Introduction
Reality shows are symptomatic of deteriorating entertainment standards on television. The prevalence of superficiality, fabrication and exaggeration in the programs testify to this fact. Numerous viewers indulge in this obsession, but few will admit to it. It is necessary to analyze the controversy surrounding this genre of shows. Such a process will allow one order to understand why reality programs harm the American public.
How reality television is a step down
Few Americans will openly reveal their addiction to reality shows. Those that do will never justify their choices on the basis of content; they often give other reasons. Some claim that the programs give them a glimpse into the privileged life; they get to learn and borrow ideas on how they would like to live in the future. Others claim that watching these shows allows them to escape into another world (Hirschorn, 2007).
A show such as “Keeping up with the Kardashians” allowed many people to see what being a celebrity meant. They can also daydream about something other than their uneventful lives. For instance, they get to watch an amateur singer rise to stardom in “American Idol”, or see how an overweight individual becomes a size 8 on “The Biggest looser”. Many viewers are embarrassed about engaging in this past-time activity despite having these reasons. Reality shows have a negative reputation, but people still keep watching them.
This perspective stems from the impracticable nature of some of the events in the shows. As a result, the shows no longer become true reflections of reality. Viewers are also aware of the immense amount of editing that takes place before airing the shows. What viewers see becomes this large distortion of the events that took place during shooting thus explaining why some people classify the shows as fictional entertainment.
In order to understand why reality shows have garnered such a negative reputation, it is necessary to understand the dynamics of communication, authenticity and performance. In communication, authenticity is the process by which audiences assess the truth on the basis of how people behave in entertainment pieces (Piper, 2006). The process of watching popular entertainment shows is rather complex and difficult to generalize. However, these shows have a few commonalities such as people’s perception of their authenticity.
Audiences tend to assume that highly entertaining factual shows are not authentic or real. Conversely, fictional shows should have first-class drama, so when they are entertaining they are more likely to attract audiences. Reality shows are not fictional shows; as the name suggests, the shows should reflect reality, or should be factual. These programs are an amalgamation of documentary-like work and scripted effort.
One can observe the documentary component through the numerous hours of footage that are common in almost all reality shows. However, the themes and characters selected in the stories reflect the scripted components. Their producers and directors tend to focus on the entertainment aspect thus explaining why viewers think reality shows are not authentic. Perhaps this is a concept that these stakeholders need to realize before they intensify the tears, rejection, and excitement prevalent in their shows nowadays.
A number of economic reasons can explain the reality show craze too. Many producers are under pressure to deliver neatly packaged stories, in the shortest time possible (Sayed, 2009). Television networks have signed contracts with these individuals to produce items within the set deadlines. Sometimes uneventful things may have taken place within the concerned time frame.
As a result, editing boards and other stakeholders have to alter a few things before airing them. Poniewozik (2006) adds that they frequently construct crushes and create feuds in order to make these shows more appealing to the masses. For instance, producers can put footage together that they shot days apart.
Many viewers know that people edit reality shows, but few of them understand the full extent of the habit. The riveting details involved in carrying out these exercises have started coming out when network owners, production companies and story line creators get into disagreements. These individuals edit videos, coach interviewees and compose story lines that can make the shows more appealing.
As a result, many of them believe that their work is just like a writer’s job, so they are demanding writers’ incentives like the freedom to unionize. It is true that these employees do not write long scripts; however, a number of them shape the story, and can turn a dull and lukewarm story into something juicy and captivating. The editors can use several tricks to achieve this. Sometimes, if two people are on a date, an editor can wait for moments when one of the dates has left for the restroom, and the other person looks bored.
If they capture this footage, they can paint the date as boring even when it was captivating. On reality shows, stakeholders face a lot of pressure to create pulsating drama. Furthermore, the standards for altering these stories are less clear than they are in other genres. In some shows, editors can alter audience’s perceptions quite dramatically depending on what they want. They can develop villainy inside an editing room. Nonetheless in defense of their actions, some producers claim that these edits are not outright lies.
They believe that if a fight did not happen, it would almost be impossible for one to make it up. They claim that nitpicking scenes helps to capture the essence of the story. While some of this information is true, one cannot ignore the fact that immense distortions do occur about real people.
