Whether Factual Television is a Threat to Nation - Essay Example

Whether Factual television is a threat to Nation Name Course University City/State Date Introduction Factual television is a genre of television programming that is not fictional in nature. Factual programming gives an account of real happenings and people. Factual television programs can be in form of documentaries, reality television, soap operas, lifestyle television shows or reality television drama programs. Further, factual television programming is similarly referred to as factual entertainment. The British audience is kept entertained with the growth of factual television as they can get access to excellent entertaining programs. Nevertheless, there is a section of people who are of the view that factual television is an insult to the nation. This essay strives to scrutinize the notion that factual television is an insult to the nation. To begin with, factual television presents viewers with the opportunity to get to know their environment better. Factual television shows such as documentaries that explain facts about the past, or investigative documentaries that dig deep into the society mostly to expose the ills found therein make the audience yearn for more (Hill 2005). In as much as some people may not agree with the television shows on facts, factual television is not going anywhere anytime soon. The audience views the factual television shows as both entertainment programs and as informative programs. The ills of society are exposed and this makes some people within the same society dislike the idea of such programs as factual television programs. The borderline between fact and fiction has been defined by the introduction and progressive development of factual television. One reason why there are people who do not approve of factual television is because they perceive it to be encroaching into the style of news and current affairs. The viewers do not understand factual television in seclusion but as a portion of a growing trend of factuality in television programming. In an interview with BBC’s Michael Hogan, an art critic Brian Sewell was of the view that BBC’s factual television programs were an insult to the nation. He argued that the BBC was afraid of being too intellectual and instead, opted to be entertaining even when reporting on serious issues. He went on to say that the people behind the programming of the television shows were lacking in education background. Mr Sewell did not seem to enjoy any program that was aired by the BBC because he thought retain was being abused by such programs. According to him, even the news stories lacked the seriousness they deserved as the reporters were not standing still while voicing the report but moving around like it was an entertainment show (The Guardian 2013). Factual television has been considered as an insult to the nation as it is believed to be against the morals of the upstanding members of the society. The factual television programs such as the reality shows that are coming up in Britain are causing honourable members embarrassments. There is a sense that reality shows in the factual television genre are below the standards of Britons. The truth about factual television is that of exposing what other people do not see. This is what is viewed as an insult to the nation (the Guardian 2013). Shows featured in the factual television are considered to be either about idolizing someone or back-stabbing a disliked person. The critics of factual television opine that the programs are at the bottom of the market scale and that is not a place for the honourable members of society. The upstanding members believe that the factual television exposes so much about the society that no one wants to know about. However according to viewership percentages, the number of people who ardently watch factual television is high. Some of the stories featured in factual television programs are inspiring and present courageous individuals who depict a story of catastrophe and restoration. Therefore, factual television is not always considered as an insult to the nation. If factual television was really an insult to the nation, no person would watch the shows and the producers would not produce more shows. However, there are show such as “Wife Swap” whose viewership is declining following more sophisticated shows in Britain. Shows such as “Wife Swap” are the ones that are not sitting well with the people who believe that factual television is an insult to the nation due to its content that is considered to go against the moral standing of the society (Day 2010). Some media commentators are also behind the banner of factual television being an insult to the nation. Notwithstanding their persistent smattering that factual television is abusive and socially vicious, reality television is growing and becoming more successful. Amidst all the negative ideas about factual television, most of the British audience is still attached to factual television because, they get to interact with the reality stars either face to face or over the phone where they get to vote for them in game shows. Programs by factual television engages the emotions of the audience thus connecting with their favourite characters (Day 2010). Factual television, according to the audience, is a form of relating with other people who share the same values (Hodges 2015). As one watches a reality show, he or she gets an opportunity to support the person they like in the show and be with that person throughout the show hoping that the person will do well in the show. The X Factor for example is a reality show that influences the way fans of the show behave. Some viewers have been said to miss important functions to be able to watch the X Factor. This shows that the viewers have formed a connection with the participants and they feel part of a social circle. The insult to the nation is viewed in this case by the critics of factual television as a population that is slowly getting connected to the lives of the people they see on the screen rather than forging relationships with people they are in direct contact with. They claim that this society is steadily becoming an anti-social society. They think that if something is too good for you, then it must be dangerous. Factual television is not entirely real because if it were then the actual participants in the show would show their true inner selves while on screen. These are the sentiments shared by those who believe that factual television or reality television is an insult to the society. They claim that the reason why such shows thrive I because the viewers want accurate productions. They want to put their support behind people who can win a show (the Guardian 2010). Nonetheless, there is a conception that people can make the social ills right by watching factual television and knowing where the problem lies. The participants in the reality shows mostly have background stories that show triumph while enabling viewers to see what they can do to make the world a better place. Such shows make viewers come to a conclusion that if the best contestant in a show can do so much in life, then it is not hard for them to achieve whatever they want to (Hill 2007). While employing the use of Politics and the media, Ipswich (2013) disagree that the media especially the factual television sector is corrupted. They disagree with two arguments that claim that the media is an instrument of practice of contemporary widespread egalitarianism and another view that the media challenges egalitarianism. The two opinions in factual television relate to factual information in broadening or deflating present egalitarian practices. Factual television is used to enlighten audiences concerning politics, social concerns as well as financial issues and assist in the improvement of their social conscience as they take part in egalitarian processes. On the contrary, factual television content is highly commercialized thereby losing the meaning of the educative project. They are considered as genres that provide programs that are below standard end up shaming the nation with embarrassing infotainment programs. Piper, Holmes & Jermyn (2006) further observe that factual television is more concerned with flair, technique, passion and behaviour, and display. For example a reality show such as “Survivor” is merely concerned with display rather than providing educative information about the remote Islands the participants will be going to. As much as these are real people going to face real challenges, the mission of the production team is technique and display. The producers focus more on emotion and how the viewers will rate the shows. Palmer (2003) feels that the reality shows concerning crime, puts a shame on the nation and humiliates the criminals. This seems to be insulting to the nation because international citizen will want to be associated with a person for a country that has criminals wreaking havoc around. When scandals erupt, the factual television genres take up the story and ensure that it has been featured in more than one television stations not knowing that they are humiliating and insulting their own country to the whole world. The degree of factuality available in such shows is questionable therefore, viewing the factual television genres in a negative light. However, documentaries have tried to give the audience a sense of trust as the program are more factual. One may wonder why reality television is popular. Factual television appeals more to the young people who want to hear more about the people they consider influential. This group of people do not think that factual television can insult a nation. To them it is a source of entertainment and inspiration. Scandals during such reality shows attract many more people who want to get in on what is happening during the scandal and how it will be resolved (Hill 2007). The upright members of society on the other hand believe that reality television is negatively influencing their young ones, who may end up embarrassing the whole country once they decide to follow the people they think inspire them positively. Factual television is seen as a media for providing an alternative to drama that ever viewer can afford (Piper, Holmes & Jermyn (2006). Some people term factual television as a media that deprives and disintegrates modern life with the ideas they constantly present. Factual television has narrowed the boundary between fact and fiction and made the shows presented to be viewed as weapons of destruction that consequently insult the nation. In factual television there is a lot prying into personal space while producing reality shows. Critics consider this to be an infringement to the private space of someone which most times aired for the whole world to see. On the contrary, other viewers like to see what is happening in other people’s houses and personal spaces. The viewers perceive this as a learning process where they get to learn about things that interest them (Hill 2007). Other cultures can also be learnt alongside other interests. The viewer is therefore left to decipher what is morally right or morally wrong while watching reality or factual television as that is what factual television has to offer. However, some people find it hilarious to learn from reality television as it is only meant to entertain according to their understanding. They are of the view that there are some programs in the factual television genre that one can learn from such as Do-It-Yourself (DIY) programs or cooking sessions. Some programs such as Britain’s Got Talent are simply for entertainment. The older generation does not agree that a person can learn from watching television because what is portrayed in the programs is more of a lack of social behaviour. They believe that is anyone is to watch television shows for purposes of learning, that person does not have an active life away from the television (Hill 2005). It is embarrassing when a viewer is asked to give concrete examples on what they have learnt from watching factual television shows and they hesitate to provide one. Ethics in factual television is paramount and should be upheld. There are some producers who use private content for the purpose of entertainment. Ethics are concerned with the moral standing of a person and in this case the moral standing of a factual television. The social ethical principles that bring people together need to be abided by to form a mutual understanding. This understanding of the ethics is what creates a habitable environment for everyone. Producers of factual television shows should be able to recognize these ethical standards and make a production that abides by ethics. BBC is the main media network in the UK and as such they are always in the limelight where they are expected to educate as well as entertain its audience. A social agreement form of relationship is the ideal way in which the BBC and its audience are expected to relate. However, critics of the media corporation argue that there is no social agreement kind of relationship between the public and BBC. They claim that the BBC is concerned with the commercial aspect of their presence in the British media market (Hodges 2015). The relationship between the two entities is at risk. Particularly, the reporting of the war in Iraq in 2003 by the BBC is criticised as being unfair. The media giant is said to have been too critical of the government and the role it played in the Iraqi war. Despite the negative view by the critics, the audience thought that BBC was at its best in reporting the war (Hill 2007). This shows how much the critics thought about factual television vis-à-vis the audience who thought they got the facts about the whole period of the war in Iraq. The public highly supported the BBC and the public trust was elevated whereas the government was not trusted by the public. Certain programs in the factual television genre need to be well-thought-out for the reason that the morality limits concerned may jeopardise morally acceptable behaviour. Reality television shows such as Big Brother should be scrutinised to see that the moral standards upheld by society are not abused (Hill 2007). This also prevents the nation from feeling embarrassed and insulted by the content in factual television programs. Conclusion Factual television has several other form such as documentaries, investigative documentaries, news stories and reality television shows. Factual television programming is similarly referred to as factual entertainment. In as much as some people may not agree with the television shows on facts, factual television is not going anywhere anytime soon. The ills of society are exposed and this makes some people within the same society dislike the idea of such programs as factual television programs. One reason why there are people who do not find factual television intriguing is because they perceive it to be encroaching into the style of news and current affairs. There are several critics who believe that factual television or factual entertainment is an insult to the nation. However, if factual television was really an insult to the nation, no person would watch the shows and the producers would not produce more shows. Programs by factual television engages the emotions of the audience thus connecting with their favourite characters to an extent of crying with them during their challenges. Critics believe that factual television programs are an infringement to the private space of people. References Ipswich. (2013). Reality television. Day, E. (2010). Why Reality TV Works. The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/nov/21/why-reality-tv-works HILL, A. (2005). Reality TV audiences and popular factual television. London, Routledge. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=199372. HILL, A. (2007). Factual TV News, Documentary and Reality Television. Hoboken, Taylor & Francis Ltd. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=356038 Hodges, H. (2015). Why we love to hate reality TV. Express. http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/545953/British-love-to-hate-reality-TV-fly-on-wall-television-shows PALMER, G. (2003). Discipline and liberty: television and governance. Manchester, UK, Manchester University Press. PIPER, H., HOLMES, S., & JERMYN, D. (2006). Reviews - Understanding Reality Television. Screen: the Journal of the Society for Education in Film and Television. 47, 133. The Guardian. (2013). Brian Sewell: the BBC’s factual television is an insult to the nation. [Online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jun/15/bbc-factual-tv-insult-brian-sewell. Accessed May 6, 2015 Read More

