Bre Richey
Staff Writer
bre.richey@hawks.shorter.edu
Photo by: MCT Campus
Kim Kardashian is a well-known reality television star. Reality TV has become very popular in American culture.
Whether one likes it or not, reality TV is hard to avoid. Americans have become enthralled with the idea of ordinary people gaining instant stardom. Shows like “The Bachelor,” “American Idol,” “The Real World,” and “Keeping up with the Kardashians” have caught the attention of viewers everywhere.
The question is: why do we subject ourselves to the dramatics of reality television? According to Psychology Today,
“The message of reality television is that ordinary people can become so important that millions will watch them. And the secret thrill of many of those viewers is the thought that perhaps, next time, the new celebrities might be them.”
The fact is that there are a lot of things we do not know or think about when we are indulging in the entertainment of “reality” TV.
For example, the way a show is edited has a lot to do with the way it will be perceived. Viewers might see the outcome of certain things negatively due to the process of editing. Also, a lot of the relationships we fall for are not always true relationships. Junior sports management major Boogie Thomas said about The Bachelor,
“I love watching the Bachelor because it’s hilarious and entertaining. I know that a lot of the time the relationships aren’t for real, but I like to think the couples who win are actually able to find love.”
“The Bachelor” is one of the most popular reality television shows, running for an amazing 20 seasons.
Many talent shows like “American Idol” lead viewers to believe anyone can audition for a chance to go to Hollywood. However, contestants have to go through a series of auditions before they are given the opportunity to perform before the judges. One can assume that the terrible performances shown are not based on talent but for rating purposes.
In addition, the producers of these shows determine whether a person is eliminated and can manipulate the way certain people are viewed.
The reason so many Americans fall for the lure of reality television is because it is not specific to any one category. A few of the most popular genres include: competing for prizes, talent, romance and dating, life improvement, hidden cameras, and autobiographical.
Not all who watch reality television are looking to fantasize about being on a TV show; some watch simply to be entertained with the content. Reality TV may be called many things, but is what we are watching truly unscripted reality?
