Critical writing: reality TV show - Essay Example

I believe everything that I see on reality TV. Its reality, isnt it?” “I believe everything that I see on reality TV. Its reality, isnt it?” A famous quote by the Chinese philosopher, Zhuangzi talks about the thinker dreaming to be a butterfly. But he wonders after he wakes up, whether he really is a man who dreamt of being a butterfly or is he a butterfly dreaming to be a man. This leads us to the question that, what determines reality or an illusion? Philosophers have always dealt with the subject Neo questions in The Matrix: reality.

In fact, metaphysics centers its attentions around the nature of reality. Since reality is in a state of constant flux, its determination becomes quite complex. Similarly, the so-called “reality TV” shows, which are dubbed as unscripted, have a lot to be skeptical about. A few aspects of reality TVs that spur critical thought are its perceived spontaneity, ordinary participants, “real” settings and situations. Since reality TV implies an unscripted television program, many people are under the impression that such shows document unscripted moments that have been performed out of a situational spur.

It is easier to understand this by thinking of an unprompted action performed with the consciousness of the camera’s presence. Non-trained individuals, unlike professional performers or actors, are more likely to be overwhelmed by the presence of camera to solicit a particular action even though it may arise from a situational cue. On the other hand, reality TVs shows involve pre-planned, scripted actions that are written and directed by professionals hence, defying or at least critiquing the perceived spontaneity of actions in reality TV shows.

Another common aspect of reality TV shows is its participants. Most people expect them to be regular ordinary individuals who are called upon to join the show. However, ordinary individuals with no prior training or acting skills are less likely to have an enormous stage presence. Also, such individuals can be easily overwhelmed by the camera thereby intervening in their stage performance and hence may require more takes of the camera. And more takes implies a contrasting phenomenon to a supposedly reality TV show.

Reality TV shows may make the sane-headed individual of its shortcomings where the participants are usually trained performers or actors who are presentable and thus, marketable to entertainment studios and TV channels. The supposedly “real” settings and situations makes one wonder of its ‘realness’. Most individuals or viewers may expect the reality TV show to be based on a real setting than a studio. Real setting includes homes, workplaces, outside environments and the like. Having said that, this also implies a necessarily low quality of production with fixed light intensities, presence of background noise or distortion, and other unintended, ambient artifacts.

Surprisingly, reality TV shows seem to have an amazing composition hinting at its staged performances. Thus, reality TV shows may instantly trigger fishy attributes that hint to its staged construction. Beyond the argument that reality TV shows are in fact scripted, they create illusions. Illusions regarding appearances and every other element that one should be critical about. Thus, reality TVs are beyond reality and may also create illusions.