reality tv...

Voyeurism, in my opinion, is the reason why reality TV has been able to grab a hold of Americans by the nostrils and take them along for the ride. It’s like slowing down when you see a car accident, or walking out to your front yard at the sound of sirens. People like to know what other people are doing.

When people stop being polite… and start getting real. MTV’s hit show “The Real World” is my earliest memory of reality TV. The idea behind it was to see what it was like to have six strangers live, work, and play together for six months. Back then, it was such a new concept that the term reality show didn’t even exist. Although there are new seasons of “The Real World” premiering every few months, the vibe of the show now is a far cry from season one back in 1992. There is less focus on human interaction and the growth of friendships and relationships and so much more on sex, alcohol, and girl fights. For that reason alone, I’ve completely lost interest in watching the show and think it’s stupid that random 20-somethings get famous for being on TV partying and acting a fool. MTV also airs a show called “16 and Pregnant”. This show I have mixed feelings about. Yes, it can be an eye-opener for sexually active teenagers who don’t think that they can get pregnant or think that pregnancy is a fairytale, but other teenagers may see that show and think that it’s okay to be pregnant at such a young age. Hey, they may even become famous from it. Some reality shows aren’t even all that real. I mean, how many guys out there openly date 15 women simultaneously and have all the girls be kosher with it? No way man, so not real!

With that said, I can’t deny that I am still a fan of reality shows. There is such a cornucopia of options, how can they be avoided.?! Unlike shows that focus on stupid people doing stupid things, there are definitely reality shows out there with a greater purpose. Shows like Intervention or Addicted give us, the general public, a glimpse into the lives of people who deeply struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. The audience gets the opportunity to see what life is like perspective of the addicted person, but the people who are being documented are given the opportunity to fight their addictions and improve their lives. There are reality shows that build homes for families who’ve been through some hardship and even shows that teach you how to survive being stuck in the desert for a few days.

As for its affect on our society, there are both positives and negatives that come with this new genre of television. It seems as though negative behavior is rewarded with fame and money. This can influence younger generations who buy into that and cause them to act a fool too. Reality shows give us the opportunity to walk in someone else’s shoes for twenty-four minutes and they can amplify or break stereotypes. So, as long as the bad can be filtered out, reality TV can be both entertaining and educational. Just stay away from “Jersey Shores”