Posted by caraher on February 4, 2007, at 12:27:35
In reply to Reality TV -- good or bad?, posted by Gee on February 4, 2007, at 11:38:27
Mostly bad. You take a highly-selected group of people and put them in a highly artificial situation, film them, select the most titillating vignettes and call that "reality?" "Unscripted television" would be more accurate (and even then I'd have my doubts!).
The notion that the bahavior seen on these shows reflect "reality" only further distorts the already warped norms portrayed on television in general. The participants are self-selected for their attraction to notoriety and further selected by producers for their proclivity to do things that will draw viewer interest. You wind up with with "highlight" reels of often self-centered, boorish, loudmouthed exhibitionists and victims of their behavior, presented for our voyeuristic amusement.
I suppose there are touching moments redeeming some of the programs, and not all are equally apalling. But for the most part their participants are simply objects for vapid entertainment.
(I have watched some of these, dating back to the early seasons of "The Real World," so lest you think I come off arrogant and superior here know that I include myself as the object of my scolding!)
poster:caraher
thread:729618
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20070130/msgs/729636.html