rock of Love” for three seasons already. Do not feel bad for him though – he finds it at the end of every season. And these are just a couple of examples in a swarm of many more.
The American reality television dating game shows have turned into a popular and acceptable way to date and have sex with many people in the same time, all of whom are conveniently located in the same house. Yes, I admit, it could be funny to watch. What is not funny about adult and, supposedly, mature successful men (millionaires) who fight foolishly for Megan’s heart and would go through all sorts of absurd challenges to win a date? What is not comical around a house full of wild girls who drink, curse, scream, fight, strip and pass out (all of this while they try to prove Bret Michaels they are his true love). All of this could be funny if I saw it in a movie that was labeled as a Parody and Comedy. It is a bit scary when I find it in Reality TV.
Reality shows set very unrealistic expectations among the members of a society who have become addicted to them. The people who are chosen after casting are being prep-ed and treated with a serious amount of make-up. They do not represent the average person who holds a job, has a home and family to support. The excessive drinking, partying, cursing and so on are not the characteristics of a person who effectively functions in society and the life of most of us does not unfold on an epicurean set. Reality TV is not real, it’s an arranged scenery – produced and carefully directed.
So, please, turn off the TV – reality awaits! Attend to your real life – it is probably the only thing worth your attention.
“I assume that the initial idea behind reality shows was to reveal the life of worthy individuals, who do have an incredible story to tell and who can inspire us, or bolster our spirit. At least I hope this was the idea.”
It’s actually money. As long as the producers have the profit that they expect from a show nobody cares about the impact it will have on the viewers. That’s why the British Big Brother is not going to have a next season.
Yes, it is actually money. It was just the idealist in me, who looks for beautiful meanings in corrupt things, but rarely ever finds them.
By the way, I hope all Big Brother shows will come to an end soon.
My hopes go with yours.
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. The one with the chicken watching the grill says it all – LOL
This one and many of the articles in the blog are very persuasive and convincing.
However, it doesn’t mean readers should necessarily agree with the critical thinking. The topic about Reality TV is huge and can be discussed forever. What is more important though is to look at different opinions and points of view when writing an argument. So, even though what is written is very convincing, we should look at the other side. Not everyone has reality TV in real life. There are still people with no significant education and boring jobs. May be this season’s Big Brother is something they’ve passionately waited. Come on guys, don’t be so convinced, reality TV is still entertaining and of course, not for everyone. Certainly, there are people who enjoy it and probably need it since there is no real action in their life.
And many of the articles in this blog are great pieces of persuasive and critical writing; however, these show only the extreme and extraordinary point of view. Examples are “Reality TV”; “Why have children?”; “Monogamy. Marriage. Divorce.” Reading these make me feel that life is not what you expect it to be and maybe there is this proactive and extraordinary way to interpret it. Well call me simple or old fashioned, but I still expect and believe in true love, never ending marriage, giving birth to children, a house full of children running around. And after a long busy day, I would sit on the couch with my lovely hubby and have a blast with the very entertaining reality show Bulgarian Music Idol. Finally, this simple and old fashioed life can be the best one, if you share it with the right person…
Reality TV becomes as real as we make it! If no one watches reality shows they will disappear or rather be replaced by more popular things on TV. The fact of the matter is people still find them entertaining and that’s exactly why more reality shows will appear on TV in the years to come. I agree with Mitko that profit drives producers but I also think money is dependent on how successful the product is and therefore the incredible story of reality shows often takes obscene paths for the sake of amusement of thousands of millions folks chill’n in front of the TV in their down time.
I actually have spend more time hearing about reality shows from people around me than actually watching the damn things lol.
I personally don’t watch TV on a daily bases. My overall yearly exposure to reality shows probably totals one weekend
I agree with my brother that the image with the grilled chicken hits the spot