The Reality Of Reality Television

Reality TV that we know started back in 1992 when MTV first broadcasted The Real World. It was an experimental show that took seven people from different backgrounds and placed them in a house to live together for several months and have their interactions filmed. An experiment? So this was a social experiment. The Real World can demonstrate to young adults what can a lifestyle like that can result in, both positives and negatives; I think the viewers can ask themselves the question of “would I really want to be in that situation?” If a young viewer is capable to ask themselves that question, it is only a yes or no answer. The audience can ether chose to mock the behavior or go against it. Some people even find the shows offensive. The Jersey Shore was commented on as being offensive towards Italians. It was so offensive that there are endless articles all over the internet about it. This show specifically generated media hype. Some company’s refused to have a part in The Jersey shore and ones like Domino’s Pizza and American Family Insurance pulled their ads from the show. Italian-American advocacy groups called for a boycott. http://www.straight.com/article-276705/vancouver/mtvs-jersey-shore-offensive-italians.
The individuals on reality TV are exaggerated to the tenth degree. But even the most common person in real life can be known to be dramatic and “fake”. So what’s the difference here? It draws attention to the person who is creating their abstract image. That is what they want because they went and auditioned for the show. They are instantly famous for being the one person on the show that does the most unheard of outrageous thing in that episode. Also, recently there have been cast members from Jersey Shore coming to Baltimore clubs. People really wanted to meet them in real life wasn’t the show enough. Now there over paying to get in a club just because they know they’re going to be their? What a way to make money.
Most people today would tell you that reality shows are harmless and that the television networks promote them because they draw ratings and advertising dollars. No matter what they are putting on TV it still will always influence whoever is sitting on the other side of that screen, the younger viewers especially. As long as there are people there are going to be reality TV shows. TV is a form of entertainment and for some these shows are laughing entertaining.