Reality Television

Paper Summary:

This paper uses reality television as an example of race, class, gender and sexual orientation in popular culture. The author argues that reality television shows are filled with stereotypes. The paper relates that these stereotypes are used to maintain the status quo.

From the Paper:

"Reality television, which is a hybrid of a game show and a documentary, is a relatively recent development. Basically contestants have to do some type of unusual activity and this activity is filmed for a television audience. The nature of the activity and the prizes vary from show to show with some shows involving stunts and large cash prizes, other shows involve changing life styles and the prize is a new and supposedly better lifestyle. Although the contests on reality television programs are not actors they are still picked using a very deliberate selection process."

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