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The Harsh Reality About Reality Tv

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The Harsh Reality about Reality Television Tasha Sutton ENG 122 English Composition II Instructor, Tina Santino March 28, 2013

The Harsh Reality about Reality Television

What happen to the good old days when television programs had sweet, wholesome, honorable messages depicted to their viewer. Remember the sitcom, Family Matters, with Steve Erkel and the Winslow family. Brings a smile to your face, does it not? Television programs such as Family Matters, Saved by the Bell and Charles in Charge were great shows for every age. These shows, showed the viewer’s actors having a problem and how they solved it in a decent way that worked out for everyone. The audience knows that the characters are not real, but that does not change the message that they direct towards their viewers. Reality television is what is new and hip. The point of reality television is to make their viewers feel what they are seeing is indicative of everyday life. What most people do not realize is reality television is no different than a scripted, television show. Reality television caters to the negative emotions that make viewers want to see more television. Reality television programs are anything but wholesome. Reality television appeals more to our negative emotions and values, and has changed our viewing habits by decreasing family time and increasing television viewing times. These drastic changes that have occurred due to reality television has only changed society for the worst. Television is meant to entertain the viewers. Reality television however, does just that with its appeal to negative character values like hyper-sexuality, greed, and vengeance. Networks preying eyes relying on the audience’s curiosity to watch someone else behave in such a demeaning way. Reality TV is, as stated by Bagley (2001), “A presentation of non-actors in

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