Johnson Comments On The Reality Television Programs example essay topic

The newest of pop culture trends in American Television is Reality Television. With each new season of television, major broadcasting stations have a new reality program for the audiences of America. The ratings for these shows have been exceeding high. The American population reaction to these shows have been mixed.

Some reactions have been on the negative end. While, others have chosen to approach the subject of reality television with a comical view. Finally, some have chosen to just blatantly disregard the trend and questions it true mentally. Negative View: The reality television has not been accepted by all in America, some people have the idea that 'Reality Television' is the new pornography-mainstream voyeurism' (Johnson, 2001). In the issue of 'Maclean's' for January 29, 2001, an article was submitted by Brian Johnson called 'We Like To Watch. ' In this article, Johnson comments on the reality television programs and makes the opinion that such shows are not based on reality.

Johnson states that the 'Reality TV' is a misnomer. Also, bringing forth the idea that if the Cartesian issue-whether the real world is real at all, or just a dreamscape within a dream-was placed aside that there would be more truth in an episode of 'The Simpsons' then the entire season of 'Survivor. ' Yet, the success of 'Survivor, which Johnson stated drew in more than 51 million has network executives searching to find a way to clone its success. Claiming that the Fox's 'Temptation Island' is a cheap knock off with four unmarried couples and glorified prostitutes on a Caribbean Island, so that cheap that Johnson states it makes 'Survivor' look like Shakespeare. Analyzing 'The Mole' (ABC / CTV) sees it more sophisticated since it being a mystery game with 10 players who travel the globe, increasing the jackpot by completing goals as a team, while trying to figure out who the mole is in the group.

With each passing week, members are tested on the mole's identity and the member that does the worst has to leave, until there is only one to claim the jackpot. Johnson claims that the challenges are corny but the players interesting with 'The Mole' working like a live-action video game. Making mention to NBC's failed pilot attempt at the reality shows, a docu-soap 'Chains of Love'-where four men and women would be shackled until a "relationship" formed. The pilot was never picked up the NBC executives because of the idea being too lurid. Johnson remarks on the paradox of prime-time television that no matter what area, most of the reality shows depend on titillation, the promise of two strangers forming forced intimacy due to conditions. Supporting the Negative View is Rem Rieder who wrote a piece in the American Journalism Review about the negative effect that the show 'Survivor' was having on not just the American public but the media itself.

Rieder supported his view with such facts as during August shows ranging from '60 Minutes' to 'Access Hollywood' had 97 segments on the "reality-based" programs this fact was based off of the Lawrence, Kansas-based New sTV Corp. Rieder stated that the problem was "when coverage of pop culture, or something else relatively soft, starts to overshadow, if not overwhelm, substance; when it's all O.J. all the time. The cotton-candy-only diet is not a good thing". John Kennedy interviewed Stephen Winzenberg (communications professor at Grand View College in Des Moines) who claimed that these reality shows are reflections of the ongoing decline in media morality. Also stating that these shows can bring the worst out in a human behavior. 'Basically it's survival of the fittest, and people are being treated as animals' Kennedy quoting Winzenberg. Sardar published a piece in the New Statesman, which gave his opinion on the theory of reality TV.

Sardar stated that media programs have returned Roman circuses with two postmodern traits. The first trait is Andy Warhol's 15 minutes of fame theory (in the future everyone will have their 15 minutes of fame) and that predominance of narcissistic individualism has turned hedonism into a fashion statement (Sardar). Comical View: Not all viewers of the reality television genre take to a negative response; some actually have a sense of humor to their view. In the 'National Review' of July 31, 2000, Rob Long took such an approach to the reality television programs. Long begins with mention to the advertisements that are placed in the classifieds in the 'Los Angles Times' and the pleas for individuals for reality programs. Claiming that individuals that respond to such ads are classified-ad geeks who are attention hungry.

That they are just people with all around problems looking for the quick fix in hopes that they will be the winners or like Darla Conger, who was completely shaken by her decision to marry a multi-millionaire that she tried to reclaim her private life be posing nude in 'Playboy. ' Then Long's view of the New Orleans cast of Real World and their 'Valley Girl' attitude on situations in life. Long does bring the point that prime-times replacement of actors and actresses with reality people. The ordinary (reality people) replacing the 'ordinary' (actors and actresses.) The comparison of shows such as 'Real World' to 'Friends' but real-er without the beautiful people and witty comebacks. Long then states that one of the greatest episodes of the greatest television shows, 'The Honeymooners', had the Ralph Kramden believing that the invention of "Handy Housewife Helper" would make work easier. All that was needed was advertisement and the spokes person would be Kramden, himself.

The moment the cameras roll, Kramden freezes up. Long then addresses the lesson of this episode: "Being on television is harder then it looks". Long's philosophy is that being natural and free may be a boring and ghastly task, its easy to do. Trying to act natural and fear is a much harder task. Disregarded view: The final reaction to the Reality Television genre is the disregard to it completely and the questioning of the true mentality of the subject. In 'Newsweek' of February 26, 2001, an Anna Quindlen (We like to Watch) stated that there's always the vicarious voyeurism of reality TV if life is too busy to have one of your own.

Quindlen makes mention that she has never watched 'Survivor' and never will. Seeing that there is no point to watch due to that fact that most of the incidents: eating bugs, two petty rivals can being seen at department stores, and that 'Survivor' is nothing more then gym class in high school. Quindlen questions the executives who choose such characters as K immi, Coby, and Amber if they are part of a soap opera writing crew. Also, there is her idea that televised programs are much like the real thing of a wedding and marriage. The boring bits are skipped, the excitement is built up and only the high drama is shown. Quindlen said that TV is the purview of those with nothing to do.

Mentioning how the lifestyles of individuals being the quick and fast versions would be simpler if the middleman could be cut out. The pure ecstasy of life with none of the pain of it to deal with. With such lifestyles being presented to the American public daily, Quindlen said that if there is someone wanting to speak to you then just say, 'Shh... They are about to vote someone off the island. ' In the end, that is what life is all about isn't it? With such views into the reality shows today, it is understandable with the ratings it gets today.

The ability to laugh at the simplicity of the characters. The choice to question and dislike the idiotic behavior of the shows. Maybe just not watch them at all and pay no attention.