Traits of Reality-TV - Essay Example

Reality TV Reality TV Reality TV is a genre in television programming which depicts dramatic purportedly unscripted and hilarious situations and documents real events. It in most cases features ordinary individuals other than professional skilled authors. Though the definition, understanding and interpretation of what reality TV is. Is a matter in contention due to the evolving of the TV industry this has complicated the definition of reality TV; the fact that generic TV shares generic conventions with other genres like game shows, talent shows and documentaries. Reality TV in the United Kingdom The first ever broadcast of a reality show in the United Kingdom was Granada television series, which conducted interviews with seven year olds from different parts all over the country. Inquiring about the ordinary lives and their perceptions about life; after every seven years, a film would be made depicting the life during the time of the interview. The program was well not structured, but it just involved the conducting of interviews, but it was influential and raised the social status of the participants to celebrities. Reality TV in the UK taken by many as a radical departure from the norm or a great innovation in the history of programming in the United Kingdom, it comes in various form or sub genres which are distinct in how they appeal to their viewers, they include documentary style, historical recreation, dating, extraordinary people, science, law enforcement, makeover, lifestyle change and several others. Broadcast Television is in the course of an extraordinary time of transformation and challenge. It is still one of the best accepted forms of entertainment and information, with the typical British TV enthusiast still watching twenty hours for every seven days. The speedy development of the web and interactive social media is challenging robustly for audiences and revenues with the TV industry. Tremendous changes in the industry are evident since the start of the TV broadcasting back in n1936. Have grown to over 480 channels and also it has highly diversified from the initial core functions to accommodate the unending innovations that come up. With more than 27000hours of digital content being produced and aired every year, as opposed to the less than 1000hours in the 1940s, with over six channel owners attributed to most of the viewing. Some of the recent tremendous change that is evident is the digital migration in the year 2012 after all analogue transmissions were ended in Northern Ireland. Digital content is delivered through terrestrial, IP, cable and also satellite transmissions. The United Kingdom is home to the oldest and largest ever TV broadcaster the BBC (British broadcasting corporation) The two programs that will be taken into account in the above context include up the series a reality show of a documentary genre. One of the initial realities has shown to be ever aired in the programming history of the United Kingdom. It involved the interviews and study of young children’s seven years of age. Movies were later premiered on the lives of the kids that were in the program. The program is suitable as it depicts the changes in the reality TV programs as its produced after every seven years. With one done in the year 2000 when the duo was 49years, and also when they were 56 years old. However, in this context the reality show to be taken into account is the initial one produced in the 1960s. The other program will be the made in Chelsea which is written by Daran Little and broadcast E4.This particular show is mostly shot in West London the show was first premiered in 2011. This program is almost similar to up series as it focuses on the life and social activities of a group of young individuals in their twenties. It depicts the young people as having the resources as they are well dressed, they like partying all night out they are highly ambitious the show opens to these characters life’s beyond the posh lifestyles. Deep rooted rivalries hatred and revenge missions make the whole show captivating in an unimaginable way. On scrutiny of the two reality show programs it the significant disparity is evident mostly by the quality of production itself. Made in Chelsea, the structure and flow is well understandable. While in the up series, the structure is not well drawn and one is unable quickly figuring out the relevance of the attributed impact after every seven years. The advancement and revolution are also evident as the up series initial show, is shot with traditional video black and white, color depiction. While in the show Made in Chelsea it’s the modern video mode, depicting each and every color as it was during the cast. Also, the growth of reality TV is evident due to the speedy growth and raise of a royal fan base very few people paid attention to the initial seven up shows. The increase in the number of viewers is evident on the reviews and reactions after Made in Chelsea was premiered. The fact that reality TV programs production is in its all time high shows how the genre has cut an edge over other types of TV program genres. Reality TV has grown and developed in a way that it has moved to outshine criticism on how real are the reality shows. The seven up a series in the 1960s does not really depict the ideals depicted. In the Made in Chelsea show people can easily relate to the thematic approach in the program as the wild behavior by young people is evident and a common thing in the real world. Also the rivalries and posh lifestyles are part of many people’s way of life. The show depicts the upsurge of young people who are wealthy and can easily access whatever they want. The drama unfolds as the characters fall in and out of love as phones beep behind closed doors on the Kings Road. The show depicts how life is not all about glamour champagne and canapés. It all leaves the viewers tongues wagging all through. Thus, reality shows have grown in their own aspect with initial being shot all under one set up by a single production entity. Made in Chelsea was shot by a unit of different specialized entities, under various roles e.g. set up professionals, video shooting, audio quality enhancer’s makeup artists and consultants on various aspects. This explains the high quality of the programme and the great appeal it received from the viewers. The impact reality TV shows has on not on the viewers, and society as a whole is also evident that reality shows have a great influence. Like the Made in Chelsea reality show the participant’s mode of dressing influenced the fashion industry in a great way this strategic shift of and influence has brought on board designers. The designers are known to provide sponsorship and free services during the production process. In return of their products being well known. This is not only limited to the fashion industry its widely spread across all products likely to be used. This was not the case in the up series reality show. This illustrates the tremendous changes in the reality TV industry over time. References BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/election2010/results/constituency/a91.stm Mitchell Dunier, Michael. Apteds Up! series: Public sociology or folk psychology through film?". Ethnography (3): 341–45. (2009). Read More