Abstract This paper explores the role of actors and popular personalities on shaping society, especially when seen on realityTV shows. The author explains the appeal of realityTV and further describes the methodology used in this study. Additionally, the psychological factors of being a viewer of realityTV are discussed. Some of the pitfalls of this research project from a sociological standpoint are presented and analyzed. The paper contains a long discussion on qualitative research and how this approach is applied to this study of realityTV. The paper also contains a chart that categorizes realityTV characters.
Outline:
Methodology
Rationale
RealityTV as a Social Observation Experiment
Conducting Credible Sociological Research
The Nature of Qualitative Research
RealityTV Character Categorization
Transforming Observational Data into Numerical Form
Works Cited
From the Paper " Reality TV is one of the most popular genres in the mass media today. The viewership of these programs increases at an astonishing rate. Reality TV allows the viewer to combine both reality and fantasy in a unique blend. We know that the characters have some effects on the adults that watch. However, until now this subject has received little attention. Some of the characters on reality TV would not be considered role models a major portion of the society. The proposed research will examine the presence of negative role models in British Reality Television."
Abstract This eight page undergraduate paper examines realityTV and its impact on viewers, producers, and the television industry itself. Through summarizing the main content of the reading, the writer shows that a structured analysis can be formulated which confirms that the interest of the television audience drives the process. The writer points out that TV producers react to what the public wants to see, and it is obvious from the ratings success of reality shows that they are very popular.
From the Paper "Conducting an independent study of television is useful and instructive, for it provides an opportunity to analyze the challenges, concepts, and arguments involved concerning reality TV and its impact on viewers, producers, and the television industry itself. Through summarizing the main content of the reading, a structured analysis can be formulated which confirms that the interest of the television audience drives the process. TV producers react to what the public wants to see, and it is obvious from the ratings success of reality shows that they are very popular. In "Addicted to the Tube" author Mark Pizzato's main argument is that people are vulnerable to becoming addicted to television because it stirs the human desire for fantasy and escapism."
Abstract This paper discusses what attracts people to RealityTV. It discusses the vicarious thrill viewers feel, and the appeal of the secret thrill. It looks at the feeling of importance in the viewer and the latest trends and status symbols.
From the Paper "Ever since the first reality shows Survivor and Big Brother played over the airwaves they have attracted large numbers of viewers of all ages and from all walks of life. There has been much speculation as to what it is about reality television that draws such a large audience. As Reiss and Wiltz point out two of the most favored opinions were that people were trying to keep up with popular shows so that they could be social at work and be part of the discussion and ..."
This paper discusses the genre called 'realityTV' by presenting a short history, describing some of the programs, and exploring what makes this genre so popular.
Abstract This paper explains that reality programming, an unscripted and unrehearsed show, has been around in some form since the beginning of television broadcasting days, but "The American Family," which was shown by PBS in 1973, was a more deliberate attempt to use this genre. The author points out that money is an obvious motivation both for the participants, who can take home a million dollars and bankroll their fame, and for the networks, who pay much less to produce these very popular programs than they pay for most quality programming. The paper relates that the purpose of realityTV, much like the rest of television, is to grab the attention of the viewers and keep them watching by using sex and drama. RealityTV has raised this approach to the highest level.
From the Paper "While Mark Burnett's "Survivor" has become a cultural phenomenon and the second installment, set in the Australian Outback was destined for worse ratings than the first, it remains relatively benign and family friendly. Fox's latest entry, Mark L. Walberg's "Temptation Island", however, is anything but family friendly. Indeed, the show that could be dubbed "Prostitution Island" is so morally corrupt that several advertisers, including Best Buy, Quaker Oats, and Sears, have pulled their commercials from the controversial and utterly entertaining show."
Abstract This paper describes the realityTV show "Big Brother" as a twenty-four hour display of humanity living in a social group environment The author stresses that this show is not reality because the participants are in an elimination contest to win $500,000. The emotional baggage the contestants bring to the group living environment, combined with the range of personalities, tends to make human beings look very bad. The paper traces the history of realityTV and concludes that these shows present a society that has surrendered its right to privacy altogether.
