 Reality TV

Compare these two clips, how real are they?   ALL reality TV shows are constructed to a certain degree, whether that’s having some scripted elements, getting people to do certain activities, or just having a camera follow someone.

TASK  Create a continuum like the one below including the following reality tv shows and any others you can think of. Reality Constructed Reality Police, Camera, Action Strictly Come Dancing The Voice Big Brother Keeping Up with the Kardashians Cake Boss The Amazing Race The Bachelor Real Housewives… American Idol The Real World Hell’s Kitchen America’s Next Top Model Duck Dynasty Jersey Shore Top Chef Deadliest Catch Jackass

Why do we watch reality TV?  Uses and gratifications  How about this: Pop Britannia X-Factor Pop Britannia X-Factor  American Idol American Idol

Is it wrong to enjoy watching people humiliate themselves?  Was it right that Susan Boyle was catapulted into the spotlight when she had history of mental health problems?Susan Boyle  Why is it funny to watch people fail? How are these people represented?  Is it fair that people like Simon Cowell are allowed to increase the humiliation with scathing remarks?

Voyeurism  Voyeurism is a term used to describe the pleasure that people get from watching other people.  First TV show to play on this was Candid Camera:Candid Camera  People were filmed without their knowledge, in humorous situations. Again, audiences enjoyed watching the humiliation.

Voyeurism  This trend continued with more modern shows like Trigger Happy TV Trigger Happy TV  And more recently, Punk’dPunk’d  Worldwide: Worldwide

Voyeurism  Punk’d is attractive to watch for audiences because famous people are being targeted.  Is it right that shows like Trigger Happy should target ‘normal’ members of the public? Should we be allowed to watch their humiliation?  Are people being exploited, or is it ok for companies to make money from these shows because the people agree to participate?

Bad Taste?  Some reality shows have really pushed boundaries.  Wife Swap: invaded the family home and swapped family members Wife Swap  Ibiza Uncovered: showed how young British people spent their holidays – producing a very negative representation of young people. Ibiza Uncovered  What values do these shows present to audiences?

Task  Create a table of reality TV shows, and then the groups of people that they represent in a good light, and those they represent in a bad light. (if any…) Reality ShowGood Representation Bad Representation Police, Camera, Action PoliceCriminals

 How are they represented? Why are they chosen? Participants

“dumb blonde” Homosexual?Geek STEREOTYPES! What others can you think of?

Participants  Stereotypes are important for reality TV because they help viewers to relate the participants with other, similar types of people we know. This could stimulate interest in the program.  Other reasons?

TASK  You have been asked to find 4 participants for a new reality TV show where they will be asked to live in a underwater house for two weeks.  The show is designed to target year old males and females.  Provide a brief profile for the type of people you want to appear in the show. Do not use specific individuals, but rather a set of criteria you might use to filter people who apply.