Overall Analysis

Overall Analysis of Reality TV

     It is clear that our beliefs and interests have formed a love for Reality TV today, but who knew it would or could ever become this popular.  There are a few theories that may help to explain just that. 

     First, I believe without someone’s innovative nature, we would have never experienced reality TV at all.  Some feel that “Real World”, an MTV sensation which started back in 1992 was the first reality TV show and few would disagree that it was the first to become popular but Reality TV actually goes back as far as 1973, when PBS aired “An American Family”.  Regardless of who was the first, it is clear without these innovators who went outside of the norm to create and expose us to this now phenomenon; we may have never learned to love this current sensation at all.  Interestingly enough, this proves that without innovation, new popular cultures that form new “norms” would never exist at all. 



     Secondly, I believe that exposure plays a key role in the popularity of Reality TV as well as other forms of popular culture.  If your family watches TV, then you may become more likely to also watch, thereby increasing your exposure to Reality TV and the possibility that you would be a fan too.  Those that do not watch television would have no exposure to it and therefore would not watch it, and in some cases may not even be aware of the shows or the stars at all. 

     I also find it appealing that popularity seems relative to emotion over quality.  Reality shows are not filled with quality acting, and they have no real comedic value or well thought out story lines.  Everyone knows this, but what then is the appeal?  We must have some form of an emotional connection to the people in them or possibly in the lives or lifestyles we watch week after week.  Perhaps we can relate to the personal emotions and experiences of the people in them, or maybe we just love to love, or even love to hate them and we want to be there with them to share in the joy, laughter or maybe even the tears or sorrows.  It is after all true that misery loves company.  I had never even considered why I might enjoy the shows until now; I only watched them because I wanted to.  But looking at it more closely, I have to admit that there are some guilty pleasures there that I am none too proud of.  For example, I do enjoy watching the lifestyles of the rich and not so famous.  I think it is the fact that they don’t focus so much on the household chores and mundane things in life that I enjoy and the trips, oh how I love the trips.  I long to go at a whim and fly and sail away to some warm tropical island every few months or so.  And I find that even though they have some of the things I wish I had, I still can feel good to know that I have fantastic friends, way better than the ones that they seem to have, and I can be satisfied and proud of that.  Friends are priceless, and good ones can’t be bought and I have great ones.  When I think of this, I feel kind of bad for these Reality TV stars. 

     I guess in the end, the purpose of entertainment is to bring about emotion, and Reality TV does that, whether you like it or not.  As long as we keep our head about it, we will be alright and enjoying a little Reality TV is okay, allot of other people enjoy it just like I do.  I have come out of the closet and embraced the fact that one of my real popular culture enjoyments is Reality TV.  It just plain rocks, and I like it allot, along with a while lot of other people and there’s nothing wrong with that. 

Crazy Formulas in Reality TV

Crazy Formulas in Reality TV

There is no doubt that Reality TV has become a pop culture icon, but is there a formula that helps to explain the vast success of this conglomerate?  When looking at the most successful shows, I think you will find a common blueprint for their success which is really not that crazy after all.  It would be too obvious to review the formulas associated with the contests of reality TV so instead I have chosen to focus on the reality or lifestyle genre.  You will find from the Jersey Shore to the Real Housewives Series to the Kardashians, that each have a few things in common. 

First, whenever alcohol is involved, things get intense and there is almost always some type of a brawl resulting.  Alcohol seems to equal heat which equals action, and the more action the more we love it.  The reality of why we watch may be that misery loves company, or perhaps it is nice to see the other side of the tracks do the same dumb things as we do.  Or maybe we just love to see others fail because the guilty pleasure is it makes us feel better.

There is also an aspect of feeling as though you are part of the inner circle, a voyeur if you will, peaking in, through the lens of a camera with your "own eyes".  We are after all looking at these celebrities in their homes, living rooms, kitchens and even bathrooms every once in a while.  How else can you explain why we choose to watch shows where watching them in their bathroom is considered entertainment?  It as to be we fell a sense of an emotional connection to us that makes us feel like they could be in the room right next to us.  This false sense of an actual relationship enhances the emotion, and helps to explain the success of such a simple concept that in truth portrays not allot of talent, and nothing more than what we might see in our own homes; same situations, just different people. 

