Real but Not Really the Reality Tv Genre - 1676 Words

Kate Woodward MCJ 162 T Th 8-9:15 Real But Not Really: The Reality TV Genre When Philo T. Farnsworth invented the electric television, he probably did not think that it would be used to show people eating bugs, finding husbands based on votes of viewers, or living on deserted islands. But that is exactly what you can see any given night on television now. This newest form of television programming fad is the reality television genre. Reality television is now on every station, every night, everywhere. The web page Fact Monster credits the beginning of reality TV as beginning around 2000 when a little reality game show called Who wants to be a Millionaire hit television screens. Millionaire saw the†¦show more content†¦This is what makes Survivor a more well rounded show as opposed to a half hour of adrenaline and disgusting foods. When looking at reality television we get a skewed sense of reality. First of all, in reality shows most people are better looking than the average civilian. If they are not terribly good looking they are at least charismatic, or interesting characters. Fear Factor very rarely has people who are overweight, old, or unattractive. They promote such specials as Fear Factor: Models or Fear Factor: Miss America. Survivor is more varied in their range of people, but even if the contestants are unattractive, older or more overweight they are always at least interesting in their lives and the way they play the game. Although they claim to be reality, all reality TV shows are edited for time and to make them more interesting, which is part of why they skew our view of reality. For instance, no one is ever just plain boring on reality television shows. At least if they are those parts get edited away to make them seem at least slightly entertaining. What this tricky editing leads us to believe when we watch is that the way these people are acting is the way everybody in society acts or should act. When we cant be as witty, attractive, popular or as good at competition as the contestants we feel inadequate. Another downfall of reality shows isShow MoreRelatedReality Television Has A Harm Than Good959 Words   |  4 PagesReality television has grown to be one of the most popular genres in TV history. Ten years ago, you would find maybe one or two reality shows on air. These days, there are numerous kinds of reality television shows on just about every channel. They range from dating shows, game shows, and shows about â€Å"real life.† Some examples are The Bachelor, The Amazing Race, Survivor, Jersey Shore, Real Housewives, Teen Mom, etc. Most of these shows don’t promote any harm; however, they’re starting to take aRead MoreThe Reality Of Reality Television1511 Words   |  7 PagesReality TV is defined as television programs in which real people are continuously filmed, designed to be entertaining rather than informative.(Dictionary) As we all know, in today s world we are presented with numerous Reality TV Show such as Keeping up With the Kardashians, Basket wi ves and The Real Housewives of Miami. These shows give a false message to their viewers of what is reality and what is purely entertainment. Many reality programs create an artificial environment for the show thatRead MoreReality Tv : Should We Really Watch?1194 Words   |  5 Pagesarticle Reality TV: Should We Really Watch? Elizabeth Larkins argues with the integrity of the genre of reality TV shows. She describes how watching one’s embarrassment or pain on TV and finding it humorous is wrong morally and mentally. Larkins describes how reality TV all began with one of the oldest reality shows â€Å"Candid Camera.† This show would broadcast hidden cameras of people in embarrassing or painful situations. It was a huge success, which ultimately started the popularity of the reality genreRead MoreReality Television Is A Genre Of Programming2139 Words   |  9 Pages When watching tv, we do not reality question what we watch or why we enjoy it. Simply, shows like â€Å"The Bachelor† and â€Å"The Jersey Shore† are the entertaining pieces we need to watch after a very long, stressful day. Not only is it comic relief, but these shows express drama, suspense, and laughter while pushing the element of morally and socially acceptable situations that keep the viewers fixated. These shows fit the definition of reality television. Going through the television guide, it is amazingRead MoreReality Tv1014 Words   |  5 PagesReality TV Blake Brandt Reality TV has unseen effects and is detrimental to society. Reality TV is the current trend on TV that has brought back the buzz to television, but it also has unforeseen effects on its viewers. Some examples of Reality TV shows include: American Idol, The Bachelorette, Americas next top model, fear factor, etc...These shows range from singing talents, overcome their fears, to looks and beauty. Reality TV brings drama and voyeurism to its viewers by making its viewersRead MoreThe Journal Reality Bites : An Investigation Of The Genre Of Reality Television1433 Words   |  6 Pagesthe journal Reality Bites: An Investigation of the Genre of Reality Television and Its Relationship to Viewers’ Body Image researchers utilized a unique methodological approach, this study investigated subtypes of reality television (RTV) to study the influence of exposure to RTV on body image (body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness) as compared a more traditional weekly report of RTV viewing. Young adults (N  ¼ 472) completed online surveys measuring their exposure to Reality TV and perceptionsRead MoreThe Effect of Reality Television Shows2018 Words   |  9 Pagesthe Los Angeles Times, â€Å"†¦the average American now watches more than 151 hours of TV a month. That is about five hours a day†. (www.latimes.com). People still get important information from their TVs and are also entertained from this same source. Televisionshowsnowadays have more ways to reach their audience through computer monitors and cell phone screens. It has also become very convenient forpeople to watch these TV shows at anytime and at any place.Because of this newly increased accessibilityRead MoreThe Reality Of Reality Television2912 Words   |  12 PagesThis paper will attempt to describe the television genre, Reality TV; in terms of its historical, sociopolitical and industrial context of its time as well as its meaning and significance from the year 2000 onward. It will also discuss how the genre of Reality TV establishes its media practices in terms of production and consumption. The â€Å"reality† in Reality television can best be understood as a social construction, one that uses purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations featuringRead MoreThe Stereotypical Reality Of Television1624 Words   |  7 PagesThe Stereotypical Reality in TV Although television can sometimes be educational, it is often agreed that reality TV creates dangerous stereotypes. These days, it seems like producers are willing to turn almost anything into a an hour long weekly series. Another growing concern that may indirectly promote stereotypes is the issue of privacy in reality TV. It is said that â€Å"participants in reality shows have openly admitted that giving the public access to the most personal moments of their livesRead MoreEssay on Reality Television Shows1317 Words   |  6 Pagesmore recently related to those figures, involved in Reality TV. There is no exact definition of Reality Television and people also have different opinions of what it is. But it tends be a combination of genres such as: documentary, drama and many other genre’s depending on the type show. It can also be described as ‘ a hybrid of non-fiction and entertainment elements’. Charlie Parsons, creator of the television show, Survivor defines reality TV as ‘Shows containing producer created environments