Reality Television Is Increasingly Becoming Popular - Essay Example

? Reality Television- Global Effects Reality televisions are increasingly becoming popular with audiences across the global. For example, the season finale of the Block was Australians most watched television series since the Sydney Olympics in 200. The only other television broadcast that had such a vast audience was the funeral of princesses Diana. Reality television includes a number of programs aiming to be both entertaining and factual. A number of definitions become put across on what is reality television. Charlie Parsons, the creator of the Survivor series defines it as programs containing created and monitored producer environment that control the participants’ behavior (Benin 2012, p.24). Kerrie Murphy, a television reviewer claims that the reality shows involves filming the various actions and perceived reactions in a set situation. The situation can be a normal one, or a contrived one as is the case in the huge global hit big brother shows. Bignell defines it as a program where the true behavior of the ordinary people is the key focus of people’s interest. The greatest aspect is the continuous monitoring of the contestants everyday behavior. Reality shows are similar to the soap operas and documentaries. Other reality shows have features common with talk shows while some are talent quests. The main issue that separates reality shows from other genres that become based on real life participants is the focus on their thoughts and reactions to the situation they get situated (Benin 2012, p.24). Globally, a number of factors have contributed to the success of these reality shows include: Human curiosity the public is always curious to know the mysteries involved in the reality shows. The producers introduce new tricks and formats to keep the audience glued to the screens. Anything new gets noticed quickly, and this is what attracts the viewers. Entertainment value is another reason. Continuously watching movies cause the mind to be tired and bored. It is here that the reality show takes over. They are full of drama, celebrities, laughter and talent. The shows feature acts that fill the human mind with the formatted programs (Benin 2012, p.24). Aggressive marketing is another factor of the popularity of the reality television. The adverts create the attention of even the uninterested persons. This is what the advertisers want and is what influences us to watching these programs. Also, the belief in reality shows that they are seeing the reality as it is not different as the normal day routines. Having favorites programs is what makes the reality shows tick even more. Peer influence is another fact that trends in the reality show (Caryn 2003, p.17). Impact of reality television on TV industry and a global audience A number of critics view the reality television as a poison so injurious to TV and the society that it is totally destroying the TV. Globally, the ethics and morals of the reality television is questionable even if they go as far as achieving significant popularity and prominence in the society. This does not mean that they are agreeable to the community and that they should be aired. This show is damaging to the TV networks and society as a whole (Hummer 2004, p.41). Since reality television is a low cost way of telling creative and entertaining stories and attracts large audiences, it has become a headache to the scripted shows in television. They have forced the scripted shows to increase their creativity and try harder to attract their audiences. Sitcoms had gotten monotonous and repetitive, and there is nothing new on dramas apart from repetitions. Reality television took things a notch higher globally by giving the much needed spark in TV industry. Shows like Lost got created due to the same reason. The directors and producers became forced to cultivate new grounds and try more creative techniques and formats (Beth 2000, p.32). Reality television has been globally detrimental to the TV industry since it takes a lot of programming time leaving the scripted shows little time. The producers of these shows get affected the most since there is little work for them to do. On the brighter side, it has concentrated the talent. There exist fewer writers spread for the job of writing shows. The other thing that reality television has done to the TV industry, and entertainment business as a whole is that the audience can now enjoy shows that are too slick, too polished and a little dramatic. This is the reason that movies are nowadays trying to get more real than before. This is to attract the audience who wants real and polished experience. The reality television has shown that people get interested on true stories and prefers them in a lot of circumstances. This has opened the doors to documentary makers (Annalise 2006, p.16). Also, reality shows stars volunteers who have the urge to participate in the program and their influential role is to check on what their reactions become in different scenarios, and how they will face those kinds of challenges. This gives viewers a connection between them and the reality stars as they see that they are normal and real people representing them. This is the reason why the reality shows are hitting it successful in TV industry. In Nigeria, for example, the Nigerian idol show shows how participants face different, tough challenges. The global audience that watches the show sympathizes with the reality stars, and this is another reason why it has negative impacts on people globally. The audience tends to reason like the reality stars, act and in this sense lose their critical thinking and true emotions towards certain scenarios (Annalise 2006, p.16). Reality shows have made a massive impact on the global market and their effects on society are dependent on what the audience