Finally, we love to see a good fight.  Whether it is verbal exchange of insults or more of a physical attack including the occasional hair pulling, we cannot resist.  I find myself a little ashamed, thinking how can I be watching this and yet, I cannot turn the channel or turn away.  And then, I remember what it’s all about.  Reality TV may not be good stuff, it just makes us feel good, and we feel part of the in-crowd since we could just as easily be there as they are.  Maybe it enhances the feeling that we are special too just like they appear to be, because we all know someone who has at one time acted equally as stupid and it is therefore relateable to us. 

In the end, we aren’t hurting the stars, we shouldn’t be hurting ourselves, and if it helps us to escape our sometimes crazy lives and helps us to recoup so that tomorrow we can hit the grind another day, well what is so bad about that?  I say nothing at all, and bring on all the crazy reality you got. 

Technology Lowering Standards

Technology Lowering Standards

Most would agree that technology has opened up a world of opportunities; however, it has also played an important role in the lowering of our moral standards as a society according to Melissa Weinbrenner (2011), in her journal article “Movies, Model T’s, and Morality:  The Impact of Technology on Standards of Behavior in the Early Twentieth Century.”   She attributes the start of the change in our moral shift mostly due to the introduction and popularity of automobiles and then movies. 

Weinbrenner argues that “living in a technologically oriented society encourages an upwardly leveled society and personal world in a happening environment”(p. 651) and that the “motion pictures fosters group objectivity and self-exposure over self-examination”. She along with other scientists and scholars described the affect as “technology affected social behavior”. She theorizes that when a “society relies upon machines to function, machines actions influence and mold society’s view of reality” (p. 648). 

At first glance this seems insulting to the human race, as if to say that we are incapable of creating and keeping our own personal standards, always giving in to the latest craze or temptations; however, there is significant validity to the premise.  When automobiles were first introduced, they were available only to wealthy and elite classes.  With Henry Ford’s introduction of mass assembly and resulting lower costs making the automobile affordable for most middle class families.  Owning an automobile became the new norm and the distinction now was that the very lower classes were the only ones without one. 

The automobile and the resulting mobility thereby transform the definition of one’s personal “world”.  Before the automobile, one’s “world” consisted mainly of a small circumference around one’s home that could be traveled by foot or horseback within a day’s time.  Where once most were isolated and kept to the oral traditions of folk culture, their world expanded bringing the masses into a popular cultural shift; and the car mobilized and expanded that circle immensely, thereby expanding one’s personal “world”.  What used to be a day trip of a few miles, has extended to hundreds if not thousands of miles or more away, and today the world has literally become our oyster.  This mobilization resulted in an increase in anonymity along with the tendency to loosen one’s standards, since the ramifications of bad behavior are not as obvious or prevalent. 

Society naturally evolved to become less concerned with their actions starting with the new mobility created by the auto. This freedom provided anonymity resulting in relaxed standards that could be cherry picked at will.  Weinbrenner goes on to point out that motion pictures then became popular due in part to the increased mobility afforded by automobiles, and these movies then created a sense of “self-exposure over self-examination,” further explaining the trending of more relaxed morals or standards. 

Another author, Robert Samuels although writing of more current times, supports this type of theory as it relates to newer technologies available in his writing “Computers, the Internet and You.”  He discusses the “new rules for how act and socialize in public” (p. 320).  Where once telephones were used only in private places, technological advances and the cell phone have expanded our world and we can now have private calls and conversations in almost any public places we choose to.  Our moral and personal standards have once again shifted.

The notion that technology can change who we are as a person is uncomfortable at best, but one must only look at the historical facts to find that this theory is not too farfetched after all.  The introduction of the automobile was only the start of a tremendous and ever changing paradigm shift that only started with the ability to move.  Today we live in a technological society where even a simple personal face to face conversation is unusual.  We share our lives, all of it, on Facebook.  We friend people around the world we don’t even know and trust them with intimate details about our lives.  Many are brazen about sharing the most intimate details of their lives that years ago would be considered shameful. 

This study is very important to our future because have become a completely mobile society in every sense of the word and we can learn where we may be headed in the future by looking at our past.   There is no doubt that technology has changed who we are and how we think and act, but I think too that in some ways our connections have separated and isolated us.  This personal detachment has desensitized us as a society and resulted in the new norm.  In a bit of an ironic sense, we even feel the need to communicate at all times to feel connected. 

