Why Reality Tv Is Good for Us free essay sample

The Paradox of Reality TV A comment on the article: â€Å"Television: Why Reality TV Is Good For Us† For the last decade, reality TV has become increasingly popular. Not just popular, as in commonly well accepted and generally appreciated, but amazingly popular – a cultural revolution. The article â€Å"Television: Why Reality TV Is Good For Us† describes the phenomenon as the reason for the creation of attractive cults lead by spiritual leaders in shape of heartbroken singles, horny studs and failed actors and singers. The article focuses on a group of women, whose cult’s ceremony is scheduled every Wednesday – holy Wednesday, as they call the day where they get their reality TV fix. Quite paradoxically the cult’s members are rather unsatisfied with the position they have been put in – they actually don’t even appreciate and worship their holy grail – reality TV. â€Å"Do we not have anything better to do than live vicariously through a bunch of 15-minute-fame seekers? † one of the cult members rhetorically asks herself. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Reality Tv Is Good for Us or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The answer is no. The article states, how reality TV has taken over as the â€Å"America’s hottest TV genre†. What is the reason for this success? Is it the reality programs revolutionary and barrier breaking depth or is it the carefully selected intelligent and inspiring contestants? Again, the answer is no. It all comes down to the exposure of the people who in their quest for fame and success end up achieving the complete opposite – being laughed at and exemplifying the grievous self-realization process in the contemporary society. Finally it is all seasoned with a shallow and low-browed setup. Due to the presentation of arguments for reality TV’s success, gimmicks and our need for it, the authors primary target group is the cult (those who watch reality TV). Enlightened, bright and independent persons (among who I prefer counting myself in) may also get a more varied approach towards reality TV. The article starts out the argumentation with a paradoxical statement: â€Å"never have so many watched so much TV with so little good to say about it. † Then why do we do it? First of all, reality TV tells human stories in another way – as simple as that. Human stories are what the consumers crave for. But when it comes down to the actual reality of reality TV the utility value equals zero. The plots in most reality series that come to my mind is as far from reality as water is from fire. Who eats goat testicles as fast as possible to impress a girl (yes, I have watched Tila Tequilla – against my will though) or act as a transsexual clown to obtain fame in real life? None as far as I am concerned! Although reality TV does, in my opinion, have a very forceful attribute, which also is stated in the article: â€Å"Reality shows [†¦] leave them (viewers) feeling part of a communal experience [†¦]†. Especially this part of the argumentation is easy for me to indentify myself with. I can’t count all those days where I’ve come to school only to listen to the latest gossip about the popular Danish reality series â€Å"Paradise Hotel† – even though I don’t have any interest in reality series I couldn’t help getting a little interested in all the stories about sex, anger and revenge; I guess I’m just human. Maybe this is exactly the reason for reality TV’s popularity? Perhaps it is simply so instinctive, animalistic and equal with human nature that it is irresistible? What ignites the human curiosity more than basic instinctive themes? Provocation definitely does. The article hits the very essence of the provocative effect of reality TV with the following statement: â€Å"A great reality-TV concept takes some commonplace piety of polite society and gives it a wedgie†. As one of the producers of reality TV also states: â€Å"I like to make a show where people say: â€Å"You can’t put that on TV†. Then I put it on TV†. The article states how immoral reality TV is categorized as sick, while other non-reality programs (such as Sopranos) having the same immoral content may just as well get labelled â€Å"nuanced storytelling†. Before drawing the conclusion, that such an assumption is correct, an important distinction has to be made. Reality TV does, in spite of the questionable foundation, have its point of reference in real people from the real world Sopranos doesn’t. So what can we conclude from all this? Are all reality TV contestants just the modern attention whores? Some may say, but I think everyone can agree on the fact, that these people pursue their dreams, which is an admirable attribute. The article mentions a single lady from American Idol, who works both as a boxer and waitress to feed and raise her son; did she get on stage to fulfil herself or set a good example for her son? As the article states, American Idol didn’t tell – you have to make up your own mind. This is perhaps the very essence of reality TV; it forces us to make up our minds and reflect on our own lives. Allow me to recast something earlier stated – this article is not only intended for the viewers of reality TV; it is intended for everyone. What is life if no one dares to follow their dreams?