For instance, in the reality show “Joe Millionaire”, the producers made two dates appear as if they were engaging in an intimate act, and added a line that one of them said earlier. This totally misrepresented the events and the characters at the time. Furthermore, the participants had to carry these false images into their real lives (Poniewozik, 2006). This was utterly unfair on the TV channel’s part.
Having learnt about all the fabrication that goes on in production, then one needs to understand why these programs flood American television networks. Reality shows reflect America’s culture; celebrities have obsessed many individuals from way back. History reflects this obsession as seen through Marilyn Munroe and Elizabeth Taylor’s lifestyles.
The public regards Hollywood as a doorway to fame and success, but only the select few can make it. Reality television is a revenge mission against Hollywood’s bureaucracy because ordinary people can become overnight stars. Cases in point include Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton. The former individual was the highest paid reality show star in 2010, having earned 6 million dollars in that year alone (Dorian, 2010). Reality TV characters engage in their roles, in the hope of becoming just as rich as Kim.
As reality television continues to gain popularity, more scholars and analysts will keep analyzing these trends. Socialists who study the topic affirm that Americans have a universal desire to see themselves on television. When this happens, it gives the participants a sense of superiority that they would never have experienced if these programs did not exist. Reality shows satisfy people’s need to gossip (albeit in a sanitized manner).
Other analysts claim that reality shows are a socially acceptable form of ‘Peeping Tomism’, so they meet that need without requiring the subjects to indulge in unacceptable behavior. Another category of observers believes that reality shows are so addictive because they reflect what American society is about.
Shows such as “Cheaters” or “The Jerry Springer Show” reveal how endemic infidelity is in the country has become. Shows such as “The Apprentice” epitomize the American dream, which represents entrepreneurship and self-made wealth. If reality shows appear to be superficial, then that simply reflects the values that are inherent in the American society; otherwise, few would watch the shows (Conlin, 2003).
Critics believe that reality shows are terrible for viewers because these audiences tend to become disengaged from their society and others. The need to make these shows more appealing causes more producers to disconnect the shows from reality. Children who grow up watching these shows tend to have a distorted view of reality. If a program entails performance of stunts, then their directors will increase the danger inherent in the stunts.
If a show entails some match-making or relationship ordeals, then directors will make the rejections even more brutal. In shows such as “America’s next top model” and “Project Runway”, almost all participants want to land an agent or build their own empire. More shows keep intensifying their displays, as new ones keep surfacing. With time, the genre will experience saturation, and this will harm the public. Shouting matches will replace intelligent conversations between interviewers and interviewees.
If the trend continues, it is likely that this will sideline the real issues. For instance, the country’s economy is still in peril. Furthermore, the US is spending millions of dollars in two Middle Eastern wars. Not many citizens are engaging in these conversations because they have something that is dramatic to watch. An addiction to reality shows comes at the expense of other crucial matters that should be taking centre stage in television programming.
Television channels prefer reality shows because they are cheaper to produce than other programs. Since the shows do not involve award-wining actors such as Julia Robert and Brad Pit, then producers will not have to spend millions on actors’ payroll (Sayed, 2009). The exposure, fame, and opportunities that come with their roles satisfy the participants, so they do not ask for monetary compensations. Furthermore, these shows may require writers, but they do not belong to the same category as other conventional script writers.
That implies that they will demand less in terms of compensation. Lastly, reality shows have already been tried and tasted. The public has an appetite for the shows as seen through their high ratings. Consequently, television network owners will keep delivering the material as it brings a significant return on their investment. The only problem is that cheap productions rarely become high quality shows, so elevated profit margins may come at a price for the consumer.
Conclusion
Reality TV signifies a drop in American entertainment standards owing to its distortion of facts and excessive emphasis on entertainment over fiction. Furthermore, the obsession causes many individuals to shift focus away from crucial world or country events in order to follow their celebrity. It is symptomatic of America’s fascination with fame, appearance on television, and wealth. This may continue to delineate people from their society.
References
Conlin, M. (2003). America’s reality TV addiction. Business Week. Web.
Dorian, J. (2010). Kim Kardashian top earning reality star for year 2010. International Business Times. Web.
Hirschorn, M. (2007). The case for reality TV. The Atlantic. Web.
Piper, H. (2006). Understanding reality television. Oxford: OUP. Web.
Poniewozik, J. (2006). How reality TV fakes it. Time. Web.
Sayed, D. (2009). Paranormal obsession: America’s fascination with Ghosts and Hauntings. NY: Lewellyn. Web.