What connection once meant and what it means today are completely different.  There was a time when dinner with family, a visit by a friend, or a personal hand written letter was a clear indication of caring, kindness, respect and consideration; a true connection of those times. Today the same would be demonstrated through a text message, a tweet, or even a thumbs up “like” on Facebook.  The personalization is gone.  The new personalization is a public display of almost anything.

Technology is a great thing, but in my opinion we have lost something else in the process.  They say that life comes around full circle and I can only hope that here will be no exception and that eventually people will miss that personal touch.  I believe that too much of a good thing can be bad, no matter what it is, and that good life is all about good balance.  I long to see us go back to some of those “old school” kindnesses from days gone by because no form of technology will ever replace a mother’s hug, a letter or visit from a friend afar, or a child’s real smile.   These are and always will be truly priceless.

References

Browne, R. B. (2005). Profiles of popular culture: A reader. (pp. 46-53). Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press.

Samuels, R. (2012).  Computers, The Internet and You.  Common Culture (pp. 319-322). Santa Barbara, CA: Pearson.

Weinbrenner, M. (2011). Movies, Model T’s and Morality:  The Impact of Technology on Standard of Behavior in the Early Twentieth Century.  The Journal of Popular Culture. Volume 44, pp. 647-659.

Heroes and Reality TV

Heroes and Reality TV

     At first glance, Reality TV and heroes seem to go together allot like oil and water, they just don’t mix.  Analyzing instead from a viewpoint based on current culture and the cult of celebrity however, they appear to be more related than one might think.   

     Based on the huge popularity of Reality TV today, even everyday “Joe’s” have become overnight celebrities from popular shows such as Jersey Shore, Dog the Bounty Hunter and even the Kardashian’s to some extent.  These new TV celebrities and personalities have all become household names due to their success in their Reality TV series.  Can regular people and even celebrities be considered as heroic?  It looks to me like the answer is a definite yes. 

     One controversial example might be the Kardashian’s.  Although they are often criticized for overexposure of their family in the media and a lack of any real talent, one has to admire their ability to sell themselves, their brand, and become a huge money making conglomerate in the process.  Is it possible then that they can be considered modern day heroes?  Whether you like them or not, you have to admit that they have mastered the ability to gain popularity with a vast amount of  loyal followers all while gaining huge profits.  This family has mastered not only Reality TV, but branding of their recognizable name and celebrity status to make a fortune, and it doesn’t appear it will stop anytime soon.

     Or can this be a personal illusion that when viewing someone who has some traits that appear to be admirable, it is truly more an example of the cult of celebrity instead?  Perhaps I have chosen to idolize them even though they don’t necessarily deserve the standing or maybe I am not educated enough myself to tell the difference.  I think not.  If hero status is in fact a personal thing, and I personally admire the Kardashian’s or anyone else’s ability for that matter, to make the best of the positive traits they possess, then why not?  As long as these qualities are in line with my personal beliefs and values, isn’t it conceivable they can be a hero to me?

     Furthermore, heroes are ever changing, just like I am.  When I was a child, my heroes were mythical cartoon characters or characters in books and were based on the stories that I loved more than character traits that I did not fully understand at that age.  Today my heroes are based on the values, goals and ethics I admire in the here and now.  As such, I can pick and choose characteristics within a person that to me are heroic.  I am not sure that one person today embodies every single character I look for in a hero, but I am certain you can find heroes anywhere, even on Reality TV, you just need to decide and look.  As you grow and change, your heroes too grow and change. 

     Even more exciting to me is that if that hero may fall and break, as they sometimes do, that can lead to a new and more meaningful opportunity once they are able to pick themselves back up again and become bigger and better for it.  How wonderful it is that through the power of media and technology, we have a chance to surround ourselves with heroic people we will never actually meet and only know from what we are able to view.  As long as we understand that what we admire are traits and maybe not always the whole person (or character they play), and realize that these celebrities are real people too, they can inspire and give us hope.  If they can do it, then certainly we can do it too. 

