Reed's D Band Media Log

Reality TV Good or Whack

Reality TV is unreal and cheesy. The reason I say it is unreal is because the editing molds it accordingly to what the viewers want to see. True, the dialogue is not scripted, but key conversations are taken out by the editors to make characters appear more crude and harsh then they really are. The reason editors do this is because people watching these shows like drama, and if the show was in its entirety it wouldn't be nearly as entertaining. Can you imagine watching a show that featured no conflicts? It would be very uninteresting.

Usually people like my dad think that it is garbage and talk trash about it all the time; but then when you come into his room you find him watching it. That is because it is true; no matter how fake it is, it is still interesting. That is why it is impossible to say that Reality TV is bad, because it DOES provide millions of people every night with something to do. That many people wouldn't watch it if it was all that bad.
Although its interesting, it still does promote bad values. They key to winning the show "survivor" is often to cheat out your friends and steal their goods. In the real world this isn't usually something that people should do to get ahead; another reason why it is not real. Along with bad values, stereotypes are thrown around. Sometimes the stereotypes hold true and sometimes they do not but all same they are used in a way that can be hurtful to certain people. When selecting contestants for a show it is likely that a gay man be chosen, and then a homophobic man as well. This creates even MORE conflict.
It is impossible to label reality TV as either good or bad because it has both pro's and con's. However, most people (besides myself) can agree that it is interesting which is what counts. That is also what producers care about; and since they have had such success there will probably be many more of these shows to come.

Posted by at September 25, 2003 08:56 AM