Why are people watching reality shows?
A lot of people become addicted to such shows as Survivor, Amazing Race, and Big Brother or America’s got talent, etc. So what interesting is in these type of broadcasts?
Real life, unscripted TV shows bring drama, comedy, or romance into people's homes, many people watch reality for the fun of it. They can watch how someone: finds their true love, wins a singing career or get a lot of money.
Popular reality shows as for example: “American Idol!” (where contestants compete by singing to get a career and then become an idol to millions of adoring fans), “Bachelor” (a guy chooses the perfect girl over many others) or “Fear factor” (where people take risks on to win a lot of money) are loved by televiewers, because they can imagine that they also could become famous thanks to these programs (no matter if they have any skills or not). The message of reality television is that ordinary people can become so important that millions will watch them. And the secret thrill of many of those viewers is the thought that perhaps next time, the new celebrities might be them.
Is the reality TV real?
One of the attractions of reality television is the supposed "reality" of it (unscripted and unplanned situations and r
eactions). One of the ethical problems of reality tv is the fact that it isn't nearly as "real" as it pretends to be. Some VH1 and MTV shows are almost totally scripted and every reality show has to have some sort of set up for production. But for the majority of reality shows the characters are encouraged to be themselves. When production encourages characters to talk about something, confront someone, or address a particular topic, that directing makes people more real than they otherwise would be.
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In many "reality" programs, we can discern a pattern of "characters" that isn't very far different from the stock characters found in fictional programming. So it can help perpetuate stereotypes, there's always the sweet and naive person from a small town looking to make it big while still retaining small-town values.
In many "reality" programs, we can discern a pattern of "characters" that isn't very far different from the stock characters found in fictional programming. So it can help perpetuate stereotypes, there's always the sweet and naive person from a small town looking to make it big while still retaining small-town values.
There's the party girl or guy who's always looking for a good time and who shocks those around them. There's the aforementioned evil black woman or man with an attitude - and the list goes on.
When the reality TV crossing the borders of good taste?
The primary basis for many of these shows (but not all) seems to be to put people in painful, embarrassing, and humiliating situations for the rest of us to watch – and probably laugh at and be entertained by.
The reality TV shows wouldn't be made if we didn't watch them, so it seems that we like this kind of entertainment. We find it entertaining or maybe we find it so shocking that we are simply unable to turn away. But where is the moment when reality TV totally crosses the borders of good taste? Do you remember Jade Goody (the 27-year old celebrity of the third edition of Big Brother)?
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In 2008, Goody made a breakthrough appearance on the Indian version of Big Brother called Bigg Boss, but was forced to withdraw rather early as she was diagnosed to suffer from cervical cancer which turned out to be fatal.
On 1 September 2008 Goody had been informed that her cervical cancer had become life threatening and she would have to fight it with chemotherapy.
On February 2009 Max Clifford which was in charge for the media affairs of Goody’s personality has confirmed that her cancer had moved to her liver, bowel and groin. Goody, in front of cameras, married Jack Tweed on 22 February 2009 but died, approximately one month later, on 22 March 2009.
What do you think about that? Did Jade Goody sell herself and her privacy? Or maybe wasn’t it wrong if she saw in it the higher purpose and she did it to gain the money for her sons or wanted to make people suffering from the same disease stronger?
And what is your opinion about reality shows? Do you watch them or have your favourite ones?
And what is your opinion about reality shows? Do you watch them or have your favourite ones?
I think that reality shows are irritating programmes in which a partaker would do almost anythig to win a carrer, money or fame. Very often people do risky things (Fear factor) or humiliate themselves trying to convince the jury, watchers that they can sing better than the other of partakers (American Idol!).
ReplyDeleteThe reality show about Jane Goody is very controversial for many reasons. First of all we can think about if the television should show programme in which a young lady is presenting her death. Additionally some of us can say that Jane is very materialistic and sell har privacy only for money.
On the other hand I heard that a lot of women in Great Britain after watching this reality show went to doctors to take some tests if they have cancer. Due to this a lot of them healed up.
I agree that reality shows exist only because some people want to watch them. I'm not sure why such programmes are so popular but people have always been very curious and wanted to know how the others live. That explains the existence of shows like "Big brother" - the viewers find the observation of "characters" entertaining... And when they see some unknown person who goes to the (for example) "American Idol" and becomes a star, they can believe that everyone is able to make dreams come true what is definitely invigorative.
ReplyDeleteI my pinion sometims reality shows are good and sometimes I like to watch this programm. Why? Becouse when I watched for example american program about cleaning I' happy that I don't come from USA. It is terrible! Women who have 50 years old, she can't to clean flor. When I watch this program I feel better.
ReplyDeleteBut sometimes I watch first episode another reality shows some like that: Big Brother. So in my opinion this progrm should desapir from television! It is under normally foolishness!
I agree with Ela that reality shows are really irritating. I don't watch them at all. I think that people who watch them, simply have too much free time. As for Jane Goody, I don't want to dissaprove her. Many people who suffer from letal diseases make rash decisions.
