...Reality Television Summary This article is about reality television. Experts point out their opinions of what they think about reality TV and discuss why us people spend the time we spend on watching reality television shows such as; ”X-Factor”, ”Britain's got talent” and ”Big Brother”. In Elizabeth Days article she talks about “why reality TV works”. She talks about how everyone thought the end of Big Brother would be the END of reality shows. But our enthusiasm for Simon Cowell's prime-time talent search shows no sign of abating. Cowell has brought reality shows to a whole new level. Experts such as Beverley Skeggs say that reality shows makes us feel like we are a part of something. That people can connect with other people who have the same values and who behave the same way. That makes us viewers want to help and support the person we feel connected to. According to the Brand Driver Research which examines allure of reality television such as the “X-Factor” which is made to appeal to personal relationships and to make the viewers feel more bonded with the contestants and feel a part of an extended social network and part of a community. Nowadays people have started looking for more simple entertainment. The part that attracts viewers to “X-Factor” is the sense of control it gives us. Viewers have a power to vote for their favorite contestants, even though their lives are being shaped by government cutbacks, job losses and social deprivation. the fact that...
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...Reality Television Affecting Body Image Media of today has swallowed lives of the youth as it constantly portrays an image of perfection in which they must live up to. Individuals have seen through reality television and other sources what is categorized as this image. This is shown psychologically as it is not directly stated but represented. The Hills and The Real World, two MTV reality television shows, are provoking public interest showing these wrong images influencing the youth. This is changing the youth, as they are slowly becoming more and more degraded as the generations’ progress. Our next generation is constantly fighting a battle against reality television shows and their overall visual portraying what teens of today must live up to. Due to these programs today, the youth of today are constantly competing with “unrealistic self-expectations to be perfect; not just physical appearance, but more importantly, overall peer ranking” (dailytitan). Shows like The Real World and The Hills, both MTV programs, “sensationalize the physical attractiveness, sexual promiscuity, drug and alcohol abuse, co-dependent relationships and other negative connotations as to what is the norm” (dailytitan). For example, a young teen of today, could watch Real World or The Hills and see perfect body images, generating insecurity within them, leading to vulnerability around “popular kids” who induce self-doubting. This changes the teens overall impression of perfection. Magazines of...
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...Risky: The Values of Reality Television English 122 Risky: The Values of Reality Television Reality television has taken over television entertainment as the most popular genre of television broadcasting. Reality television is an unscripted programming genre that follows real life events of ordinary people and often celebrities for certain periods of time. The concept of reality television is popular however, it is not new. Survivor is mostly known for being the first reality television show to debut on a network. However, according to (Sannah, 2011), An American Family debuted on PBS in 1973 therefore is the first in class in this genre. On this particular reality show filmmakers followed the Loud Family in Santa Barbara for seven months. Since then American audiences have been exposed to shows like, Candid Camera, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Jerry Springer, and Cops, and more recently we have moved into more entertainment based, game show reality, and competition based reality TV. Media experts predicted the 2001 season of reality shows would be the beginning of the end of this genre stating, “over-scheduling tend to lead to overkill” (Gardyn, 2001). Clearly those that predicted this were wrong. There are an abundance of reality based programs on most networks from cable to regular network television. The majority of reality television shows being promoted today do not add any value or substance to human life or behavior. Reality television appeals to cultural...
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...Diminishing Values of Reality Television Karen Christy ENG122: English Composition II Sara Esquivia May 5th, 2012 Reality television has set low standards for ourselves and our youth in society today, such as glorifying being sixteen and pregnant, how real housewives in the "city" act, and having toddlers look too grown up for their ages. There are still some good values in some programs but there seem to be more diminishing values in reality television shows. Reality television has distorted reality for our children in this society. The show Jersey Shore has little positive values in its episodes. The positive values that are portrayed for teens and young adults to pick up on are loyalty and family importance. Then we have the diminishing values of Jersey Shore. In the show you have a group of young adults who show no regard for caring about what they do to the insides of their bodies. Jersey Shore shows the group binge drinking, which leads to making out with complete strangers and then bringing random people back to the home. Jersey Shore has no talks on the show about using condoms, the different types of birth control out there, or the risks of catching a sexual transmitted disease. The girls run around on the show wearing almost next to nothing and calling it clothing, and the whole group portray sexual activity is no big deal. When teenagers and young adults see this they believe this as being okay for them to repeat. This is not the message we...
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...“Reality television.” Summary of ”When Reality Gets Too Real”: The text is on the subject of TV-network producers’ terrible activities and assorted crimes that has occurred with reference to the various reality-programs. The text emphasizes the tendencies on making unsafe or rather disturbing circumstances for the programs’ subjects and viewers. Some of the top incidents exposed on TV contain addiction, drunk driving, and under-age drinking. And despite the fact that these unfortunate incidents escalate or get completely out of control, besides how much harm they all cause - such as sudden death or suicide – it does not appear to be a ‘serious matter’ for the TV-networks. They simply put more weight in high rating hits and to catch people’s full awareness so that they can get their own mission accomplished: getting more viewers! One of the main issues being raised in the text is concerning the producers’ general involvement during filming – even though U.S law does not require it. When are they compelled to step out from behind the camera and intervene? Outline of the various attitudes to reality television in texts 2, 3 & 4: The attitudes to reality television throughout the texts are various. The TV-networks themselves are basically optimistic towards the subject. They believe that reality programs - besides from being ‘good’ entertainment - give the viewers a glance into the reality of other people’s lives and that they draw attention to various...
