Values Portrayed on Reality Television

1

Values portrayed on Reality Television

April 25, 2011

VALUES 2
Values Portrayed on Reality Television

Reality is a genre of television wherein the situations, dramatic, comedic or otherwise are non-scripted and the people involved are ordinary “real” people and not professional actors. Even though you may not be a fan of television, you cannot deny that reality TV is here to stay and yes, there are genres of Reality television where positive values are portrayed. In an article found on the Pro Quest database, television critic, Mary McNamara postulates, “… even if we were to mistakenly dismiss reality shows as having no intrinsic value, there is no denying their influence on television in general. And considering that television still remains the most ubiquitous, influential and powerful medium in the world… any shift in its structure or content is worth academic consideration.” (McNamara, M. 2011). The article goes on to explain that reality television is extremely predominant in our society as exemplified by a recent SAT test that included questions about reality television (Para 1). Of course reality television is not a new phenomenon, in fact, the 1948 TV series; Candid Camera (A pioneering series which created artificial realties to see how ordinary people would respond) is arguably the first reality television show (Slocum, C.B. 2011). Due to the success of Candid Camera, television shows like What 's My Line (1950),
I 've Got a Secret (1952) and To Tell the Truth (1956) became part of the regular evening line up (Para 2).

VALUES 3

The early nineties MTV changed the face of reality television by introducing a new show format, where a group of young adults in their early twenties, were selected by producers and put into a furnished, home in a city, while cameras rolled twenty-four hours a day, capturing their every move. This show, called, THE REAL WORLD, would set a precedent for the subsequent as well as the current tone of reality television in America. It seemed that MTV struck a cord with viewers, people watching felt invested in the “real people” thus they continued weekly viewing. Maybe it was the precarious situations that the housemates were living in, seven strangers all from very different walks of life, being exposed to one another’s diversities, be it socioeconomic, cultural, religious or even sexual identity. Many versions of the Real World followed, each time with new seven new strangers placed into an apartment in a new city, however it was The Real World San Francisco (circa 1994) that showcased the most arguably polarizing real cast members seen to date on television. It was the relationship between Pedro Zamora- a HIV positive, gay, Hispanic, man in his early twenties and “Puck” a Caucasian, twenty something, rude and crude bike messenger, that captured the attention of everyone from MTV’s teen audience, to President (at the time) Bill Clinton. Pedro’s gay/HIV story line and his subsequent death from AIDS got the country’s attention and whether people liked him or disliked him, Zamora’s story brought an awareness of HIV and AIDS to a generation and put a face to the disease for many

VALUES 4 middle Americans who prior to The Real World San Francisco, would have never “known” a gay/HIV positive man. The show also struck ratings gold. The draw to producers and networks to create and air reality shows is largely due to the low production cost, smaller production crew, fewer set costs, no paid actors- reality television is less expensive than traditional script and actor driven television to produce (Slocum, C, 2011, Para 11). In a recent online article, author, Julius Debuschewitz, remarked, “…these shows have become ever more outrageous, with most of them offering no educational value whatsoever. The majority are crude and sensationalistic.” (2011, Para 10). Critics like Mr. Debuschewitz, often postulate that although the people on these shows are “real”, the situation, climate and reactions, are contrived and in fact the televised result is an edited version of the reality that transpired. Because “casting” of the players on these reality shows is done based on the ratings, the players tend to be chosen due to their aesthetic image as well as their potential for controversy which ultimately means better ratings. MTV’s Jersey Shore is an example of a reality show that seems to glamorize the escapades of group of eight Italian Americans in their early twenties. The cast of the Jersey Shore has larger than life personalities while they engage in excessive drinking, tanning, and fighting. While most people can watch an episode and laugh at the precarious situations these cast mates seem to get themselves into on a weekly basis,

VALUES 5 it is important to remember that a large part of the show’s audience are, in fact, teenagers and young women. Critic’s opinions aside, it seems the viewing audience is more discerning than they are given credit for. Consider twenty-five year old Heidi Featherstone, an avid television viewer and member of a valuable demographic. “When I think of Reality Television, the first thing that comes to mind is that is it unscripted, but not necessarily bad, there are so many different kinds of reality TV shows and even though many of them are mindless, there are equally as many that are inspiring, useful, educational, thought provoking and uplifting.” (2011, personal interview) Heidi’s statement illustrates the growing trend of reality shows that portray positive values. Some sub genres of the original reality format that have resonated with the American viewers are; weight loss (The Biggest Loser), self and home improvement (Supernanny and Extreme Home Makeover) and job search (The Apprentice, and Project Runway). Each of these reality television shows, while staged at times, promotes positive values, thus moving and inspiring contestants and ultimately viewers to change attitudes as well as behaviors The sub genre of competition is also extremely popular as we see in shows like American Idol and Survivor. Competition is the lifeblood of America and we see it that played out on the stage of American Idol, where contestants compete week after week to out sing one another while they avoid the interactive fate that America’s collective vote would decide.
VALUES 6

American Idol has pioneered the interactive experience, and the value of talent, hard work and likeability are on proud display and if viewers like you enough, they are moved to text a vote to save the contestant who moves closer to the ultimate prize of a recording contract and impending fame and fortune. Survivor is the longest running reality show (began in 2000) and it is in the true vein of competition where in typical reality show fashion, a group of people from different ages, socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures are “stranded” on an island for 39 days. The premise of the show is for the contestants to “outwit, outplay and outlast” one another with the final person standing winning a prize of one million dollars. Each installment or Season of Survivor is set in a different remote area with new sets of people, however the game rules (or lack of) always remain the same- thus there are always the people who occupy the traditional archetypes of: Villain or villainess, hero, attractive male and female, person of faith, contentious loud mouth and so on.

