Why do people watch reality TV?
What makes it reality”? If it is reality, why can’t we separate our lives from theirs? Reality shows aren’t really reality; they just depict small pieces of real life. Most people think of it as just an ordinary show. Others see it as something that they can relate to in everyday life. Given this, there are disputes while living together, arguments, and actual fistfights can break out when viewing these types of shows.
Sounds like real life, right? When you actually put time and thought into it before you watch it (most people don’t analyze the tendencies of these shows), you begin to notice that a designated number of people might act the same way in a different show or may act the same way every time. These characters are developed as the show progresses, gaining specific” attitudes. The characters consist of the witty, shy, smart-assed loud mouth, and a relatively mellow character. All must encompass some traits; if they didn’t, it wouldn’t really appeal to the viewers.
You can’t make money out of something people don’t watch. The way society is designed, most people watch what is shoved into their faces and what is given. To watch these shows, you need the IQ.
Why does their reality differ so much from ours? Society also determines how the people in the shows act during the course of it. For instance, if two people are being evaluated and they get bad reviews, the editors of the show clip out parts that are irrelevant” and show parts of that person that would make them more appealing to the viewers. This isn’t right. Adjusting the way a person is shown so that they are more appealing, with or without the person’s consent, can’t be real. Dramatizing people for the sole purpose of entertainment is not acceptable. Racial issues are also present; most shows consist of a variety of nationalities.
They try to have at least one representative from each ethnic group to draw attention from viewers of different races. From my personal view, the direction of these shows is headed down a one-way street with hardly any character development. Most of them center on just a few themes, including danger, dating, and family feud situations. This pattern continues from one show to the next.
This isn’t something that we have to struggle to understand. The shows require a little directing and fewer screenwriting. They compete for prizes that vary from cars to money, and even a husband or wife! To add to the drama, they add a twist: a person has to vote off their friends or the one least liked. Some are even voted off by the actual people who watch the show.
All in all, reality TV may be something that you, your friends, and family can sit back and watch just to get a kick out of it. As for the reality part, you may not find much, if any, at all.
It may be the new thing in TV, but it still has a long way to go before it deserves the name Reality TV.”