     Isn’t that really the best part of a true hero anyway?  One thing is for sure.  No matter where they come from; celebrities, families, friends and heroes from all places can help encourage us all to be a better “me”.  Heroes are our stars in the sky.  We may or may not always reach, but they serve as a visible goal to shoot for, and whether we make it all the way or not, we will certainly be better off if we reach for the stars and try. 

Stereotype and Rituals in Reality TV

    Stereotypes and rituals run rampant in all forms of entertainment today as well as in our daily lives.  This seems to me at first glance to be an ironic topic.  I almost feel that reality TV is filled with nothing but stereotypes and rituals.

     Let’s take a look at rituals and an obvious choice first, Survivor.  Every week we know there will be a competition.  Many contestants have their own little rituals they follow as a group or individual, some as a means of surviving, almost literally, others as a way to play the game. 

     The tribal council and voting around the circle is a perfect example of a ritual that ends the show each night.  This ceremony is used to join the group together as one and discuss and decide each other’s fate.   There is also the ritual of the Reality TV annual reunion shows where they recap the season and answer viewer questions.  All I can really say about that is big fat “drama”.

     Another example of a ritual would be the rose ceremony on the Bachelor series.  I have mixed feelings about this.  You can see the women filled with anxiety in many cases which makes me sad for them; however, they also know the show and what they signed up for so although the ritual is tense, I have to believe that in some cases, the women are there for alternative reasons other than just the chance to snag an eligible bachelor. 

    Next let’s look at stereotypes on the show Jersey Shore.  There were the obvious pre-Shore stereotypes regarding Italians for examples.  I feel that there are new stereotypes that have been created from the show itself.  People sometimes refer to the characters in the show as representing typical Italians from Jersey with characteristices such as loud, obnoxious, partiers, drunks, and of lower intelligence.  

     I too have formed my own stereotype based on the Housewives series.  First of all, on the outside they appear to have an easy life.  By easy I mean low stress as it relates to finding money to pay something simple like an electrical bill, not easy meaning they don’t have a care in the world.  I also find it amusing that in all of these shows, these women with money, social standing, nice houses, cars, families and social lives seem like they cannot make it through one get together without a huge fight or argument breaking out. 

     Am I also stereotyping by thinking that these ladies should have all the social skills needed to hold back but seemingly have almost none at all in these situations?  Even I know that it is inappropriate to start or engage in a brawl or argument at an awards dinner or celebration.  Sometimes they look so pretty on the outside that I am shocked to hear the mean, vicious and cruel things that fly out of their mouths to their loved ones and those they call friend.  This is another good example of a personal stereotype of mine.  I can tell you this, if I had a friend who continuously bad mouthed me in public or started fights with me by throwing drinks at me, they would most certainly not remain a friend for long. 

     I often wonder too if the show producers help to stage some of these events for good show or ratings.  Seems there is often alcohol involved in the outbreaks and I find it hard to believe that these housewives and mothers actually spend that much time of their lives drinking. 

     The final stereotype to consider may be the reality of reality TV itself.  Is it possible that viewers consider, believe or think that reality TV is real, and that their lives are much better than their own because of what they see?  Could this stereotypical opinion cause things like depression or envy, particularly to those more vulnerable such as our teen youth?  I think it is certainly a dangerous “reality” of the times and something we need to be prepared to deal with.  

    It would also seem then that it is nearly impossible to live or think without some kind of stereotyping based on personal values, beliefs, background and culture.  That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be aware, and try to stop it.  It goes back to that old saying our parents or grandparents used to tell us about not judging others until you’ve walked in their shoes.  Consideration, compassion and understanding still go a long way.    

Icons, A Sign of the Times

In today’s society of fast paced living, reality television and technological advancements, none exemplify current contemporary icons and are part of mainstream daily life better to me than The Biggest Loser, Super Size It, and the IPhone.  I have chosen these three "addictions" because their similarities are also strange contradictions to each other, which makes for an interesting comparison. 

Why is it that millions tune in to watch a bunch of fat people lose weight every week?  We long to see how they are doing, sometimes badmouthing those who don’t seem to be pulling their weight or putting in the effort.  Maybe they are trying to cause tension between housemates as part of the game.  We eagerly watch their transformations, and we are amazed by the 15 pound loss in a mere week’s time.  Again, I have to ask, how real is this reality TV show anyway?  How realistic is it to think that any of us watching will ever “live” a life like the one in the house?  Certainly we all know that creative editing is used to peak our interest, increase viewership, and sell advertising, all of which are far more important than keeping it true and "real".  Think of all the merchandise and millions upon millions spent to get the latest book, food and Wii games  just to mention a few. 