The values portrayed on Survivor have so resonated with the viewing audience and critics alike that there have even been books written on the Psychology of Survivor contestants. In his book, The psychology of Survivor: overanalyze, overemote, overcompensate (2007), Author Dr. Richard Gerrig, PHD, suggests that the reality show Survivor is so popular due to the way that it dramatizes the tension between the needs for affiliation, the need to belong and the need to achieve one’s own goals… A therapeutic function for viewers who struggle to balance these two needs in their own lives. (Page 2).

VALUES 7 Single mother, Teresa wilson feels that the show Survivor, has given her a dialogue with her 17-year-old son. “ When his dad and I got divorced he decided to go and live with his dad. He would visit me for the first half of the week and we really didn’t have a lot to talk about, “ she said. “He was angry about the divorce so he would retreat to his room every night, except on Thursdays when Survivor came on!” Teresa went on to explain that he expressed interest in watching the show and in an effort to spend time with him, she would sit on the couch and watch the show. It wasn’t long before the silence between them turned into dialogue and debate about the behaviors, choices and antics of the players on the show. “He would comment about how one player was dishonest and how another shouldn’t have lied to his alliance”, she remembered, “In a way, Survivor opened the door for discussion between us about values, both good and bad. Although the discussion always began with a character on Survivor, it often ended with how he or I would behave in those particular situations- thus I would be able to understand his mindset.” As the critics say, there are many reality shows on television that have nothing redeeming about them. Similarly, there are also many books in the library that have no educational merit; there are paintings in museums that don’t solicit any emotion from many people who view them. The important concept to remember is that most art and entertainment is subjective- meaning the viewers, readers or audiences determine for themselves what is valuable, meaningful and relatable. Reality shows are not the alternative to interpersonal communication, therapy or education. Just as there are many reality shows with no moral or ethical value, there are
VALUES 8

reality shows that contribute positively to our society through bringing awareness about an issue or problem or need that may have been known to the public prior it being discussed on a Sunday evening episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Ultimately, there really is no Reality television and in one way or another, each and every reality show has some element about it that is contrived. Having said that, the values that are portrayed, good and bad, on these shows, can if nothing else, open a dialogue for the viewers and remind us of who we want to be as well as who we don’t.

VALUES 9

References:

Carter, B. (2011) ‘Jersey Shore’ Sets Ratings Record on MTV. Retrieved on April 18, 2011 from http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/jersey-shore-sets- ratings-record-on-mtv/

Debuschewitz, J. (2011, February 11). Remember that 'reality shows ' are make- believe. Whitehorse Star,14. Retrieved April 21, 2011, from Canadian Newsstand Complete. (Document ID: 2266240171)

Dreyer, D. (2011, April). Learning from Popular Culture: The "Politics" of Competitive Reality Television Programs. PS, Political Science & Politics, 44(2), 409-413. Retrieved April 16, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2315419841).

Featherstone, H. (2011) Personal interview on April, 13, 2011

Gerrig, R. J., (2007). The Psychology of Survivor: overanalyze, overemote, overcompensate. Benbella Books Inc: Dallas, Texas

McNamara, M. (2011). CRITIC 'S NOTEBOOK; TV is (a) smart; (b) powerful; (c) witty; (d) clever; Actually, it is all of the above. So be sure to mark your SATs accordingly. Retrieved April 19, 2011, from Los Angeles Times. (Document ID: 2302864911).

N.A. (2011). Rule the remote: Quote me Who wants another dose of reality television? Retrieved April 16, 2011, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 2265047781).

VALUES 10
Reference:

N.A. (2011). The Real World San Francisco. Retrieved on April 19, 2011 from http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season3/series.jhtml#moreinfo
Wilson, T. (2011). Personal Interview

Slocum, C.B., (2011). The Real History of Reality TV Or, How Alan Funt Won the Cold War. Retrieved April 18, 2011 from http://www.wga.org/organizesub.aspx?id=1099

References: Carter, B. (2011) ‘Jersey Shore’ Sets Ratings Record on MTV. Retrieved on April 18, 2011 from http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/jersey-shore-sets- ratings-record-on-mtv/ Debuschewitz, J. (2011, February 11) Dreyer, D. (2011, April). Learning from Popular Culture: The "Politics" of Competitive Reality Television Programs. PS, Political Science & Politics, 44(2), 409-413.  Retrieved April 16, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2315419841). Featherstone, H. (2011) Personal interview on April, 13, 2011 Gerrig, R McNamara, M. (2011). CRITIC 'S NOTEBOOK; TV is (a) smart; (b) powerful; (c) witty; (d) clever; Actually, it is all of the above. So be sure to mark your SATs accordingly.  Retrieved April 19, 2011, from Los Angeles Times. (Document ID: 2302864911). N.A. (2011). Rule the remote: Quote me Who wants another dose of reality television? Retrieved April 16, 2011, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 2265047781). N.A. (2011). The Real World San Francisco. Retrieved on April 19, 2011 from http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season3/series.jhtml#moreinfo Wilson, T Slocum, C.B., (2011). The Real History of Reality TV Or, How Alan Funt Won the Cold War