motives and desires are. The audience portray themselves in these stars not knowing that the reality stars are living their ways through the show. The reality shows portray certain things like power, survival and outwitting and revenge. The audience does not realize that these reality shows and their impacts on reality television get shown on how people sacrifice their self worth and being. This observation distorts an individual’s view on the real reality of life. The audience develops wrong notions concerning life. A number of shows deal with issues that are likely to stir up the feelings of the viewers. Racial discrimination gets utilized fully in the show Celebrity Big Brother that got aired in 2007. The show indirectly affected the lives of the Indians (Annalise 2006, p.16). The reality shows deviates the mentality of the youth. In Africa, a good number of youths gets lured into participating in these shows but with extremely meager salaries. Instead of the youths engaging in productive activities, they get lured to such reality shows with the expectations of quick fame and money. The youths’ globally deviate from their academic pursuit to shortcuts that require more efforts than the conventional path. The glamour and first life of possible celebrity life blurs the potential of the youth, who would have tremendously benefited from their talents. It is fair to note that, not everyone can achieve fame (Elizabeth 2001, p.26). The reality shows erodes the ethical and moral practices of the society as a whole. Shows like the Big brother, Temptation Island, Bachelor get purposefully filled with indecent acts, glamour, and promiscuity, which become supposed, to create controversy and there immense popularity is the promoters of the unethical practices. Shows like Big Brother Africa and the Nigerian idols became highly criticized by the church leaders for showing indecent acts and immoral behavior on the global stage. Human beings get affected by the indecent behavior rather than the positive behavior. The society suffers considerably since these shows become the breeding fields for anti social behaviors like murder and corruption (Elizabeth 2001, p.26). On the other hand, reality television benefits the society globally by exposing the unknown talent. The talent based shows are excellent promoters of the rare talent that include; dance, music and song. (I.e., Americas got talent) Majority of these talents are unique and not yet seen by the audience. If these shows could not have existed, the talents would have remained hidden in them. Certain regions in the globe also attain free publicity. This may attract people who want to do research or visit the place. The reality shows are also a vital source of generating revenue. The popular shows always earn a fortune which translates into more employment opportunities for a number of unemployed individuals (Goodman 2006, p.3). A good deal of people attains a certain level of satisfaction when watching these reality shows. Their impacts on the society globally, become seen through the way in which they socialize with other people, deal with certain encounters and face different challenges. What makes it even worse is that the audience gets entertained by the depressions, frustrations and sadness the reality stars experience during the shows. Although, reality television is mostly unscripted, the producers invent scenes that will create dramatic outcomes. They pick scenes that show the most dramatic and exciting incidents. Even, though, the reality television portrays itself as real, viewers are likely to expect dramatic situations in reality (Hummer 2004, p.41). Since the reality, shows are so popular; the participants struggle to appear in many other, different shows. Since the reality shows compensate their contestants, they are far less expensive compared to professional actors. Also, since the reality shows present themselves as unscripted, they become not required to hire writers. They have low costs production which makes the shows appealing to the networks globally. Actors and writers have in time complained that this existence and prevalence of the shows costs them their jobs. During the Writer’s Guild strike in America, reality television was one of the issues discussed (Randall & Rose 2005, p.50). With the global rise of reality television, the TV industry has seen a significant drop in a number of their programs. Among all programs, reality television captured about 75 %. The audience for dramas and sitcoms has declined. To avoid this disaster, the networks all across the globe are airing more reality shows so as not to lose their audience. The global audience has found a way of enjoying the shows. Most people pick their favorites and watch them till the end of the season. In Africa, the sensational Big Brother Africa has continued to see a rise in viewership numbers (Elizabeth 2001, p.26). Bibliography. Annalise Walliker., 2006, Loser Unrealistic and Cruel, The Herald sun, 16-17. Benin, C., 2012, The real History of Reality TV, New York: Bel House. Beth, R., 2000, Reality TV takes a hold, Celebrity Journal, 32-35. Caryn, J., 2003, "Bachelor No. 1 And the Birth Of Reality TV", The New York Times, 17-21. Elizabeth, F., 2011, The Effect of Reality TV on Civic Behaviors, Virginia: University of Virginia. Goodman, A., 2006, Reality TV is a) hideous, b) horrible, c) helpful, Journal of Range of Thinking, 3-7. Hummer, E., 2004, Keeping it Real: A Look at Reality Television, London: Mediascope, . Mark, L., 2007, "simple economics': More reality TV".. ., USA Today, 11-13. Randall L. Rose, S. W., 2005, Paradox and the Consumption of Authenticity through Reality, Journal of Consumer Research, 32, 50-78. Richard Levakk., 2003, Reality Television, Television Week, 22 (38), 11-13. Read More

 

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