are reality games shows affecting the way we play the game of life
ARE REALITY GAME SHOWS AFFECTING THE WAY WE PLAY THE GAME OF LIFE Reality television is a new phenomenon hitting television screens around the globe. ... Reality can be defined as the quality or state of being real. But how real can they make these light entertainment shows. If natural human behaviour can become this entertaining then the question that must be posed is: “…if reality is so entertaining then why do we need televisions.” To begin with we need to look at the reality that they are presenting to us. The “real" in reality programming is a highly flexible concept. Rather than solely relying upon the use of actual documentary or "live" footage for its credibility, reality programming often draws upon a mix of acting, news footage, interviews and re-creations in a highly simulated pretence towards the "real." Another area that needs to be addressed is the push by the networks towards reality programming. ... “Reality shows cost an average of $400,000 per hour to produce versus $2 million for a dramatic series” (Hibberd, 2002). With this vastly less expensive option and the ratings for reality programming are going through the roof, every network that wants to continue doing business feels the need to market a new reality show and somehow keep the world begging for more; so far this plan is working. But as well as being vastly less expensive than a dramatic series these shows at the very least reflect a new trend in global TV trade. This demonstrates the consumerism side of producing reality programming. ... In this case it the product being sold is reality television. Yet another topic that we need to look at whats behind the increasing popularity of "reality TV"? ... Without such extensive access to reality programming it wouldn’t have been able be consumed and therefore accepted by popular culture. ... Exposed in mostly reality game shows such as Big Brother, by which the society being shown the program then prompted to gain control of the outcome. ... The "reality" is often dramatized on reality programs to an extent quite unlike conventional TV news. ... Throughout the wide variety of all of these reality shows a common thread remains: the people starring in the shows are supposedly all regular, “real” people going through “real” situations. ... Today’s reality programming however did not just suddenly appear. Like a lot of pop culture, every aspect of reality programming has been done before at least in some fashion. ... Through this above example it can be seen how change has greatly affected reality programming. By definition reality television requires to continue altering the ideas and concepts in order to remain a part of popular culture. ... In regular life, watching the intimate details of a strangers life is called spying, or "voyeurism," and is frowned upon, if not downright illegal. However shows such as Big Brother indulge and seem to celebrate voyeurism. ... These shows may move us further down the slippery slope toward less and less privacy and more and more of our private psychological life being rendered public, the exteriorization of our inner life, which will be a major theme of the 21st century. ... Maybe the day will come when some of those hooked on the over-the-counter reality TV could cross into less acceptable -- and possibly illegal -- forms of voyeurism?