On the other side of the spectrum, conflicting although it may seem, may actually help to explain the intrigue with The Biggest Loser, is the trend for fast food and sit down restaurants to "supersize" almost everything.  No wonder we not only want but need The Biggest Loser.  It’s as if we feel “cheated” if our plate is not full from rim to rim.  This isn’t healthy, and statistics have proven that America is getting more and more obese.  Even our first lady sees the danger to our society, and has started an initiative to help educate our children in hopes of creating awareness and a fun easy way to go back to some of our “old” and healthier non supersizing ways.

Finally I think one of the most important icons to represent our “addictions”, in this case to technology and the lifeblood of connectivity is the IPhone.  I have chosen the IPhone because staying connected to everything and everyone around us at all times is almost a necessity rather than the luxury it once was.  If by chance we lose the ability to connect at any time for any reason, whether because of a service outage or leaving your IPhone at home, we almost freak out and experience anxiety over the disconnect.  It is as if not having your connection for even an hour is a life altering event. 

Today many jobs require employees to stay connected 24/7 even after leaving the office.  Immediate gratification to any inquiry is the new norm, and news can be spread across the world in just a few seconds with a click or a search.  How did we ever exist 20 years ago without them?

Every time a new version comes out, you hear about it on the 6 o’clock news.  Lines form and people rush to be the first in line to get theirs, sometimes a day or more in advance.  Since when is a new product considered news worthy and important enough for me to camp out on a street corner overnight?  Is news no longer news, but instead an extension of the latest trends and icons?  I know people who will not go to bed without their IPhone at their side, just in case someone calls or texts them.  We have even created a whole new language around the trend for text messaging and instant messaging.  Years ago if you wrote a note to someone and typed “IKR”, your teacher and everyone else would be mortified at your seemingly laziness and poor use of grammar.  If you don’t know what this means, you may be considered out of touch with reality. 

It is interesting to think that a phone, reality TV show and size of a dinner plate can be connected in any way at all, but I see each as a sign of the times and current way of life.  I also see a possible lesson here; that sometimes too much of a good thing, isn’t all that good after all. 

Pop Culture and Reality TV

     I see pop culture as being the combined differences and similarities of all people, from all cultures.  Pop culture is what is "hip" today, and is ever changing, more rapidly now than ever before.  

     This is particularly important in today's society as well as in business because of the vast use of technology and ease of connecting with others across the world.  A greater understanding of pop culture can help you to have a better understanding of others you deal with on a personal and business level.  This can improve personal and business relationships, and ultimately help you to be more successful with both. 

     One pop culture artifact that demonstrates this so well today is reality TV, my favorite being The Kardashians.  Twenty years ago, no-one had even heard of reality TV.  Today it is a mainstay across the US and many places throughout the world.  You cannot turn on the TV now without seeing mutliple reality shows on various channels. 

     Who would have ever imagined that we would be allowed into the homes of dozens of housewives across major cities in the US; would be looking at a group of people stranded on a deserted island trying to survive; even cared to watch the Kardashian's argue it out, again;  knew or heard of a "Schnookie".  Why are we tuning in to root for our favorite lady while she "fights" for her right to date some dashing bachelor along with a bunch of other single women, and who knew there was even such a career as driving on ice or that so many people wanted to see how an Ice Trucker lives?  There are so many reality shows today, I can't possibly name them all.

     Never in a million years would I have expected myself to be one of "those" people, but here I am, on those rainy days or Sunday evenings, when I do get a chance to sit back and scan the channels to find one of my favorites while I sit, eyes glued, and "veg" out.  I actually enjoy the escape from my reality, and the chance to watch others leading a sometimes crazy life, one that I embarrasingly enough sometimes wish I had or could maybe engage in some of the things that they enjoy.  More often than not, I find myself very thankful that I do not have that life and that I am instead right here where I am and should be. 

As I sit and watch, and think about my guilty pleasure, I can't help but ask, how real is reality TV anyway?