REAL WORLD CULTURE

          Reality television has completely taken over our generation. Every network has multiple reality shows for every possible interest and competition you can think of. Cooking, weight loss, adventure, romance, family, job hunting. You name it, there is some type of reality show for it. Where exactly did this craze begin and how has it come to dominate popular culture? It all started when a couple of television producers came up with the idea to put a group of people with varying personalities in a house together and just let things happen. The result was much more than they ever could have imagined.

                The Real World was created by executive producers Mary- Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray and first aired in 1992 with The Real World: New York.  The show focuses on seven characters; real people that audition and are specifically chosen to live together in a house, while cameras constantly follow them and broadcast their interpersonal relationships. The Real World is completely un-scripted and the people are not professional actors.  This simple idea slowly turned into a television revolution for many different reasons.

                Before The Real World, controversial issues like sex, race, gays, religion, politics, and substance abuse were not particularly zeroed in to the MTV demographic. According to Bob Thompson, professor at Syracuse University, “This show totally transformed things. It was ground zero for the birth of true reality TV.” However, the revolution did not truly come to America for 8 years, when CBS aired Survivor in 2000.

                The Real World truly had significant impact on the younger generation, especially in its earlier seasons before the show turned into the “hot-tubing”, sexually charged show it tends to be today. season 3 in San Francisco is arguably the turning point for the show, really putting it on the map as a serious forum for debate and controversy among young people. Pedro Zamora’s fight with AIDS in season 3 opened the minds of millions of people about the severity and magnitude of the disease. He was essentially the first gay character American’s had encountered. Pedro was a likable character that many people could identify with on many levels, and his struggle and eventual death from the disease helped teach young in a way that could not simply be done in a classroom or from a text book. He brought life to the problem, being a face to identify with. One that people learned to love and feel true compassion for, which was possible because of the intimate relationship between the cast and the viewers of The Real World through the 24-7 surveillance.

                They have also had to deal with issues of race, sex, religion, alcohol abuse, and diversity. Although many adults saw this as infantile, it was truly a group of young people coming to grips with “reality” in a sincere way. The show became a useful social forum to talk learn about diversity and where viewers could find characters that may have shared similar struggles that they may not feel comfortable talking about to others. It gave people the realization that there were other people who shared the same problems, and for many made whatever they were dealing with seem less harsh or even normal.

                However, many people have trouble accepting The Real World as truly “real”. How real could it be? Although these people are not scripted, they are careful chosen to cause drama in the house. Each of the 7 individuals has a quality of qualities that will clash with another case member and result in entertaining television. These people would never have met if they were not forced to live in a house together, so in this way the show is extremely unreal. Usually, people associate with others that share similar moral values and live similar lives. The whole situation is created and carefully engineered to provide something entertaining for viewers.

                The Real World was the first show to use the eavesdropping style of filming; having cameras around the entire house and a crew that follows the cast everywhere they go.  Everything they do and say will be on camera and nothing can remain a secret, at least not to the viewers. Also, they created “the  confessional”, which many reality shows today use. They set up a sound proof room with a camera and allow the cast members to go and say whatever they want. They can make a confession, gossip about cast members, talk about the housemates behind their back, or anything else that they feel they cannot say around others in the house. Often, the cast will admit to things in the confessional that they have not told anyone in the house. This was a very popular idea, and was later used in both Survivor and Big Brother.

                The Real World paved the way for YouTube culture. This “do it yourself” type of show became popular with young people, and many different videos and short films started to pop up from average people and were made available for the world to enjoy.
                Why is this a craze? Why do people love Reality TV? They love the fact that these people are just like them. They are not paid actors. They are not reading scripts or listening to directors (unless things get too hairy). Although the situation is completely fabricated, these people have real problems, real drama, and real stories to tell, which I believe is something that people want and need to see. They need to know that they are not the only ones feeling a certain way or dealing with a certain problem. I think it is also a way for people like this, with extreme personalities, may see in themselves the flaws of the characters and possibly be opened to new ideals. That may be a stretch, but I don’t think our culture is far off from it. We all need someone to identify with, even if it is on a shallow level. We are entertained because these things happen. Nothing is too incredible. The best part is… there is always good drama.

                Will reality television continue to dominate our society? There are so many brilliant producers out there and so many more people who would kill for a moment of fame. I think it’s safe to say Reality TV is not going anywhere for a long time.

Click on each photo to check your answers! NO CHEATING! =)

Q&A with Karrah Winans.

College Student, Reality Television viewer

1.         What reality shows do you watch on a regular basis?

-          I watch Dancing with the Stars, The Hills, The Real World, Real World/Road Rule Challenges (all of them), American Idol, and America’s Next Top Model.

2.       Why do you think you enjoy these types of shows as opposed to sitcoms or another type of scripted entertainment?

-          I enjoy these shows because they are not fabricated stories, they are real life. I live my life vicariously through the actors on the shows.

3.       How much, if at all, do you think the issues dealt with in these shows shape your view of reality?

-          The issues dealt with in these shows are issues that people deal with everyday, so I think they are very important and show its audience that these issues happen to everyone.

4.       Some adults may argue that shows like Real World are immature and not entertaining. Why do you think you are so attracted to these shows and what appeals to you most about them?