ReplyDeleteAnna, really interesting point of view. But in many respects watching reality shows is a waste of time. I don't watch it too. That kind of TV programmes is particularly easy to reception (if you're patient enough to watch it). Probably that's why such shows are popular.
ReplyDeleteReality shows give us the illusion that we watch Average Joe (who cares that he is carefully chosen by the producers via endless castings) thrown into extreme situation (carefully prepared by the producers). It can either make the viewers feel that everything's possible or simply turns on the most primitive emotions in them. Unfortunately, the second case happens more often.
ReplyDeleteGosia, you made a very good point about reality shows on MTV. Some of them even have failed scenes shown during ending credits.
I don't watch reallity shows, because they are irritated like soap operas. They shaws some kind of life, people think iot is "real" life, but often it is only a illusion. And the most of them are in bad taste - producers wants to shock people. So others make everything, what we normally don't want. And I can't understand what is so fun in programs like "Big Brother".
ReplyDeleteI agree, tha reality shows, especially those like Big Brother are truly iritating. Tthuihey seem to show real life of average people, but everything - dialogues, ways of behaviour - were precisely dircted. Additionally, where "actors" are people without any acting skills, it's not interesting and even not funny - eventually, how many times we can watch quarrels of contestants? It's just tiresome. And the next irritating aspect of them is, that when one edition of such a show became popular, we can predict, that there will be next few editions of this programme and a couple of other similar on TV instead of others - good, but maybe not as willingly watched. Reality shows are just a big, profitable business. People like watch them, so they watch also adverts past and before them, send SMS for or against some contestants... . Why they do it - it's another question.
ReplyDelete* they seem, of course ;)
ReplyDeleteToday everybody says that reality shows are irritating and stupefy. But when first edition of Big Brohther was brodcasted in polish tv almost everyone saw few episodes. It's nothing strange, because people were spied by their neighbours through ages. Our nature obligate us to interest in lifes of others. So if we watch that kind of progrmas we only satisfy our curiosity of another man. If you do it you you shouldn't be ashamed. You only observe nature's law.
ReplyDeleteMost of reality shows are quite boring (like Big Brother - I was really unable to watch this). But I must to say that some of them are interesting for me from psychological point of view. Of course, I'm conscious that in fact they often have nothing to do with reality.
ReplyDeleteI watched the first polish eddition of Big Brother and it was interesting for me from a psychological point of view, especially because people who were chosen to this program and their characters were very different. It was also something knew in polish TV and I think that's why so many people watched it. However, further reality shows as Bar or following editions of Big Brother were very annoying.
ReplyDeleteI must to say that I don't prefere reality shows so I don't watch them but I must to agree that this kind of TV programs exist only because some peoples watch them. For me it is irritated and stupid but some of us like it and I couldn't condemn it (everyone have his own liking)
ReplyDeleteThe only reality show which I have watched was the first edition of Big Brother:-) but only a few episodes. Idea of watching somebody's life (like in Big Brother) isn't the most interesting thing on the world. I believe that my life is more interesting than life of people who spend all days in closed house;-)
ReplyDeleteI agree that most of the reality shows aren't very clever or interesting. I never had time to watch any and it's not entertainment for me. I prefare to be busy with my own life which is real not like those showed in reality shows.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that I don't really have my own opinion about reality shows just because I don't really watch them. The only opinions I know are the opinions of the other people and I must say that they are usually critical. Personally I think that it's much better for us to watch a good film with professional actors than a TV programme with amateurs.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion human kind always had a need of seeing something different. In the stone age it was a camp fire, in 19th century it was circus with cripples and freaks of nature. Nowadays we watch into our 'altars of time wasting' (TV) and watch people making stupid things for a penny. I can't wait to see future types of mass entertainment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Michał and Ela. In my opinion reality shows are so boring and stupefied. It's sad that so many people still watch this type of entertainment.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion everybody who want go to this kind of reality shows should go there. If Jade Goody want to show her cancer why not. I think she didn't feel useless. But I personality don't want any reality shows, because I think people aren't them, the show they another people, this isn't a real life, and I think that most of situation in this programs are arenged.
ReplyDeleteI liked the 1st edition of Big Brother. People there were very fun and fell very comfortable in this closed house. The next editions were only for show, people were boring and want's only win the money. The same with the "Bar". 1st edition was fine, the second no.
ReplyDeleteGot talent is my favorite show because we never know what the next person will show, there is always some kind of surprise.
I think that reality shows shouldn't exist at all. For me it is kind of sick entertainment invented only for earning money and using people. There are some areas in your life that you should keep only for yourself.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago, programs reality shows were very popular. Millions of viewers in the evening sit down in front of TV to be able to watch lives in Big Brother program. I think that people weren't themselves they pretended to be someone who is not to gain fame and awards, most of the situation was arranged to attract more viewers
ReplyDeleteIf you are stupid enough and don't care about yourself go to reality show. Money matters. I can't find any reason to do it. I'm strongly against it and I find it simply stupid.
ReplyDelete