From the Paper "Anyone who thought that reality TV was a phase that television viewers were going through, and one that would fade as quickly as it debuted, is no doubt sadly disappointed these many years later following the debut of the first reality show, "Survivor", which demonstrated how shallow and nasty cold human nature could be. Still, that show, like "Big Brother", it, too, has survived since 2000, and audiences show no sign of growing tired of the increasing number of reality shows ranging being the object of Donald Trump's abuse, to a group of young women competing for some cow herder's affections."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that culture has many forms, through which one could define the way one lives, the way one interacts and how one perceives things. Further, the writer maintains that one is molded by cultural elements that evolve as society faces the developments of time. The writer explains that what is considered "pop culture" mostly refers to various elements in society that are most often portrayed in art, music and television. The writer focuses on the trend of realityTV. The writer concludes that one could therefore evaluate that popular culture has given birth to a not general or abstract display of people's beliefs, attitudes and emotions in the modern period. The writer claims that realityTV shows are a representation of the culture of people, a repetition of cultural pattern that may be presented in a modified manner depending on how it is perceived and accepted by the public viewers.
From the Paper "Reality TV was mostly popular beginning 2000. Many shows were created wherein participants compete with each other in real-life situations. Other shows just simply displayed the daily home activities of an individual or group of individuals. Such shows are not scripted and do not involve professional acting. Thus, what the participants portray on the screen is real and spontaneous. Because of this, Reality TV became a hit because it portrays attitudes or behavior and actions that are reflection of what is being practiced in the real world. The fact that viewers patronize the show, it could lead to a conclusion that they can relate to what they see on their television screens. This could be an indicator of the public's familiarization of patterns of culture which is found in these reality television shows."
Abstract The writer of this paper conducts a genre analysis of "The Real World" and "The Surreal Life". "The Real World" is one of the pioneers of the current realityTV shows, first coming on the air in 1992. It features average everyday individuals living together in often lavish apartments in
different U.S. cities. "Surreal Life" is a relative newcomer compared to "The Real World", having first been broadcast in January 2003. It explains that the premise of this show is similar in that the cast involves individuals living together in a lavish apartment or house, but the individuals on this show are, or once were, famous. My writer's thesis is that the change in cast of characters between "The Real World" and "The Surreal Life" is typical of developments within the genre. The writer proposes to show that the current run of shows typified by "The Surreal Life", concentrating on strange people and extreme situations and primarily negative emotions, is indicative of the current state of realityTV taken to its absolute limits.
From the Paper "The real history of reality TV starts in 1973 with a documentary that appeared on public television entitled An American Family. This 12-part series, which was filmed over a period of a year and half, showed the life and struggles of the Loud family in Santa Barbara, California. The show was innovative in that its cast of characters were not actors, but instead were real individuals going about their everyday tasks, which were familiar to viewers of the show. But just because the characters in the show were not professional actors, this show illustrated, did not mean that there was any lack of tension, drama, or interesting plots. During the course of the show, Lance, the eldest son, came out of the closet as gay, and Bill and Pat Loud divorced. The show obviously anticipated reality TV in more ways than one. I believe that The Real World is a product of An American Family."
Tags: cultural, culture, mass, pop, studies, survivor, television
Abstract This paper examines the reality of reality television according to Annette Hill, a leading expert on the rise of reality television, in her full length book, "RealityTV: Audiences and Popular Factual Television." The paper explains how reality television is a hybrid of factual television (documentary and news) and scripted popular television that creates a program that makes money and that viewers enjoy watching.
From the Paper "As Hill points out early in her work "reality television" is not mean to be real and such a controversy is relatively mute as it does not bode well with the viewer, who would rather just watch it and accept what they wish to be true and the producers who would rather just keep making it and making money off it. Though some are concerned about the effects such television might have on children, who might be predisposed to believe it over other types of television because it is labeled "reality." (Davies 1) The overall response by the public is positive as more and more programs percolate through the whole of the television media and viewership continues to increase."
