Entertainment

Reality TV- Real or Not?

On a typical evening, I was flicking through the TV channels optimistic to find something just a little engaging to watch. Yet, all I discovered was reality TV show, after reality TV show, which I must confess got to me somewhat. Well, perhaps that was a little stringent, as generally I am not one to criticise such programmes. It is after all sometimes refreshing to watch something, to some extent, light-hearted. However, the influence such programmes are having is increasing rapidly, particularly on young teens growing up. Media in general is having a huge impact on the younger generation by surrounding them with ideas of perfection, teaching them the ‘correct’ way to behave and pressuring them into fitting the ‘ideal’ stereotypes that we hear so much about. It seems that such behaviour on these programmes seem to put vast pressure on all of us.

I consider the most prodigious problem with reality TV is the name itself, in which the programmes propose ‘reality’. When, in actuality, these television programmes are so far from ‘real’ that it is often hard to see any features that even remotely resemble the genuine. Big Brother, The Only Way is Essex and Geordie Shore, are just some examples of where the problems seem to arise. Individuals chosen for such shows are usually far from your average neighbour. They range from narcissistic glamour models to sex-crazed party-hard alcoholics, showing their vast ignorance to the outside world. Frequent binge drinking and verbal persecution toward each other enhances this portrayal of the false reality. So, why are these so called ‘reality television’ shows so unrealistic?

I believe it comes straight down to the high demand of entertainment. Yes, undoubtedly, the producers need to captivate their audience and they are proficient in doing so, nevertheless, producers seem to overlook their responsibility and privilege of portraying a sense of realism to the story lines that they produce. By trapping some obscure ‘wannabe celebrities’ in a house or on a desert island and setting them tasks and rules to live by, no wonder we don’t get a true representation of personalities. Even obliging them into some far-fetched love story; a fiasco that everyone knows is likely to end as soon as the public eye is no longer intrigued. The extroverts may then be on their next ploy to capture us once again into acknowledging their existence.

I will let you judge the influence of such programmes for yourself but in my opinion if a producer wishes to portray their deluded idea of a ‘perfect’ life, then change it into a drama or thriller. Otherwise, keep this ‘reality’ television to after 9 ‘o’clock hours to give the rest of us, and the younger generation, who don’t need to be drowned in this garbage, the opportunity to avoid it for most of the day at least. I would like to see at some point a ‘reality TV show’ of regular individuals to actually give us what the genre suggests, a representation of reality.

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