A slogan I never really thought twice about, except that it seemed a bit melodramatic. "truTV", a network with the "most": shocking, daring, dangerous and intense. A network with hours of footage on police chases and crime investigations outwardly rejects the notion of "reality" television. I think of the programs they (the wonderful people at truTV) may be referring to: "The Hills" (most notably for the "stars" it has produced), "Real World", "The Bachelor", the list really goes on forever. These self proclaimed "reality" series are now faced with criticism because of the sudden realization that an editing room may be involved, and that episode after episode of drama, backstabbing, tears may just be a result of some simple copy and paste technique by the network itself.
Someone in class asked the question of why we need so much reality. Simply put, but excellent questioning of our country's wide television audience. Why is it that "non scripted" programs have become so exponentially popular, a new one coming out each season? I was fascinated by "The Truman Show", it really was ahead of its time in it's predictions about entertainment. Could it be that Christof was right? Did we simply become too aware of the "phoniness" in acting? A show deemed reality seems to capture our attention more than ever before. Because there seems to be limited acting involved, we believe that the lives portrayed on these shows are real. They are not always going to be perfect, but at least they are honest. The little worlds shown to us on MTV are, in fact, just like ours. And just like ours, we want to keep up with all of the sex, fights, makeups and ruined friendships. It seems to be our way of distracting ourselves from our own situations. And once one show is over, we ask "what else is on?"
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3 comments:
I love your title, Shadhe and the last line is fabulous—it cleverly summarizes the issues with which the post is dealing. Though, put simply: I want more. I am reading the kernels of many complicated and critical topics in this post and now I want to see you take them further. Link us to “truTV” for example and perhaps close read how it advertises itself. Or, take up the difference between “reality” and “actuality” that you rightly brought up in class and at the beginning of this post. How have we moved beyond reality and into actuality? Moreover, what is the relationship between “actuality” and “virtuality”? To what extent have we all become actors in our so-called actual lives? You have some brilliant observations—as I said, I can really see those wheels turning in class. Therefore, dig deeper into the texts you mention here and get our wheels turning, even more than you already have, in return.
I also think that we are attracted to reality shows because we feed off of "uncontrived" drama and the sort. It appeals to the human condition where one person's poison is another's entertainment. It sounds sick, but we've been doing it ever since the Romans threw Christians into lion pits and allowed public admission. And at times, participation.
As for truTV's slogan, doesn't it seem like reality shows have tainted the word "reality"? As a TV station trying to maintain/improve their demographics, it seems like they've resorted to using another word to describe the amount of actual reality. Actual reality? Whoever thought we had to qualify reality like that?
Now reality doesn't even seem like a word. Reality, reality, reality. It's been said so much it sounds nonsensical.
I like how you're title is a slogan from "trutv." It really brings out the subject of your topic. However, like the professor mentioned I do want to see what programs on truTv you think are link to how people percieve "reality." I also agree with you on the fact that people may be watching reality tv shows because they like the drama and how it relates to them in general. Or that they perceive it to be "real" and not acting.
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