Abstract This paper will discuss reality television within the scope of mass media psychology. Parasocial relationships will be discussed in the format of how they relate to realityTV. Different articles and sources will used to understand what its effects are on people.
Analyzes several realityTV shows that pertain to love and dating, including the "Bachelor," "Blind Date," and "5th Wheel," and looks at their attraction for society.
Abstract This study researches various reality television shows with themes of love and/or dating. The paper summarizes and analyzes various shows that each main network has aired. These networks include Paramount Domestic Television, Universal Worldwide Television, and Telepictures. It discusses how these networks used fame and exceptionally good-looking contestants to gain viewers. The paper discusses which shows have been popular and which have failed. It analyzes the use of stereotypes in dating reality shows and suggests why these shows are popular in American culture.
From the Paper "Although shows which focus on a plot and script about love and dating have existed for decades, reality television has taken them to a whole new level which has recently become more popular and the focus of attention in American culture. Since the late nineties, the big networks such as ABC, NBC and CBS, as well as smaller or cable channels such as WB and MTV have scurried to broadcast their own love or dating based reality show that will be the next big hit among viewers. This genre of dating based reality television which was basically non-existent until recent television history now competes for the top slots in television ratings and sometimes earns them. Each channel has their own dating based reality show which they are best known for. By taking a look at each of these popular shows, one can get a better understanding of why love has become a particularly popular subject to focus on in reality television."
A discussion of the question as to whether realityTV brings out the worst in American culture or is it merely an example of what American culture is all about?
Abstract The author of this paper examines the phenomena of reality television programs that are a large part of American television programming. The author seeks to discover whether such television programs focus on and bring out the worst aspects of American society or if, they are a mirror reflecting American culture and society as they really are. The author examines these phenomena primarily from a psychological point of view and present arguments and examples from current research and literature.
From the Paper "However, psychologists and therapists feel that there is an aching psyche in the American culture that is using RTV as a cure, much in the way the Marx referred to religion as being the opiate of the people. Or as one writer updates it, "Is reality TV the crack cocaine of what critic Marie Winn calls the 'plug-in drug?'" (Breyer 100) RTV coupled with the massive bombardment of news, mostly bad, from around the nation and the world is numbing us to any emotional ties to reality. Javors compares RTV shows to the quick fix junk food restaurants and calls them "fast food programs" and states they are as bad for our minds as a constant diet of Double Whoppers with cheese and Chocolate Milk shakes would be to our bodies. She states that, "As a result, we are numbing ourselves to very real life challenges." (35)"
Abstract This paper provides a response to Terri Patkin's position that realityTV creates a "false sense of community through vicarious experience instead of a real sense of community through shared experience". It analyzes the various social roles and how they are influenced by realityTV in terms of how the notion of "reality" is conceptualized and how these roles contribute to this conceptualization. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.
From the Paper "According to Jagodozinki (2003), today, the average television viewer cannot help but be bombarded by the plethora of so-called "reality television" that serve to define the contemporary American television landscape; programs such as America's Funniest Home Videos, tabloid news Hard Copy, A Current Affair, American Journal, America's Most Wanted, The Stories of the Highway Patrol, as well as stunt videos of every conceivable extreme sport imaginable, such as motorcycling, skiing, skateboarding, bungee jumping, parachuting."
Abstract This paper examines how realityTV has become the new genre of television programming arresting the attention of the American viewer. In particular, it examines the breakthrough of this phenomenon into our popular culture and how, at the heart of this sociological issue, is our view of ourselves outside of the media's influence. It attempts to show how the reality television shows have access to our cultural psyche. It looks at how, when we are unhappy with ourselves, its sells us an image of what life "should" be and then proceeds to sell products and services that reinforce the image they sell.
