Why you should not take participants in reality shows seriously

I don't want to keep up anymore

Let’s talk about something that is on my mind lately. Namely: reality shows and my love-hate relationship with them. 

These shows are insanely popular and seem to appear everywhere. If you haven’t seen them, your grandma probably has. Because no matter what you do, you will be confronted with these shows. Names, rumours, speculations and images will pass by on your social media accounts. Various reality stars use their fame for their products, like the Kylie JennerLip Kit that gives you lips that make them look stung by a bee for €50. Nowadays I do not watch a lot of television (thanks university life) but when I do I usually watch reality shows. I'm am not really sure how I end up watching them, but it's is addictive. Temptation Island, Expeditie Robinson, The Hills, Boer zoekt Vrouw and of course Keeping up with the Kardashians: these titles are a few of the popular shows that we have nowadays. As a viewer I watch primarily with a lot of disbelieve. Did she really just say that? How can someone act like that? Therefore an episode creates a lot of questions, but also amusement. Because let’s be honest, we rather watch others make stupid decisions than make  them ourselves. 

Accessibility of reality shows

It is easy to say that reality shows are part of contemporary popular culture.  The shows are mostly about ordinary people like you and me. However, the participants get a platform and their life is documented in a sensational way that is amusing for viewers.  But why is something as reality TV so popular while we know that's is manipulated by the directors? Forced conversations and remaking a scene is daily business in reality world (The Guardian, 2017).  And that point makes it hard for me to accept reality shows even though it is a kind of guilty pleasure. 

 it is a kind of guilty pleasure.

 It is very irritating if a show calls itself a reality show, when everything is manipulated. We as human beings live in reality and we rarely have any control on real life situations. Therefore it is unrealistic if a show calls itself ‘reality’ when it is manipulated by others. The reality in these shows is the reality the producers and later the audience wants to see. The characters need to stay in their given role even though their reaction would be different if there were no cameras around to document everything. 

It already starts with the chosen cast. A ‘reality’ cast consists of heroes and villains, because that leads to a sensational chemistry. Besides that, producers are open about their selection and search for example strong characters and show ponies (The Guardian, 2017). Knowing this fact makes me feel a bit betrayed. The characters in the show are picked strategically and are somehow forced to act and speak in a certain way. As a viewer, I feel they misuse the word reality, because what is reality when every move is planned? But that does not take away that I automatically ‘idolize’ characters in my mind. Some characters have certain statements and looks that I like. That leads to identifying myself with them and also the thought that I would have them as friends if life was arranged differently. In other words, the strategic plans of the producers work and that is frustrating. As a viewer I look at the characters as if I know them. Their achievements in life could also be my achievements, because we are very similar. 

Quotesgram

The reality shows are easily accessible and continue on social media. For example, I follow two Kardashians on Snapchat. Do I have a valid reason? Not really. If you would ask me in real life about my opinion, I would say that I dislike the Kardashians and that we should focus on relevant topics in the world, such as famine. But I'm am just fooling myself, because a part of my daily focus is on them instead of famine. I follow their steps as if I personally know them. Even the way they dress and apply their makeup has become an inspiration source for my own wardrobe. And that brings me to another point. The characters of popular reality TV become a brand. Everything they do or start up seems to work. The media is focussed on them and they profit from it.  

According to Forbes Magazine Kim Kardashian got 18 million dollars for her product line and personal appearances in her own TV series in 2012 ( Dicks & Nanton, 2013). 18 million dollars just for existing. Let that just sink in. 

18 million dollars just for existing. Let that just sink in.

As a hardworking student with a minimal survival income, that amount of money looks absurd. Therefore I cannot take these reality shows very seriously. Every act is staged and the participants get payed for it. It is quite disturbing that society makes a distinction between hard working people behind cameras and the ones that work in front of it. For example an ordinary teacher will never get that kind of money unless there is a camera in front of him or her. That makes the line between reality very thin, because when is something valid enough to be aired in a reality show? It is clear that reality TV is the most dominant marketing medium in history. Therefore its economic value results in high payments for the reality stars (Hill, 2015). You can say that reality TV is a phenomenon that is part of the social and media matrix. Reality TV is understandable when it is connected to something everyone can interpret. These shows grab the attention of audience with phenomenal moments that are constructed by the producers, otherwise the popularity would degrease (Hill, 2015). 

Don't be so dramatic 

That takes us back to the beginning statement. The reason I do not take the participants seriously is because everything they do is staged. Their influence is huge in our society and therefore their way of living becomes the ultimate goal or even the norm. And that can be very misleading and even dangerous if you ask me. As a young adult I recognize their influence in my daily life. As I already mentioned I follow them on certain social media and ‘know’ a lot of facts about them. But what happens if teenagers have access to these ‘celebrities’? Do we need to support these fictional reality shows in our society whilst they create fake images of life? 

I don’t think so. Creating an illusion of life can only be negative on the long term. The reality shows created the viewer as a kind of a product. Everything they buy, wear or eat becomes instantly popular for no beneficial reason. Well it only profits the participants and the marketing world. We need to take the real reality back even though that may sound ridiculous. Every individual has the right and obligation to set its own norms. Not a manipulated character on television or social media. And yes it will be very hard, because reality TV is a dominating marketing medium with a big economic value. But it might be the best thing for our society. We don’t need a show to tell us what reality is. We actually live in reality and we need to realize that as soon as possible. Every person needs to set their own ideology of living life, not some vague character on television.

In summary, dear reader, let's try to come back to our senses and stop looking at other people living life. We have the same exact life without remaking scenes or forced conversations. Just look around you and look at yourself. If you are still breathing, you are alive. Therefore you should have your own norms and eventually your own culture. Do what you like the most without comparing yourself with a fake doll on the television. At least I really want to try to skip all those reality shows and focus on real life. And if you want to join me, we can eventually ban all those manipulative shows from television and eventually create a new popular culture. How exciting! 

References 

Dicks, J. & Nanton, N. (2013). Kim Kardashian and the power of a celebrity brand. Fast Company. 

Hill, A (2015). Reality TV. New York: Routledge. 

Hunt, E. (2017).  Behind the scenes of reality TV: ‘You’re a little bit daft to apply’.  The Guardian.