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...The Stigma Surrounding Reality Television ENG 122: English Composition II April 17, 2011 The word moral is defined as an act of relating to, expressing, or teaching principles of right and wrong in behavior (Moral 2011). The word value is defined as relative worth, utility, or importance in oneself (Value 2011) The word reality is defined as a real event, entity, or state of affairs; the totality of real things and events (Reality 2011). In today’s society reality television has such a great influence over the younger generation, and for the most part not in a positive way. The majority of the reality show programs shown on television showcase a lack of moral and values that are instilled in people from the time they are children. The majority of these shows display the people on the show drinking alcohol in vast amounts, expressing very open sexual behavior, violence, bad language choices, and endless nights of partying. When I was growing up my parents used to say “Do not believe everything you see on television, because that is not the reality of how things work in real life.” Reality television shows provide a false outlook on life, and it gives the youth an unrealistic standard of living, as well as slows down the developmental structure of the younger generation, because whatever is shown on reality television is what they think life is all about. Reality television has made for the most part, such a negative impact on the younger generation, that one has to wonder...
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...Effect of Reality Television on Today's Youth Kimberly Lindsey English Competition II Professor Lauren Higgins April 29, 2013 CAUSE AND EFFECT 1 Reality television has evolved over the past sixty years. They have went from clean practical jokes to a portrayal of an American family to how to party, lie and deceive. The more the focus is on partying, drugs, sex, vulgarerness, the more our young people will portray these traits. There needs to be more focus on good wholesome clean fun, that keeps the youth safe and healthy. The way to change the way our society is headed is to stop the programing that is hurting all of us. Reality shows of today teaches the youth that its alright to disobey their parents, its alright to party, do drugs, have sex with multiple people, get pregnant, and that the guys that don't have to stay around or take care of the situation they helped put the girl in. The cause and effects of today's reality shows far out weigh the advantages they have. Its hard to believe that reality shows have been around for almost sixty years. The very first reality show was produced...
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...Reality Television: Is it Helpful to Our Youth? Through decades of television, there has been a drastic change in the content shown on air. In past generations, family oriented television shows were expected to be shown around the clock. Shows that contained explicit content were not an option to be shown on television, but today there is not much of a filter that will not be shown on television. There are things shown on late night specials on cartoon channels that are not appropriate for anyone, let alone young children. Television programs have given children a false sense of what is expected in the real world and delays their chance to mature at a normal rate. Television stars are not helping to shape young minds, but instead they are making it difficult for children to learn what is right from what is wrong. This generation has a different view of what television should include, there should not be a limit on major issues; for example violence, sexuality, profanity, and drugs and alcohol. In past generations, those subjects were forbidden and were rarely even spoken about in the closest of friends groups. Now it is expected for it to be broadcast on television, in movies, and to be causally discussed in any scenario. Television and the media have given our generation the reigns to take control of what they think is inappropriate or appropriate. This now gives them the opportunity to talk about almost anything that could be thought of, there are no more filters...
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...Project- Reality Television Arguing against reality TV Thesis: Reality Television, a lot of words come to mind at the mere mention of the phrase; many of those responses are either positive or negative. Everyone in modern society has something to say about reality television. And of course why wouldn’t they? Reality TV has been around for a long time, and it would be unwise of me to believe that it will be going anywhere other than to its faithful viewers. Today I will discuss reality television as a negative stand point in our modern society. In terms of the value of entertainment, modern culture, and basic ethics of today; where I believe our society, and the society of other countries have put too much effort in making reality television what it is today. Professionals against reality tv: It is nonsense to say that broadcasters shouldn't set standards or be obliged to adhere to codes of behavior. We don't for instance allow them to promote racism or sectarianism or to incite violence. Reality TV is debasing and should be strictly controlled, if not banned altogether. Statistics: According to Medical Procedure News, reality television is attributing to cosmetic surgery procedures with more than 9.2 million procedures performed as result of people watching these shows Reality TV episodes have increased to 57% of all television shows that can be found on your screens Americans spend 1/3 of their free time watching television and of that 67% are reality shows Humiliation...
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...are doing, who they’re seeing, what they’re eating – in essence, the idea of privacy is non-existent. During the last decade we have seen men and women willingly go on television to disclose personal information, be followed by cameras and have every inch of their lives exposed to millions of viewers. Reality television has alienated the way we protect our privacy and in changed the way we view normal. Reality television has only created problems and television companies should abolish any current reality television being produced so personal privacy can finally be restored. The importance of privacy must be realized and must be appreciated because once we lose our privacy, it’s never coming back. Reality television is a hard concept to define; each show that’s created has its own agenda and its own motivation for being created. The only commonality between every show is that people choose to go on television and have their lives taped. Every aspect of their lives can and will be aired on television and subsequently every drama or problem they have during or after the show will be aired on gossip websites or in magazines for the world to see. Once these cameras are turned on they are never turned off. The very definition of normal needs to be reworded because the sort of families that are seen on television as “normal” are very far from what any average person would consider normal. An example of this is the very public divorce battle that Jon and Kate Gosselin (Jon and Kate...