From the Paper "In "Hunger as Ideology", Susan Bordo insists that the negatively charged messages of the modern media, which subtly convey artificial contemporary advertisements regarding women, beauty and food, are to blame for the way we feel about ourselves. She is angered by the exploitation of females, which tends to create eating disorders in vulnerable young woman. At the same time, the contradictory message is delivered to men, and expectations are placed on their eating habits. Men should be able to eat hearty meals, and still have a body that looks as if it were chiseled to of stone."
Abstract This paper looks at some of the reality television shows that have been aired in the U.S. and analyzes some of the factors that have lead to their success and high ratings. It attempts to define what reality television is since hidden cameras cannot be considered essential, for some shows, especially those with a game-show feel which do not include such voyeurism. It evaluates how reality television shows follow a variety of formats and how they must contain several elements in common to distinguish them from game shows or other entertainment options. For example, all reality shows are unscripted and the contestants, or "castaways" might be strongly encouraged to act in certain ways or to wear certain things, but television producers save money on not having to hire a team of writers.
From the Paper ""The Real World" on the other hand, depends on sex to sell its image. Viewers really only care to see the good-looking group of men and women strip down to their bathing suits or underwear and make out. The nature of the arguments on these two shows is totally different; on the Osbournes, they are far more comical because the family is so unique. Moreover, because the show is about a family and not about seven twenty-something strangers, the social dynamics depicted are totally different on "The Osbournes" than on ?The Real World.? Arguments between a couple married for over twenty years somehow come across as different from arguments between a cranky surfer and a catty beach bunny. Furthermore, Ozzy has a lot more practice on perfecting his various addictions, although "The Real World" illustrated a young woman struggling with alcoholism."
Abstract This paper discusses how real reality television shows are. It describes the general format for a reality television show and then specifically focuses on the show, "Survivor". The paper then looks at law suit claims against reality television shows such as "Survivor" and "Joe Millionaire" and their outcomes. The paper also presents examples, from "Survivor" and "Big Brother", of how the producers can assign a particular character to a role that they want the character to be portrayed as and discusses the effects of this on the overall validity of the program.
From the Paper "To a certain extent, reality television has always existed since the dawn of television's creation. When television first began, all broadcasts were done live (Altheide, 1976 : p74), whether they be presentations, community announcements or news reports - scripted events were by and large not a major contributor to the content that was broadcasted. Therefore, we can claim that reality television was never actually introduced to people but that it was always there in some form. However, a show like Survivor (which began in the year 2000) cannot be considered as being in the same league as a news report, or a live variety show (such as Rove Live). What makes a show like Survivor so different and appealing is the fact that the characters involved in all the drama are said to be real. Not actors with a detailed script and memorised lines (although when watching various episodes that point could be argued extensively). What allows television to appear as if reality is emanating from it, is its 'ability to render realistic audio and visual representations... and to do so in real time as events occur' (Friedman, 2002: p24). A reality television show such as Survivor tapped into these key concepts and added some of its own fragrance to spawn a whole new market for network channels. At the end of each episode, contestants cast secret ballots to expel 'losers'. In fact, sometimes the decision is made to explicitly exclude people who are a threat (i.e. they might be a contender to win the final prize), including those who are weak and lack what the 'tribe' feels is needed. Survival is dependent on making sure you look after your own interests, and working out a strategy to exclude others, in the form of alliances. It is in these key moments that the audience hears contestants confess the truth about another player in the game, and depending on the viewer's stance, they might feel they can relate to the person casting the vote or the person being voted against. This accompanied by various betrayals and manipulations brings forth a sort of basic humanity to the show which the complicated western civilisation may feel it lacks. In any case, it is always a sad (yet satisfying) moment when a contestant's fire is extinguished at the end of each episode. As the host constantly states, fire symbolises the contestant's life force during the game, therefore when it no longer exists their 'life' is no longer a part of the game. Utilising this basic understanding of the show, we can now begin to take it apart and discover various inconsistencies with how 'real' it actually is."
