Analyis 1

Analysis of Reality Television

            Currently there are over 500 reality television shows that have aired over the last 10 years. Reality TV began trending shortly after the movie, The Truman Show, was shown on the big screen. According to Steven Reiss and James Wiltz, the reason people watch reality television shows is because the people on the shows are their peers and it is easy for the audience to relate to and also gives them a feeling that can be on a reality show. This analysis will entail theories of popular culture that apply to reality TV.

            Reality TV seems to host the American Myth of Success. As noted above, people relate to reality shows because they can see themselves being part of them. Most of the people casted on reality shows have no acting experience and some profit from various ventures after the shows air. A lot of the “big personality” reality stars create a rather large group of followers. For example, Snooki, a New Jersey Shore reality star has wrote a book, appears on many talk shows and is being tweeted about constantly. It seems that everywhere I went this year, I overheard women who wanted to dress as Snooki for Halloween.

            Some reality shows like American Idol and America’s Next Top Model, offer the winners of the show a career in singing and modeling. Some do not offer cash prizes or careers but there are perks to being casted on the show. For example, Bad Girls Club and Jersey Shore do not offer prizes but do provide a nice place for the cast to stay, trips to different vacation spots and set up places for the cast to work.           

            There are many different points of view concerning reality TV. Some people view it as nonsense while others prefer to watch reality. Reality TV can be quite entertaining as it is real-life. For the most part, the shows are not scripted and the events that take place are not rehearsed. I, myself, enjoy watching reality shows of all kinds because they grasp your attention and are relatable. Many of the events are things that have either happened to me or I have witnessed happening.