Will there ever be an end to reality TV?
I've never liked reality TV
I've never liked reality TV.
For me, it's a contradiction in terms.
TV shouldn't really be about reality, should it?
When I watch TV, I like it to be a
form of escapism from the real world from reality itself not a reminder of all the things we strive to avoid in our daily lives, like conflict, ritual humiliation, gossiping and backstabbing. Yet reality TV revels in these moments, these are the juicy bits, why we tune in, to see these very things unfolding in front of our eyes. But for what purpose? Vicarious pleasure? So we can in turn dissect those scenarios, passing judgement ourselves on what we see as right and wrong?
I think it could well be the latter, but that's entirely an observation. Work places the length and breadth of the country are full of kitchens with people gossiping about what John did last night. You've probably guessed, my first example is from Big Brother. I get asked, what do you think about John? John who I say? I'm sorry I don't know what you're talking about. And I'm ever so slightly offended that you think I watch that!
It seems that often, I'm entirely alone in this train of thought as the world carries on oblivious to people like myself. Thank God that excuse for a TV show has finally been canned.
My perception of reality TV, at least for the people who watch it, is that it offers a
temporary escape from the viewer's own life and an occupation of a fragment of someone else's. Deep eh? But can you apply that same logic to TV in general? Well, I don't think it's that deep, is it? With general television productions the core reason to tune in is to be entertained, agreed? Sure, we all talk about TV shows, but I think that reality TV affects people in an entirely different way, it gives them a voice I see it all the time I'm fairly sure I'm not imagining it.
So when did we, I say we in a collective term although I distance myself from it, when did we become so obsessed with other people? Celebrity magazines, lifestyle shows, gossip columns, online forums as a nation we seem utterly compelled by the notion of celebrity and I just don't get it, I really don't. Maybe it's because I'm quite a private person at heart I don't need to shout about my life, and therefore I'm not overly interested in hearing about someone else's. I can understand someone being interested in the life of say, a musical icon whose records you've listened to all of your life, someone you hold dear to your heartbut Kerry Katona, Cheryl Cole? Are our own lives really that dull that we have to be so preoccupied by someone else's? (that I should add, we don't know, don't cherish but yet we feel perfectly comfortable in freely passing judgement on). If you think I'm talking rubbish, I invite you to ask about, everyone these days has an opinion on people they have never met. It's quite sad that the media's power has shaped their views entirely.
For me, it extends beyond reality TV in our society as stories about these people (as well details of what's happened on the actual programmes) actually make the BBC News these days. It staggers me. When did these shows become so important to our country that they should demand news coverage, often in slots before something truly important on massive international scales? I despair.
By the way, i should clarify that I'm not standing in judgement of everyone that watches and enjoys reality TV - far from it, I'm just genuinely interested in what I perceive as a big cultural / societal shift. These are top rating shows, nearly all of them 'reality' television of one form or another.
But perhaps I'm missing the point.
Reality TV like Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor all just offer another form of entertainment, right? Well yes, that much is true, but I think it's more than that, as these shows engage people in a different way. Because its reality, i.e real people and not actors, the gap between fiction and reality has been breached, which allows the viewer to feel more comfortable with free discussion, safe from any feelings of 'its not real so its not worth discussing'.
Other TV shows whose aim is solely to entertain and provide escapism like say, for example, Noel's House Party are ridiculous but we like it, we don't take it seriously though, and I have no problem with shows like that, ones that offer unpretentious, cheap laughs and lowbrow entertainment. More importantly, you don't hear people spend the kind of time dissecting that in your lunch hour. I suppose at least part of the problem I have is this over enthusiasm for reality TV like Big Brother - people just get really into it, they talk about participants with too much familiarity for my liking, and I genuinely think there's no thought from viewers that they are actually being manipulated through careful editing by the shows technical teams. As soon as these conversations kick off, I feel like wrapping my sandwiches back up and choosing another room to sit in!
BB is the worst of the lot. At least people who like SCD like to watch the dancing, and don't just tune in for a good argument. Saying that, I just don't get why so many people care about whether an A, B, or even C list celebrity are able to ballroom dance. How many series will it take for people to tire of it? I can live with that though...the more important issue is why oh why is it an item on the ten o'clock news?
Of course, I can understand those that find it entertaining in the same way I find football entertaining. Or anything else entertaining. That's not my beef. I hate the format and the staged emotion, the drum rolling, the pregnant pauses, all of those external things that persuade us how to react, what to feel, it's just so false, much like canned laughter. It's basically entertainment in a tin. You see, the format of these shows is the same week in, week out, and there's only so many dances so many household scenarios so many adventures in the jungle, why don't people tire of it?! I see it as churned out TV of the most simplistic and basic nature and we lap it up like it's the most dynamic and ground breaking TV we've ever seen.
Still not convinced are you? Good job I'm not looking for comrades, I gave up a long time ago.
Ask yourself are we devoting too much attention, time and thought to these shows?
Are these shows are doing anything good for anybody?
Are they educating? Are they enlightening? Are they inspiring?
Do they have depth?
People certainly enjoy them so who am I to say?
There is further discussion here, if I can persuade you to read on just a little longer. Are shows like X Factor really finding people whose work will be remembered in 10, 20 or 30 years time? I.e is there any point in getting all excited about them? Watch them if you like, but don't please don't turn up in the streets with personalised banners and t-shirts. You make me ashamed to be British. Surely this show in particular is just a cash cow for the here and now? But hang on, doesn't this show offer an accessible route in to the business for a talented individual? You can provide your own answers to those questions.
I had a feeling then when I begun this discussion that it was going to be difficult to remain objective and come to any hard and fast conclusions.
People say I'm like Victor Meldrew, grumpy, old before my time. But it's more than that. I've always felt removed from popular culture. It's a big part of who I am.
I'm not an awkward person, I just don't do normality' and anything that's popular on a big scale usually doesn't interest me. I think I have a little switch in my brain, and it regularly gets pressed, usually on a Saturday night around tea time.
Right, I'm off now to watch Celebrity Masterchef. Did I mention that I don't mind that one? Even though the format's the same, Gregg and John say the same things every week and it's essentially churned out TV. At least there's no conflict and a far smaller smattering of awkward staged drama for the cameras. But dont think for a minute that editing is not every bit as cunning as it is on BB, and please...mix it up a bit, give them some new challenges, keep it fresh and innovative. And stop saying cooking doesn't get any tougher than this'.
I'm waiting to see the light.I think I'll be waiting until I take root.
Will there ever be an end to reality TV?
By: Holiday Armadillo
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