What effect does reality television have on society?

What is reality television?

Programming in

which ‘real life’

people are

followed by a

camera crew

Three types of

reality tv: dating

(The Bachelor),

game (Survivor),

talent (American

Idol)

What is the history of reality television?

1940’s, Allen

Funt’s Candid

Camera used

hidden lenses

An American

Family (1973);

Cops (1989); Whos

Wants to be a

Milionare (1999)

What are some recent reality television shows?

Over 104 new

reality tv

shows on 20

different

channels in US

in 2010

Keeping Up With

the Kardashians

gained over 3

million total

viewers on the

season premiere

CBS’s Big Brother;

MTV’s 16 &

Pregnant;

Discovery’s Man v.

Wild; ABC’s

Extreme Makeover;

WE’s Bridezillas

What effect does reality television have on children?

Australian study

“revealed children

were more likely to

associate wealth,

popularity, and

beauty to happiness

Disgusting and

dangerous shows

inspire dangerous

actions by young

viewers

Toddlers in

Tiaras & Dance

Moms portrays

the fake lives of

girls 10 or

younger

What effect does reality television have on girls?

Girl Scout

Research Institute

conducted a

survey of 1141

girls (11-17)

Majority of regularly-

viewing girls

considered

themselves mature,

good influences,

smart, funny, and

outgoing

GSRI concluded

reality tv is a good

motivational and

learning tool &

encourages girls to

be socially active

What effect does reality TV have on the world?

Sept. 2010 – UK 49.5%; US

48.8%; Vietnam 48.4%;

Finland 46.6%; Ireland 45.0%;

Canada 44.5%; Poland 39.8%;

Turkey 39.8%; Brazil 38.5%;

Israel 35.1%

Salam Shabab in

Iraq casts

teenagers to help

rebuild the

damage made

during war

“The show

encourages respect

for diversity,

promotes civic

action, and hopes to

improve participants’

self confience.”

What effect does reality television have on women?

“Television has

constructed plastic

surgery as a

different sort of

labor beauty, one

of passivity, but

mainly still for

women.”

“The job of women is

to allow things to be

done to their bodies.”

“The labor of men is

on of activity and one

of authority.”

Reality television

stars and celebrities

show us what we are

supposed to look

like and what

“average” is.

Can reality television be beneficial?

What Not to Wear;

The Dog Whisperer;

The Biggest Loser;

The Celebrity

Apprentice; Dr.

Drew’s Celebrity

Rehab

Beneficial? Or just

outrageous people

doing outrageous

things for

attention or

money.

Trash reality

programming

outweighs the

amount of

beneficial

programming

Conclusion

Reality TV as

a whole does

more harm to

our society

than good

Talentless

is the new

talented

What would we

watch at night

when we can’t

fall asleep if we

didn’t have

reality TV?