I am not a fan of reality TV. I mean don't get me wrong, I do watch it. But I rarely enjoy it. I used to watch American Idol, The Voice, So you think you can dance, etc. etc. But I can proudly say I have never seen a full episode of shows like Jersey Shore. I have seen bits and pieces of it, and that is enough for me! So what is it that draws us to these types of shows?
Well, what is a better way to make yourself feel better than to see how idiotic and messed up other people are? After all, almost all the people on MTV shows are not people we aim to be. Who's goal is to be Snooki? Lets be real here. Maybe these shows allow us to see that our lives aren't as bad as we sometimes think. Maybe we realize how much we take for granted. Or maybe we just watch purely for entertainment. Who knows, really?
It is possible that we watch reality shows in a positive light too. American Idol, for instance. At least for me, when I watched it, I didn't look at those people the same way as I do Jersey Shore or 16 and Pregnant. I guess it is important to have a good balance of role models and idiots in reality shows...
I thought it was interesting that The Hunger Games related to reality TV. There is almost no difference, really. They watched a bunch of kids fighting to their death on TV. We watch a bunch of people talking, living together, singing, etc. on TV. Although the subject matter is different (thank god), it is pretty much the same thing.
I also found it interesting that we think the Hunger Games was so immoral and wrong, yet we enjoyed the book. Collins put us in the same position of the Capitol. They enjoyed it just as much as we did reading it. Although this is a bit different, we enjoy watching reality shows on TV, but should we? Why do we feed into all that nonsense? Why isn't there a show called 16 and Successful instead of 16 and pregnant? Are we just as bad as the Capitol for allowing these things to be so publicly announced and sometimes even encouraged?
Reality shows are purely for enjoyment and fun, in my opinion. But, I think there should be a better balance between the types of reality shows. They shouldn't all be about how bad others lives are, or how stupid people are. But isn't that what we like to watch? And, after all, its all about how the media can make money. I guess I am having an internal debate on whether I like reality TV or not. I definitely am a culprit for watching it, but I can't decide if I should feel guilty or not. I feel like we need more positive things in our media instead of all poking fun at people less fortunate. All in all, I don't think we will ever stop watching reality TV. Its funny, enjoyable, and takes your mind off of life for awhile. Although it has its flaws, I have to admit I enjoy it.
I agree with you that reality TV has become a form of entertainment that can be degrding to those invlved in the show I haven't watched it since the season when Carrie Underwood won it. In my own oppinion that was the last good season. Since then it seems like the judges let people go to Hollywood that have no tlent at all but are funny to watch because they are so bad. AS a society this makes us just as bad as the capitol or the people that watch the Hunger Games. their entertainment came from spectating the games watching the tributes fight eachother to the death until their is only one. That being said I don't think all reality TV is this way. For example the Voice, thejudges don't see the contetants they only listen, and I think this makes the show more talent based. Judges and veiwers can pick thier favorites based on thier talent alone. I think in this sense the entertainment comes from the talent and not from the humiliationof the contestants. I think this also can relate to the HUnger Games as well because the sponsors choose a tribute based on their talents and their strengths that will help them to win the games.If we think about it young adult literture mirrors TV in several aspects. As we discussed in class drama tv shows and young adult literature have alot of similar qualities such as absent parents, a love triangle, and so on.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think we give reality TV the chance because we find it entertaining. No matter if that is because it makes us feel better about ourselves (since obviously I do not want to be Snooki) or because we truly enjoy other peoples lives fall apart or get better.Your point about finding the concept of the Hunger Games so wrong but enjoying the book so much is interesting. I never thought about it that way and it makes me think about why I'm entertained by it.I'm a fan of the suspense and the way Katniss plots everything but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the killing scenes made me squirm. I can't handle when bad guys in movies get blown to pieces so reading about it happening to little kids is revolting. I don't know what it is about reality TV but I agree it should be balanced to appeal to all.
ReplyDeleteThe point that we the audience are positioned as the Capital observers really is an interesting one. So what's the difference between negative spectacle and positive mimesis do you think, given these observations?
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