Week Eleven

How have they constructed our conceptualisation of reality (or at least what we recognise as being real at the visual level)?

"Far from being the faithful depiction of reality it is supposed to be, realism, through the various forms it has taken throughout its history, shows itself to be neither a window nor mirror but a set of conventions" Robert Lapsley and Michael Westlake (1988; 158). This quote provides a good entry way for this weeks question - how does reality tv construct our own conceptualisation of reality? Or does reality tv just target our societal conventions?

There are several ways that reality tv can construct its own reality.
Reality tv began with hidden camera techniques, first filming shows, such as Candid Camera, and later, Miss America in 1984 (Wikipedia, 2011). The reality genre evolved to include Cinema Verite, which makes use of the fly on the wall position. The Docosoap focuses on clear cut characters who work in service-based jobs, that we revisit each time and get a sense of understanding for, such as Animal Hospital (Biressi & Nunn, 2005).
The use of handheld cameras, voice-overs and snappy story narration help to create an atmosphere of urgency (example being Cops). The "fly on the wall" as an an atypical reality show was pioneered by Survivor, which stressed the "ordinary people in extreme situations" theme, and focuses on the exagerrated behavior of contestants. This is a style of cinema described as "Cinema Verite with an Orwellian aura" (Brenten & Cohen, 2003). We feel as though we are watching a version of reality due to the Orwellian presence of the cameras, whilst forgetting the input of the directors, producers, writers etc.

Is our own reality influenced by this genre? Perhaps this also has much to do with the media. I recall being in England during the Big Brother phase. It would screen after school, there would be nightly reviews of the day, a LIVE channel, updates available for mobiles AND Facebook, internet sites including live streaming and of course all the magazine and newspaper coverage! It was everywhere! We have seen regular people become overnight celebrities purely for being on a reality show, we have seen unpopular celebs become likeable (i.e Jordan on "I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!), we have seen out of work celebs taste fame once more (i.e Peter Andre on above show), and we have seen contest winners achieve huge fame thanks to the media interest (i.e. Leona Lewis on The X Factor, and all other talent shows). Then theres people like Jessica Simpson who branch out and make millions, or Kim Kardashian who it appears impossible to escape from. How do they influence our reality? I am unsure how much reality tv is responsible for, but it is clear it shares the position with media and entertainment. For example, our language has mutated at a shocking rate and popular culture is referenced more and more by youth today (try and understand children I ask you!). Slang now includes many american idioms, as copied by shows such as The Hills and Jersey Shore (grenade, anyone?). It is an often spoken truth that our level of education is failing in areas such as spelling. Can we put this down to a script that takes place almost entirely in slang/made up words, which we then copy?
Additionally, many of the reality shows popular today can be found on Sky's E Channel. It is my personal view that the constant presence of materialistic shows such as Keeping up with the Kardashians and the like, increase our greed and capacity for envy. We start to want an exotic life like Khloe's, we want the Louis Vuitton handbag that Kourtney has, and we want the fame and money that Kim flaunts. Because we are bombarded with lifestyles of the rich and famous every day, our perception of reality is thwarted. Furthermore, reality tv relies strongly on the outrageous antics of particpants, such as pairing the most unimaginable people together on shows such as Wife Swap, causing some horrific situations, and often involving children. Our reality of what is right and wrong gets blurred.

To continue on with this idea, we also see that reality tv can affect its participants reality as well. For example, Brenton and Cohen (2003) explain that these forced situation experiences forces people to take on new facets of personality, and consequently lose their own identity. Additionally, participants may appear healthy but how does anyone really know, given that the psychologists are likely to be paid by the producers, and the media is more than likely owned by the same people? The attention some contestants may receive - especially negative - can never be seperated from someone as there is no longer the distinction between person and character. The viewers reality is confused, and so is the particpants. The worst case scenario of this is shown by the suicide of the first evictee from Survivor forerunner, Expedition Robinson (Brenton & Cohen, 2003).

There is a very good film called The Condemmed starring Steve Austin, that explores the idea of reality tv, and how far we are willing to go with it. It really makes you stop and think long and hard for a minute about the form reality tv may take in the future, and our notions of right and wrong (reality tv is the Frankenstein of TV!). Additional viewing could be The Cube, which also continues along this vein.

Our reality may be further influenced by reality tv. For example, Drifters (1929) and Coalface (1935) assisted in not only bringing understanding to the fishing/mining professions, but also helped to unify the nation during the second world war (Biressi & Nunn, 2005). Or sometimes, reality tv may play to stereotypes, such as Jessica Simpson and Paris HIlton, in their respective tv shows. It may even create desire to experience life on the other side of the world, such as Intrepid Journeys, while at the same time instilling bias from the sole point of view broadcast.

To conclude, reality tv can take on many shapes and forms, but at the end of the day, its hold over us - the humble viewer - is far reaching. I almost feel there is no point debating the reality of what we are watching, or the good/bad effects, as reality television has now become so firmly a part of our society that i cant imagine a time without it (and I dont even watch tv!). Human beings are simple creatures - we believe everything our eyes tell us, even though our eyes miss nearly everything of importance in this life, and deceive us every day.




REFERENCES
Biressi, A. & Nunn, N. (2005). Real Lives, documentary approaches. In Reality TV: realism and revelation. (pp. 35-58) London: Wallflower.

Hill, A. (2005) The reality genre. In A. Hill, Reality TV: Audiences and Popular Factual Television (pp. 14 – 40). Oxon: Routledge.

Brenton, S & Cohen, R (2003). Shooting people: adventures in reality tv. Verso: London.

Reality television. October 7, 2011. Retrieved October 17 2011 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_television