1.  Reality TV KEY CONCEPT: Representation

2. Compare these two clips, how real are they?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJaY9EO7Ej4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJaY9EO7Ej4  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivx3uOfHz4k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivx3uOfHz4k 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.

3. 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 X Factor Big Brother How to look good naked Vets in Practice Ross Kemp on Gangs The Apprentice America’s Next Top Model The Hills

4. Why do we watch reality TV?  Uses and gratifications  How about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuWVwf9rPJI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuWVwf9rPJI

5. 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?  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?

6. 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: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qHc6OgPs5E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qHc6OgPs5E  People were filmed without their knowledge, in humourous situations. Again, audiences enjoyed watching the humiliation.

7. Voyeurism  This trend continued with more modern shows like Trigger Happy TV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTV-YxOwLdA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTV-YxOwLdA  And more recently, Punk’d http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpAGztnw3WA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpAGztnw3WA  And more hilariously, Rio Ferdinand’s World Cup Wind-ups: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZkcqeImKmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZkcqeImKmc

8. Voyeurism  Punk’d and Rio Ferdinand’s show are both attractive to watch for audiences because famous people are being targetted.  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?

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

10. Essex Girl Homosexual‘Chav’Geek STEREOTYPES!

11. Participants  Stereotypes are important because they help us to relate the participants with other, similar types of people we know. This stimulates our interest in the programme.

12. TASK  You are working for BBC Three.  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 18-24 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.

13. Bad Taste?  Some reality shows have really pushed boundaries.  Wifeswap http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P4VFjA1WYc&feature=rela ted invaded the family home and swapped family members http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P4VFjA1WYc&feature=rela ted  Ibiza Uncovered http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ft- ToMWFws showed how young british people spent their holidays – producing a very negative representation of young people.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ft- ToMWFws  What values do these shows present to audiences?

14. 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