Desensitization Of Audiences By Reality Television - Essay Example

Desensitization Of Audiences By Reality Television It is virtually impossible to find a single channel, network, or broadcasting company that is not producing, promoting, and premiering more and more reality television shows than any other form of television entertainment (USA Today College, 2012). The traditional reality shows are separated into two distinct types, those that involve a goal, competition or prize to be earned, like Americas Next Top Model, Hell’s Kitchen, or Survivor and the second form that simply and solely follow people through their daily lives for no other purpose than from the spectacle of watching their “real” lives unfold as entertainment; this includes shows like Jersey Shore and any and all shows beginning with the words “…The Housewives of…” or Kardashian. We watch them laugh, cry, embarrass themselves, scream, yell, and very often fight each other, not just for our entertainment, but, also, for our desire and opportunity to judge these people’s lives. While it would be unfair to blame television and other forms of visual entertainment, for the actions and behaviors of viewers; individuals simply have to be more accountable for their actions they should not be able to “pass the buck” so easily. However, I do think that our entertainment today has desensitized us in many ways throughout the years. Therefore, George F. Will was quite right in his assessment that the violence visited upon others, darker and darker perspectives and the public degradation of others is no longer as shocking and unpleasantly received as it once was (200!). There was time, long before the age of reality television, when television shows were held to very strict ethical and moral standards, that today we would say borders on censorship, were levied on shows aired. For example, there was a time when all married couples in television shows were only ever seen sleeping in separate twin beds, people could not wear anything that exposed a naked navel, audiences never heard a swear word, and gratuitous violence was never shown and seldom discussed outside of metaphors and undertones. However, as the years rolled by and artists began producing stories, ideas, and visions that pushed boundaries artistically speaking sex, drugs, violence, and bad behavior being seen became an essential aspect of storytelling. It lends to the “realism” of the works created (Daley, 2007). This is how the process of desensitization began. After years of realistic and creative simulations of events, it became desirable to watch “real” people not actors in “real situations” with “real consequences.” This is how the reality television show was born. Today there are more reality shows on television than any other television format. There are shows that focus on families, businesses, and professions; from families with multiples wives to tattoo parlor dramas and from to car-towing companies and bail bondsmen. Sometimes we watch the struggles of a celebrity thorough their rehabilitation, watch divorced parents fight over their children, and men and women in public places, getting intoxicated, and brawling. This is a spectacle to us today, like gladiator games; we pick our favorites and criticize those we dislike. We are intrigued by watching these people on the screen receive bad news or get harmed and “feed” on the reactions. This is not necessarily a healthy way to spend ones time. We have lost some of our sensitivity to the sadness, misfortunes, and plights of other people. We are not always compassionate or understanding. Series like “Teen Mom” depicted pregnant teens under the heading of discouraging teens from making the same mistakes; however, the popularity, trendiness, and the potential of being featured on a television show had the opposite effect. Teens were intentionally getting pregnant (Phillips, 2012). People used to say I wish I could be a fly on the wall in some situation, so they could ease drop and peer in on events that are not necessarily their business. Reality television essentially endorses that fly perspective in the form of cameras and boom mics following people around. There are a number of negative repercussion in the attitudes and behaviors of some people that should not be endorsed. The first involves the “peeping tom” mentality of reality television. So many people base their opinions and likes on the actions of these reality peoples whose lives have been deemed important enough to monitor. This extends to the second major issue encouraged by reality television tells people that if you want your life to have meaning it needs to be filled with drama and strife; is it no wonder that many people live on social media like it is their own personal reality show; there life narrated in pictures and post for audiences to follow. There are concerns as to what will be next. Many experts suggest looking at the examples found in Japanese reality television. People competing in games for money prizes that are cruel, dangerous, and nearly impossible to successfully achieve, often placing themselves is serious threat of injury. This in many minds is not that far off from public executions (USA Today College, 2012). There is a serious misconception about reality television that is not addressed often enough. Reality television is not “real” in the sense that many viewers believe it to be. These people featured may not be performers, their dialogue may not be specifically scripted by a professional writer, and their actions not blocked and directed in the way a sitcom would be, but that does not make it “real.” Scenes are filmed and re-filmed to achieve effects, situations are created that will encourage bad behaviors from those involved, and conversations are guided to topics and different issues that are most likely to spark arguments and other strong reactions (Daley, 2007). Reality television is like an airbrushed version of the truth. The image has been edited, doctored, and altered in order to get a desired effect. This creates a false perspective of reality. Viewers see these overdramatized, decadent, and public lives as the normal or as a desirable goal. They would then be seeking a reality that simply does not exist. This desensitivity does not necessarily apply to everyone in the same way. Yes, hardcore gore in video games and gothic literature has given the majority of society a stronger stomach for such things, but it is not necessarily responsible for people who emulate such behavior. However, reality television is a little bit different because it is chipping away at our humanity in many ways. It has made us eager voyeurs into the good, bad, and the ugly of other people’s lives. We would rather watch someone punch their friends, lose a loved one, or face troubling circumstances, which is why the genre of television continues to spark more and more reality show options every single television season. Ultimately, we as society must learn the difference between reality and a stylized simulation of it. We must remember that it is our compassion, our ability to tackle issues of good and bad, and, both, our sympathy and empathy are the things that make us human. When you are watching these people make mistakes, cause drama, or being the victim of either, think what if it was you? What if it was someone that you loved? Would want your pain or theirs to be the subject of entertainment, criticism, and judgment? Of course not. It is easy to see the people on the screen as truly “2-Dimensional;” but when you remember to apply these situations to your own very “3-Dimensional” existence it can change perspectives. George Will was right when he explained that we have been slowly but surely desensitized to the concerns of others (2001). We have allowed our entertainment to define reality. That is foolish and entirely unadvisable. There is nothing wrong with watching a reality show, or watching several, but it is a matter of not letting that surreal presentation to dictate your perceptions and behaviors in your life and experiences. We cannot let our desensitized viewpoint of reality television compromise our compassion, sympathy, and empathy in our real lives. REFERENCES Daley, S. J. (2007, June 19). The cruel nature of reality tv and how it affects viewers. Retrieved from http://www.entertainmentscene360.com/index.php/the-cruel-nature-of-reality-tv-and-how-it-affects-viewers-9-43517/ Phillips, R. (2012, December 6). Trending reality tv shows – are they desensitizing us?. The Examiner, 1. Will, G. F. (2001, June 20). Reality television: oxymoron. 1. USA Today College. (2012, April 19). The real effects of reality tv. USA Today, 1. Retrieved from http://college.usatoday.com/2012/04/18/the-real-effects-of-reality-tv/ Read More