Reality Television: The Epidemic Sweeping Our Nation"

REALITY TELEVISION: THE EPIDEMIC SWEEPING OUR NATION

The world of reality television is almost like an epidemic sweeping the nation in our

present day and age. The popularity of sitcoms and other scripted television series is by far

being taken over by the new world of reality television. Although these shows are greatly increasing in popularity, what is it about reality television that truly captures its audience? What kind of message are these reality television shows sending to the viewers? In essence, reality television creates a sort of “dream world”- a world in which participants are given the opportunity to act outlandishly and do things which they typically would not do in their every- day lives. Reality television pushes participants to the edge in an effort to gain another dollar or simply win the ultimate prize. In doing so, participants plot against one another, lose all morals and beliefs , or unpretentiously pretend to be something they are not , just to be accepted by their fellow peers. The lengths that participants reach in their effort to get to the top are limitless, and sadly enough, the once harmless world of reality television has now transformed itself into a whole new world which promotes greed, deceit, and lust.

Reality television is merely a reflection of what our society has become - a materialistically driven society where the love of power and money overcomes the power of love. In the reality show “ The Bachelor”, a large group of girls is brought together and ultimately they must all vie for the attention and love of one guy known as “The Bachelor”. Typically the guy is a successful and wealthy entrepreneur who is ready to settle down and find the right girl. As he begins his journey in his search for love, he picks fifteen to twenty females who he believes will be eligible women to possibly marry and spend the rest of his life with. As the show progresses, the seemingly cultured and classy women begin to turn on each other and ultimately it is no longer a matter of finding true love, but more about beating the opposing enemy and winning the guy as a sort of prize. They will do anything and everything just to prove that they “love” him no matter how immoral and greedy they may be portrayed. It is no longer matters of the heart that matter but more about the matters of themselves and the pocketbook. The behavior that is depicted on these reality television shows is creating a negative image of women in our society today. These reality shows simply aid in making women look like gold-diggers and promiscuous beings who solely think of themselves. In the end, these women do not leave the show feeling content and fulfilled but more insecure and inadequate. Such reality television shows contribute to the growing problems in our society by celebrating human weakness and selfishness rather than human excellence.

In one particular reality show called “Trading Spouses”, two families trade wives for two weeks and in the end both families win $50,000 each. The only catch is, the opposing wives get to choose what the other family may spend their money on. Indeed the $50,000 is a great perk, but is the stress, drama, and debasing of the family that goes on during those two weeks really worth it? The new mother comes into “her” new families home and pushes her beliefs, religion, and morals on “her” new family. In some cases the ensuing tension is so great that families have large blowouts, and the new mother ends up leaving the show, only to be lured back in the hopes of winning the money. All of the stress and tension imposed upon the families certainly does not make for a healthy and stable living environment. The children become stressed and angry individuals while on the show and act out in a way which they typically would not in their normal, every-day lives. Children who typically had a perfect relationship with their parents suddenly lash out at them because of all the tension caused by being on the show. What kind of message does this send to the children watching the show: that it okay to disregard all respect for our elders simply because things are a little stressful? The lengths that these families go to simply to gain a little more wealth should seriously be reassessed; because the enfeebling of a family unit as a whole is something that should never occur in the first place, no matter how big or grand the prize may be.

Our addiction to reality television is summed up quite well in “Voting Democracy off the Island: Reality TV and the Republican Ethos” by Francine Prose. She explains how reality TV is a “soupcon of voyeurism”, a recipe for entertainment, a taste that can be satisfied by watching every evening (Prose 223). What is it about these reality shows that captures the attention of viewers? Could it be the shoddiness and vulgarity of reality television that captures our attention? Perhaps it is the often cruel and gross humiliation which participants are exposed to for our amusement that makes the viewers so addicted to these reality shows. One of the first reality shows that came into production was “Big Brother”, a show that immediately enthralled people. “Big Brother” is the summer series that follows a group of strangers sharing a house which is equipped with cameras and microphones to record their every move, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. From the freedom of their living rooms, viewers are able to peek into the every-day lives of ten complete strangers , living together in this fully enclosed house. The immorality, drama, and backstabbing that goes on in