Factual television has been considered an insult to the nation as it is believed to be against the morals of the upstanding members of society. The factual television programs such as the reality shows that are coming up in Britain are causing honorable members embarrassment. There is a sense that reality shows in the factual television genre are below the standards of Britons. The truth about factual television is that of exposing what other people do not see. This is what is viewed as an insult to the nation (the Guardian 2013). Shows featured in factual television are considered to be either about idolizing someone or back-stabbing a disliked person. The critics of factual television opine that the programs are at the bottom of the market scale and that is not a place for the honorable members of society. The upstanding members believe that factual television exposes so much about society that no one wants to know about. However, according to viewership percentages, the number of people who ardently watch factual television is high.

Some of the stories featured in factual television programs are inspiring and present courageous individuals who depict a story of catastrophe and restoration. Therefore, factual television is not always considered an insult to the nation. If factual television was really an insult to the nation, no person would watch the shows and the producers would not produce more shows. However, there are shows such as “Wife Swap” whose viewership is declining following more sophisticated shows in Britain. Shows such as “Wife Swap” are the ones that are not sitting well with the people who believe that factual television is an insult to the nation due to its content that is considered to go against the moral standing of the society (Day 2010).

Some media commentators are also behind the banner of factual television being an insult to the nation. Notwithstanding their persistent smattering that factual television is abusive and socially vicious, reality television is growing and becoming more successful. Amidst all the negative ideas about factual television, most of the British audience is still attached to factual television because they get to interact with the reality stars either face to face or over the phone where they get to vote for them in-game shows. Programs by factual television engage the emotions of the audience thus connecting with their favorite characters (Day 2010).

Factual television, according to the audience, is a form of relating with other people who share the same values (Hodges 2015). As one watches a reality show, he or she gets an opportunity to support the person they like in the show and be with that person throughout the show hoping that the person will do well in the show.

The X Factor for example is a reality show that influences the way fans of the show to behave. Some viewers have been said to miss important functions to be able to watch the X-Factor. This shows that the viewers have formed a connection with the participants and they feel part of a social circle.  The insult to the nation is viewed in this case by the critics of factual television as a population that is slowly getting connected to the lives of the people they see on the screen rather than forging relationships with people they are in direct contact with. They claim that this society is steadily becoming an anti-social society. They think that if something is too good for you, then it must be dangerous.

Factual television is not entirely real because if it were then the actual participants in the show would show their true inner selves while on screen. These are the sentiments shared by those who believe that factual television or reality television is an insult to society. They claim that the reason why such shows thrive I because the viewers want accurate productions. They want to put their support behind people who can win a show (the Guardian 2010). Nonetheless, there is a conception that people can make the social ills right by watching factual television and knowing where the problem lies.

Read More