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...Culture Soc 105 Culture: is everything, frames what we do every minute of day even the way we sleep at night, it is so common to our lives that it is. The set of ideas handed down from generation to generation in a particular group or society, is both product of peoples actions and constraint on their actions. Material Culture: physical objects a society produces from objects of nature, such as tools, streets, cars, sculptures and toys. These objects depend on nonmaterial culture for their meaning. Nonmaterial culture: Intangible elements of a culture, varying from the simple to complex. These elements include symbols, language, values, the norms, the beliefs, and the general knowledge shared by a society. One Part: Symbols: symbols are anything that represents something else to more than one person. Language: A set of symbols communicated through writing, signs and expressions, and speech. Is the core of culture: if you can’t speak the language can’t be a part of the culture, it has words and those words have meaning? Two Part: Norms: socially accepted behavior that falls into 3 categories: * Folkways: Customary, normal, habitual ways a group does things. * Mores: Fairly strong ideas of right or wrong that have a more nature. Can be laws. But not all laws are Mores. * Taboos: Violation generally deeply repugnant. This is what disgusts us: aka, murder, rape, anything that makes you sick you can hardly talk about. SANCTIONS: visible responses to norm violations...
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...In “Ghetto Bitches, China Dolls, and Cha Cha Divas,” Jennifer Pozner analyzes race and gender stereotypes present in the reality television series America’s Next Top Model (ANTM). Race is a symbol of what a person looks like physically. While on the other hand, ethnicity entails nationality, regional culture and language. ANTM, a show by Tyra Banks, is one of the many streams of pop culture that creates a mold of what stereotypes certain people fit into and justify these stereotypes for audiences to see them as real. One group that seems to always be plagued by media and pop culture is, African-Americans, specifically, women. Women are generalized to be, “Angry Black Women,” and it is broadcasted heavily. The “Angry Black Women” stereotype...
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... A. Our generation is becoming too invested in having the perfect body or face trying to look like celebrities that make a living off of their looks and not their intelligence. B. Plastic surgery is extremely expensive and can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $14,000 to achieve. This amount is enough to cover two semesters and books at school. C. Plastic surgery also includes many health risk to include nerve damage, cancer, and many infections and even organ damage. III. According to the Los Angeles Times article of plastic surgery, even they can agree that the cheapest alternative to plastic surgery could easily be exercise. A. If the media would include real reality showing more celebrity’s embracing their natural looks more people would not feel the need to compete with them. B. Plastic surgery should only be considered for age twenty four and...
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...The Image of Women in The Media Cheneka Wright PHI 208: Ethic and Moral Reasoning Instructor: Justin Murray June 7, 2016 We all seen the different stereotypes that the media has portray women to be from the femme fatale, the supermom, the sex kitten, the nasty corporate climber. Whatever the role, television, film and popular magazines are full of images of women and girls who are typically white, desperately thin, and made up to the hilt—even after slaying a gang of vampires or dressing down a Greek phalanx. There has to be said that there have been some strides that have been made in which the way that women are portrayed in films, television, and even in magazines, and this has been over the last few decades. The presence as well as influence of women behind the scenes has also grown in many ways that were not so before. But have we come far enough. So my question is Has the Portrayal of Women in Today’s Society Health Role Models to Our Young People of Today? With the television shows that are aired on a day to day basis it’s hard to expect the portrayal of women to be any less than what it is…..negative. Is there an obligation for the media to show young people a more positive image of women or is it a duty of the parents? The notion of common good does not just happen. Establishing and maintaining it is the responsibility of everyone. Maintaining the social conditions from which we all benefit requires the cooperative efforts of all citizens. These efforts pay...
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...Mr. Speaker, honorable opponents and distinguished judges. The resolution before the house today is be it resolved that reality TV shows reflects real life. First let me list a few reality TV shows you guys may watch at home- Dragons Den, Jersey Shore, Survivor and Big Brother. Now, what do all these shows have in common besides all being reality TV shows? They all have normal everyday people, real reactions and the people who watch these shows can relate to them. Yes some people may argue that some shows are over-done and the actor’s reactions are fake but the truth behind the matter is that everybody has a different opinion on what over-doing a reaction is. If reality shows didn’t reflect our lives, then nobody would watch the shows. We watch reality shows because they are entertaining, and they put people like us in situations where their actions are being watched 24/7. If you were offered a role in a reality TV show such as Big Brother, at first you’d be careful of what actions you make on camera knowing the world is watching. But how long can you really keep acting fake? The real you, the real reactions when you are put in a hard situation will come out. This is why reality shows such as Big Brother reflect real life because it’s based on real reactions of normal people like you and I. The opposition may argue that the editing if what makes reality TV look fake but remember that the camera doesn't lie. No matter how much editing is done to compress and provide a story...
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