Reality TV: A PSA

There are a lot of reality TV shows nowadays

But just how real is Television’s reality?

And how does it affect our perceptions of things?

Some reality TV shows are notorious and controversial…

Some pretend to show the reality of complicated things, like the legal system…

But they do all have some similarities

Did you know reality TV show formats and styles are copyrighted?

Because they use the same format again and

again…

…although it’s not all bad!

No really!

If we view reality TV and the subcategories within with a

critical view, we can learn about other cultures…

English Big Brother…

South African Big Brother…

Even Big Brother Bahrain!

Reality Court TV, such as People’s Court and

Judge Judy allow audiences to spectate

on a version of the legal system..

In The People’s Court, the Judge follows the law, despite his moral feelings on the case…

…but they also help resolve disputes, showing the court as a mediator and place for average people

to settle disputes legally.

But in Judy’s courtroom, it’s hers and hers alone.

She decides cases with her own morals, then fits the law to back up her decision.

Sometimes she gets angry…

And sometimes she calls people names like “stupid” or “dolt”

But she always makes decisions based on her opinions, with the law as mangled reasoning…

I mean, real judges don’t have people to do their makeup…

…or design their hair

So viewers of The People’s Court and Judge Judy get two different outlooks on the legal system…

…though neither of them are wholly accurate.

So why do people watch reality TV?

Well, the legal process is a mysterious process and we like to

spectate…

…and we also like to judge people…

… and see people we can relate too…

… or at least quietly chuckle at…

So the answer is…

But that can be alright…

We can learn about other cultures from their

reality shows…We can enjoy the entertainment the same way we do fictional entertainment… And we can certainly

ignore the shows we don’t like…

Just never forgot to view reality TV critically…

Laugh at it when it’s silly…

Keep an eye on how it’s affecting your perception of actual reality…

Enjoy it occasionally…

You wouldn’t eat roasted chicken every night, would you?

Definitely don’t take the attitudes and behaviors from reality TV into the real world…

Because conflict is fun to watch, but it’s not fun to be a part of…

This has been a reality check…

…on reality TV