Effects of Reality TV Shows - Coursework Example

Qqqq Qqqq Qqqqq Qqqq Effects of reality TV shows Reality TV shows are genres of shows or programs that feature ordinary people or celebrities in reallife situations and environments. At times, the situations/environments are scripted by the producers of the show. There are also occasions when both reality and scripted situations are used. The reality TV stars are followed and tracked around with cameras for months. The producers then choose the scenes they want to air to their audiences. In the recent years, some reality shows that are mainly based on competition and games, have been air live. Since the early 2000s, the reality shows have become very common especially with the introduction of internet and the cable television services. This has also been promoted by the increasing number of television stations which causes high demand for content. The origin of reality TV shows can loosely be traced back in the 1940s but it was until the early 2000s that they became widely famous and accepted by all. Over the past one decade, the number and types of different reality shows has increased significantly and has continued to influence more people. The corporate world has played a key role in this by sponsoring specific shows as a way of boosting their brand image as well as market their products and services. More platforms have been created where people can follow the shows. The use of internet has helped this industry grow significantly with some channels like Netflix airing all their shows online. As mentioned earlier, the producers at times script the situations and outcomes of particular scenes or episodes of the reality shows. To the audience this may seem unfair as it shows biasness. The producers might interfere with the show as a way to please the majority opinion of the viewers of the show. They can easily favor particular characters in the show in order to affect the outcome or development of the show. This brings to question of how much of the content in the shows are "reality". According to Maasik and Solomon (2012) reality-based TV, is not necessarily scripted fiction but rather an instructive improvisation that doles out consistent and regularly reinforced lessons concerning human nature and reality. But perhaps the main concern should be on how much impact these shows have to the audience. This essay seeks to analyze the range of reality authenticity of reality shows and the impact; positive and negative they have on their viewers who easily believe everything that takes place in the shows. While talking about one of the famous reality TV shows Survivor Gerrig (2007) says that the individual participants can greatly be affected psychologically through participation in the game. They are forced to loss their dignity and compromise their principles. Positive Impacts Influence positive behavior change Majority of the reality shows are based on human behavior. The characters or the stars in the competition and games shows go through situations that force them to change as a way of surviving in the game. The process of behavior change by the characters easily affects the audience. This is particularly effective to viewers who consider a particular character as their favorite. The character may not necessarily go through a process of behavioral change but the viewers might decide to take up the behaviors of the character. This gives the viewer the sense of connection to the character from the show. Most viewers become committed followers of reality shows and gradually as sense of admiration develop towards particular characters. As a way of trying to connect to the character, individuals begin to imitate the trends, behaviors and lifestyles of their favorite characters. This is probably the only way they can have the sense of connection as the characters might never meet the viewer or audience. Create awareness on life lessons The reality shows play a key role in creating lessons based on human life. The virtues and principles of passed through different characters can easily be impacted to the viewers. The producers of the shows come up with themes that are based on particular virtues and principles. Simple lessons like team work and honesty are very common in most reality TV shows. Most of the stars in the reality TV shows are faced with circumstances that require high moral standards and also being highly principles. In return, this is passed down to the viewers and the audience who are inspired by their favorite characters. A character that shows persistence, patience, courage or other life virtues can easily influence the viewers to take up these aspects of life. Impact on positive human relationships The human beings are affectionate beings and their affection is expressed through relationships. Most of the reality shows are based on the characters relating with each other. The relationships formed in the shows help the audience know how to relate with fellow humans. Whether romantic, friendship or even family relationships, their impact shapes how the audience relate with each other and this will improve the society in general. They also help the audience learn on how nurture relationships with strangers and the benefits that come with it. According to Walker and Mee (2014) reality TV shows and the cinemas play a key role in reinforcing human relationships. They help the viewer’s reviews and analyze their own relationships. Highlight on social contemporary issues Times have changed and the society has consequently changed. There are issues that affect the whole society but very few people talk about them. The reality shows form a very good platform to highlight on these issues. Issues like homosexuality, race, abortion and other controversial issues can easily be tackled by the use of characters with different ideologies based on these issues. With this, the audience is able to understand in details the concerning matters regarding this issues. In the reality show Capture, one of the pairs of the participants was gay. In the season one of the show, the producers show how the relationship between the participant and their partners who were not in the show is as equal as any other relationship. The rest of the participant did not treat them differently. The winning pair was made of two African-American and their race did not have much impact in the process. The duo was actually the favorite of the audience. Negative impacts Degradation of social moral principles Some of the reality TV shows encourage negative moral behaviors that are best on crime, immorality and abuse. The language used in some of shows is very abusive and may have a negative impact to the society. Other issues that have frequently been seen in recent years are adultery and infidelity. Issues regarding crime are talked about as if they are good things to do. This can easily affect the young people who are still unexposed to such issues. The party lifestyle, immorality, use of drugs and other intoxications can have a negative impact to the society. One of the reality shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians affects the young girls by changing their views about life based on fame and money and can do anything at acquire them. The lifestyle of the characters is very expensive and this in return may make the viewers do anything to acquire the same kind of life no matter the means. Abuse of rights biasness against minority groups Some of the shows are biased against particular minority. The themes set by the producers may be intentional to offend a particular group. The show might bring out themes against particular religion, race, gender or country. Some of the shows do not respect gender. The female participants are treated equally as the male participant even in extreme circumstances where it might be hard for females to perform effectively. The participants also have different views regarding different minority groups. The producers put them in the show intentionally. In the process of the show, these differences come out and create controversy. To the producers, this is a good thing but the impact on the society is very negative. Disconnects the audience with reality The shows are referred to as "reality" but majority have pre-determined outcomes and are scripted. Majority of the audience do not know this and may take everything in the show as being true and fact. This in response makes the viewers assume that whatever happens in the show can as well happen to them. The illusion affects the views and understands of the viewer on how they handle real life issues. This illusion disconnects the viewer from reality and may end up making mistakes in their lives or make wrong decisions. Conclusion Reality TV shows have developed over years. In the initial stages of reality shows, the producers were more restricted to ensure that they do not tamper with the stars in the show. With time, they have become more involved even scripting some of the scenes. This has led to the shows lacking the touch with reality. Nonetheless, the reality shows play a key role in impacting the society positively. The viewers can have positive behavior change based on what they experienced in the shows, develop better human relationships as well as cultivate positive virtues and personal principles. The shows have also been used in recent years to highlight on contemporary issues of race, homosexuality among others. These are issues that most people avoid to discus despite the fact that they affect the whole society. However, there are also negative impacts that come from the shows. Mainly is the degradation of the social moral principles. The stars featured in the show have lifestyles that encourage immorality, crime among others. This has great negative impact to the viewers. The shows also give the viewers an illusion concerning real life. The decisions made, the circumstances faced may be different from what would be in a real life situation. The viewer may take the circumstances and situations from the show as being true and fact. Works cited Gerrig, Richard J. The Psychology of Survivor: Overanalyze, Over remote, Overcompensate : Leading Psychologists Take an Unauthorized Look at the Most Elaborate Psychological Experiment Ever Conducted Survivor! Dallas, Tex: BenBella Books, 2007. Print. Top of Form Maasik, Sonia, Sonia Maasik, and J F. Solomon Signs of Life in the U.S.A: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012. Print.Bottom of Form Walker, Johnny, and Laura Mee Cinema, Television and History: New Approaches. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014. Print. Read More