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Would you like an extra helping of B.S. with your "reality TV"?
Everywhere we turn there are shows alleging to show viewers the reality of a given situation, be it random strangers picked to live in a house, people setup to go on dates, or others vying for a position in another organization. Shows like these are the harbinger of the moral decay in America. Admittedly, they are intended for entertainment purposes, however you and I both know, that not everyone watching these shows are looking at them critically, especially the younger, but not mutually exclusive, impressionable viewers. My problem with reality television is multifaceted. First, the 'real' aspect of the programming is wanting. Second, a show without its antithesis nearby could lead viewers to thinking all kinds of stupidity. Lastly, the sheer quantity and resources put into making each of these shows is a sad commentary of American culture today.
I will be the first to admit when The Real World first aired, I was drawn to it. The idea of putting all those different people and personalities together was very intriguing because frankly you knew that drama was going to ensue. However, what kind of drama was yet to be seen, as Real World New York had nothing to compare it to. During the show we saw the naïve, conservative, Bible belt country girl, conflict with the angry militant black boy over matters of race. Or we saw the flamboyantly gay guy mix it up at New York hot spots frequented by other gays where everyone, male or female looked liked they could have been in most magazines modeling. Or hell, how about the nonchalant obnoxiously confident model? Seeing a pattern here? I sure am. The only close to real person on the whole show was the full figured black girl rapper.
Are you seeing a pattern? No? Ok, let's look at the seasons thereafter. After awhile you start to see the pattern. 1) The all-American Caucasian male, torn between some girl on and off the show. 2) The savior: the peacemaker in the group who is usually avoiding there own issues, because they are too busy trying solve everyone else's. 3) The stereotypical Black person of the time, whatever image is most widely accepted by society is there. 4) The girl suffering from a classic Electra complex, whom seeks the affection they missed as a kid in the arms and bed of some male and/or female on the show. They are the "needy" girl most people are annoyed by. 5) The wild card, a la Puck from RW San Francisco or David from RW Los Angeles. Expect everything and nothing from them. 6) A gay cast member who although seems strong, segregates themselves from the rest of the cast in a myriad of way. The last of cast member fills some kind of comedic or dramatic role, but rarely exists in the same person.
Another person does stand out on The Real World cast as being unique and strong and like no other cast member before or after him, and that is Pedro. He was the most genuine of all of the cast members of all the shows. Sadly he passed away, but it's my hope and prayer that the show was used as a tool for education and good. Pedro left an indelible mark on television. Thank you for sharing your life with us Pedro, you will never be forgetten.
Yes, I have been sucked in the Bunim-Murray marketing machine. Each season I am incredibly curious to see who the latest incarnations of stereotypes will be. After the first episode or so, I don't even bother keeping track of episodes anymore. Granted, B&M have a responsibility to make good television and hopefully in turn make a profit. Profits you ask? Do you think its coincidence they make such a big deal about their houses' furnishings, gadgets, vehicles, etc? It's like diamonds back in the day with old Hollywood. DeBeers would supply the diamonds to movie studios with the understanding they would be used in a major scene, movie-goers will see this and subliminally have their interests piqued with all that glitters, and more diamonds would be sold with each showing. Voila.
So we are presented with all of the images and depictions over and over again sans the benefit of any sort of contradictory information or programming. So what? What's the big whoop about all that? It is a big deal, for it's like asking a person to know what good is, without knowing what bad is. The contrast is needed, but rarely ever supplied. However, every now and then during one of the reunions, cast members will come out and say how some conflicts were overemphasized or how some content wasn't included it at all. In the end I hope that the people watching these shows don't assume that people of a particular group, don't act the way their 'representative' on TV.
For example, while working on a paper and using the TV as background noise, Sorority Life came on and yes the hot college girls on the show most definitely did appeal to me. Then the 'reality flag' in my head went up, and I started to play closer attention to what was going on, or more to the point, what was being shown and in turn not shown. I started asking myself questionscis this typical of sororitiescthe drama, back stabbing, superficiality, and your basic drunken debauchery? For this I have no reference, as I avoided the whole Greek life thing like the plague, and as I'm sure the population at large have no reference of their own. I had to rely on a friend of mine to shed some light on this whole thing.
Tara did shed some light on the subject, specifically what could be apropos from the show and what may not be. Yes, there is drama. Yes, there are some girls who are very much into their appearance. However, the sisterhood is interested in matters other than partying and getting drunk. A large majority of Greek organizations stress academic excellence and community involvement. On the occasions I did catch the show, none of these were present. What was paramount seemed to be who had what to say about whomever else.
"It's silly, but we watch. And why not? Following the gang as they mawkishly plod through the demented, vaguely Shakespearean, themes ("Shakespeare on Prozac") does carry a certain enjoyment factor. Nevertheless, it is a devilish pleasure, and anyone, when asked whether they watch the show, will level a barrage of insults against it. Don't be fooled by their hostile front."
From: http://www.dartreview.com/archives/000160.php
Brooke (another sorority girl) did say they that the sorority on the show was not atypical of other Greek organizations as they were not governed by some entity that oversees most of other Greek organizations. The sorority on the show, allegedly belongs to a minority group of autonomously run organizations.
And yes, I too watch, but what does that say about me, what does programming like this say about society at large? Obviously there is a market for these sorts of shows or they wouldn't exist. People want to watch law enforcement bust the bad guys on COPS. The usual suspects they bust can be called into suspect, but that's for another rant. How about watching 2 people on a first date, an ordinarily nerve racking situation, followed around by cameras for the duration of the outing. Rendez-View is my favorite of these shows, because along with the comedy (Greek or Shakespearean), we get a psychological commentary of the suckers, excuse me, subjects.
Rome gave its citizens gladiators as a means of distracting from an empire deteriorating from ills within and outside its walls. Medieval European government tried similar tactics, but used confectionaries and other substitutes for what the masses were not missing. Then came movies in the 70s and 80s about 'death races' and other forms of gladiatorial entertainment. And then there was The Running Man, depicting a melding of government sanctioned blood sport and mass media. I suspect that life will indeed mimic art. Sounds for fetched? Tune in American Gladiator, Fear Factor, Dog Eat Dog, Temptation Island, Survivor, Big Brother, Shipmates, Blind Date, The 5th Wheel, WWE, any of those mentioned here or any of the new ones on the horizon and make your own judgment.
In conclusion I will concede, some of the issues dealt with on theses shows are real and are of substance. Real World in particular has been a successful medium for issues including suicide, abortion, homsexuality, racism, tolerance and many other things. The show has been a catalyst for discussions all across the country during its entire history. My issue with reality shows, including The Real World, is the characters/cast members they enlist. Sex is not a substitute for substance. Nor does drama supplant dignity.
"Television is not the opiate of the masses; programming is. TV is just the pharmacy where viewers get the drugs for whatever ails them."
From: http://www.candidcritic.com/reality_tv.htm
[Ironically, as I am doing the first draft of this, there is a Real World reunion airing and cast members are talking how about the process was fun yet not totally accurate, and made their lives hell after.]