Over the past few decades, the spread of a whole new
television genre occurred all around the world, which is known as the reality
show. These kind of shows depict situations that are not staged and there are
usually people in them who were unknown by the public beforehand. Also, this
genre generally puts more emphasis on personal drama and conflict compared to documentary
shows. As the statistics show, the popularity of reality shows is undeniable: in 2000, 70% of the population of the United
Kingdom (aged 4-65) said that they watch them occasionally, or on a regular
basis. Some of the most popular reality shows are American Idol in the US, Britain’s
Got a Talent in the UK or X-factor
in Hungary. This essay will examine the question at how reality shows affect
the large group of people that follow them.
The first effect to be discussed is that those who
watch these kind of shows want to escape from reality. For instance, someone who
works all day in the office monotonously, then returns home and switches on the
television faces all the drama that comes from a reality show. As a result, his
or her life may seem more and more dull to themselves, and could watch shows
all day just to forget about their endless paperwork. Moreover, these people
tend to have unrealistic expectations at real life. They might think that the
way the Kardashians or Győzike live is the normal way, and seeing such wealth
can also make those who are in a difficult financial situation feel miserable. However,
the other way around, the life of those starring in reality shows may become
unrealistic, as well. If they do their drama not just on screen, it can easily
become a police case. For instance, Ryan Jenkins, a former reality TV contestant,
murdered his wife and then committed suicide. The unrealistic standards of
reality shows are not the only problems, as they can have a much deeper impact
on the youth. Shows such as Jersey Shore
promote non-stop partying, and teenagers watching that are more likely to use
drugs or alcohol, as it appears to be the normal way of life for them.
Furthermore, reality shows also can contain sex scenes. Because of that, the
morality of adolescents, and their expectations in sexual life and relationships
may be distorted irreversibly. Moreover, girls who watch makeover shows are
more likely to feel unhappy with their body. This is the reason why they want
to change their appearance at any cost, which may result in anorexia, bulimia
or expensive plastic surgery.
Beside all the dangers and negative effects, reality
shows do have positive effects on society, as well. For example, in Britain’s Got a Talent, a disabled girl
was amongst the contestants, and she was very determined to show that she can
live and sing like other people. This many have a positive effect on people,
making them more sensitive and helpful towards the disabled. Moreover, reality shows
may have a positive message about the way of life. For instance, the show Teen Mom on MTV has a hidden message for
teenage girls about responsibility and carefulness in sexual life.
In conclusion, although reality shows have a negative
effect on society, such as encouraging people to escape to the show from their
dull lives and especially endangering the younger generations, they also have
some advantages as they teach people with the help of a bad example and draw
attention to important social issues.
Bibliography:
Reality
television. (n.d.).
Retrieved March 11, 2015 from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_television
List
of Top 10 Best UK Reality TV Shows.
(n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2015 from KBlogUK Web site: http://www.kblog.co.uk/list-of-top-10-best-uk-reality-tv-shows/
Megölte feleségét a
valóságshow-szereplő. (2009, August 24.). Retrieved March 11, 2015 from Blikk
Website:http://www.blikk.hu/blikk_sztarvilag/20090824/megolte_feleseget_a_valosagshow-szereplo/
Reality
TV Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2015 from JOB MONKEY
No comments:
Post a Comment