-          I think I am attracted to these shows because they are reality. For example, the Real World puts a group of strangers, mostly young adults between 18-25, in a house—it is unrealistic to expect these people to get along with one another all the time.

5.       Would you ever consider auditioning for a reality show? If so, what kind?

-           I would consider auditioning for a show like the Real World, just to have the experience.

6.       Do you think the way these young people on the shows behave when they are on camera is acceptable behavior? (Sexual behavior, Alcohol use, Verbal and Physical abuse, etc.)

-          If the show is a reality show, you have to expect young people to act the way they normally would, with or without the cameras on.

7.       Do you believe reality shows are an accurate depiction of young society?

-          I don’t think all young people life their lives like the people on these reality shows; however it is very likely that many of them do. You can’t place a whole generation into one category.

8.       Are the issues they deal with issues that you have had to deal with in your life?

-          I have dealt with some of the issues that have been exposed on the Real World, not personally, but people close to me have dealt with issues of drug abuse and alcoholism.

9.       Why do you think reality shows have been so successful in our culture?

-          I think people enjoy watching other people like themselves. I think it makes people feel better about themselves and more comfortable with themselves knowing that other people are going through the same things they are.

Thank goodness for technology! There are so many ways you can keep up to date with your shows no matter what else is going on.  Here are 10 different ways to stay on top of things:

  1. TiVo 

TiVo is a great way to record your shows and movies when you are not there to watch, or even if you have 2 shows on different channels. It stores the shows in your own library so it is easy to access and find exactly which episode you want to watch.  

You can even set the TiVo to record every episode of, say, House, and it will record the show every time it’s on, even if the time lot changes.

 When you order TiVo, you also buy a DVR, which is looks almost like your DVD player. Depending on which model you buy, you can store up to 150 hours of shows, record 2 shows at once, and some even support HD. They can cost anywhere from $150 to $600, and are available at most local electronics stores.

Check out the official TiVo website for more information and to find a store in your area.

 2. Slingbox

Slingbox is…

Visit the website for more info on where to buy a Slingbox.

3. Network Websites

Most if not all networks have their own websites, where you can find all the information you need about show schedules, events and new shows. Many even stream full episodes for free, so you can watch any shows you may have missed.

ABC

Bravo

CBS

Comedy Central

The CW

NBC 

MTV 

Check out all of these websites and look for “Full Episodes”. That should bring up a complete list of the networks shows, where you can choose your favorites and then choose the specific episodes you want to watch.

4. iTunes

iTunes is not only for music! You can also purchase your favorite movies and episodes of your favorite shows… Just open up iTunes, access the iTunes store, and search.

Once you are in the iTunes Store, you can type in the name of your show in the search bar on the top right. Then, use the scroll on the screen or down the list to find exactly what you want. You are going to have to enter in your credit card information the first time you use it, but once you sign up and enter in your info, they will only ask for your username and password at the purchasing screen. It is a very secure website, so you should have nothing to worry about! Happy hunting!

 5. Hulu

Now it’s time for my favorite source: Hulu.com 

This is a website that was originally only available to NBC Universal employees, as it was developed by one, 

but it’s now (thankfully!!) available for all of us to use and abuse.It it is essentially a site where you can 

 watch free movies and televison shows, but what makes it so great is that there is so much to choose from,

the video quality is fantastic, and they are constantly updating the site.

6. Repeats

 You can always just keep an eye on different networks for repeats.

 MTV has reapeats on almost immediately.

For example, if you are running late and miss The Hills at 10, don’ fret!

The same episode will be on again at 11.
TV guide will usually tell you if the shows are repeats, and also the network websites may let you know also.

 Just keep watching and you should find what your missing.

7. DVD sets

The greatest idea ever… why not put every episode of every season onto DVD and sell them to the television hungry public?
It works for me! But it may be slightly expensive to buy in one shot. Depending on the show and how recent a season you buy, they could be well over $50. You can find them in stores like Best Buy and Circuit City.
Not only can you see what you missed, you can watch it over and over to your hearts content. Great for staying up-to-date and great for a rainy sunday afternoon.

To find a Best Buy near you, google map  it!

8. Youtube
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve used Youtube to see funny clips made my amateur filmakers and the best highlights from monday night football. You can also find some shows on youtube as well. However, it’s hit or miss depending on if anyone uploaded the episodes you need. The video quality is not the best, but sometimes it’s better than nothing. Not my favorite option, but certainly gets the job done.

9. Blogs
Many people have Blogs that are dedicated to television… Some of them may offer analysis of shows, recaps, and if you’re lucky they might post videos. When you can;t watch the show, the second best thing may be to read up on what happened so that next week when you sit down with your popcorn to watch, you aren’t completely lost. I also like this option for times when the show isn’t on for a few weeks and then returns. I ike to remind myself of where the show left off. This, again, is something that may require a little more effort to search for, but if you need to know it is well worth it!

Just google search “TV Blogs” and see what you can find. Also, check out TVaddict.com

10. DONT MISS IT!\

 
Come on, people! Stay dedicated! You know when your shows are on, so try not to schedule anything during that time. Obviously, there are some (although very few) things that may be slightly more important than finding out if Blair ever said those 3 words to the devil himself, Chuck Bass, but other than that you should just stay home, grab some snacks, invite over some friends, and enjoy!

Let’s hope now that she is dead for the 10th time, the soap opera drama will be done with.