Enhancement means to amplify, increase, and add to; especially to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability, or attractiveness (www.merriam-webster.com). Self-enhancement reality television is any program in which someone is given the opportunity to conquer a personal struggle, achieve a goal or something they truly desire. However, there are versions of the self-enhancement shows for every aspect of life like fashion, weight loss, physical appearance, style and grooming, child-rearing, attaining difficult goals, fashion and grooming, fashion makeover and marriage, relationship building, manners, addiction, mental health and etiquette. In fact, reality television has become so popular that recent statistics indicate, ‘‘there are now more people applying to The Real World each year than to Harvard’’ (Andrejevic, 2003). These facts promote several questions: What do these shows provide participants and viewers that traditional television programming does not? Why are these shows able to draw in viewers better than longstanding, established comedy and drama programs? What motivates their viewers? How are contestants chosen? Are the contestants awarded prizes? What if any is the follow up after the show? Who produces these shows? What are the ratings like? Do they win awards or do as well as other casted programs with actors?
In many cases reality television surrounding the issue of self-enhancement is often in contest format with shows putting teams, or other people in search of self-enhancement, against one another. For example popular self-enhancement reality based television shows such as The Biggest Loser and Swan are competitive based. On The Biggest Loser people, families or friends who have weight loss issues compet...
... middle of paper ...
...Issue 1
• Barton, K. M. (2009). Reality Television Programming and Diverging Gratifications: The Influence of Content on Gratifications Obtained. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 53(3), 460-476.
• Barton, K., & Raney, A. A. (2002, August). Disposition and ethnicity in competition-based reality television programming: An examination of the effects on viewer enjoyment. Presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Miami, FL.
• Zappia, C. (20 December 2006). What’s the most popular show of 2006? The Village Voice. Retrieved from: http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/television/archives/2006/12/what_we_watched.php
• Poniewozik, J. (2010). What's Right With Reality TV. Time, 175(7), 92-97. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
• 3 Ball Shows. The Biggest Loser. Retrieves at: http://www.3ballproductions.com/bl.html
The first wave of reality TV shows (such as Survivor, The Weakest Link and Dog Eat Dog) played on people's collective anxieties about the new workplace culture whereby nothing is secure. The threat of expulsion and humiliation is what draws people to this style of programming. This was followed by the lifestyle programs, which were the once removed cousins of Reality TV. Naturally no one is entirely satisfied with the way they live so these programs played on people's desires to improve their lifestyle and living conditions. The third wave of Reality shows (such as Joe Millionaire, The Bachelor and For Love or Money) plays with people's fears of falsified relationships; are there ulterior reasons behind a `supposed' loving relationship (such as money)? The main appeal of Reality television is that the viewer experiences raw human emotions like humiliation, deceit and rejection from a removed perspective. The ability to inspect and analyse the happenings of others without being seen takes on a god-like perspective. It invokes the fantasy of having access to all that is hidden.
In today 's generation, millions of television shows have been created to entertain the general public. Whether it be cartoons, dramas, comedies, chick flicks, or reality t.v., I guarantee there is a show that each person enjoys watching. One particular genre appears to be the most viewed from a television screen, which is reality television. It is evident that the general population enjoys watching lives unfold and the various interactions between characters in reality television. For example, in Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the main characters in the family, (Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kris, Bruce (Caitlyn), Kylie, and Kendall) all fight like cats and dogs and stay angry at each other over something incredibly minute. The extent to which this show is dramatized is
Poniewozik, James. “What’s Right With Reality TV.” Time 175.7 (2010): 92-97. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 May 2013.
Nabi, Robin L., et al. "Reality-Based Television Programming and the Psychology of Its Appeal." Media Psychology 5 (2003): 303-330.
Reality based television has a broad landscape ranging from competitive game-like shows to programs following the daily lives of a group of people. Every major network now has some form of reality programming because the genre’s shows are high in viewership and require low costs for production. The genre is appealing to viewers because it provides them with a first-hand look into the lives of everyday people, which allows them to observe social behavior that helps them determine what is appropriate or not (Tyree, 2011, p. 397). Since the majority of modern reality stars start out as unknowns, frequent viewers of reality programming believed that fame is obtainable if they appear on a popular show (Mendible, 2004). According to Mendible’s evaluation of the genre in the article Humiliation, Subjectivity, and Reality TV, people enjoy reality programs beca...
The first effect of reality shows is the image it gives viewers. Reality shows give misconceptions of everyday life; the Real World and Jersey Shore show young adults relaxing, having a good time, and partying every day. The...
Reality TV has been a very popular part of American society since its conception, but does it go farther than being simply entertainment? As it has progressed, the content of these shows has become increasingly raunchy on and off screen. The producers and “actors” on these shows are hungry for money and attention, a hunger that grows exponentially as the possibilities of reality TV do. The question, often asked is, does reality TV have a negative effect on our society? The answer is simple: absolutely! Reality TV is produced and directed by people that know exactly how to manipulate the truth. Run by those who lie to the public's face and can legally get away with it. The shows reach out to a very impressionable society and deeply implants immorality, negative self-images and other issues that threaten American society. Reality TV damages those that find themselves in the unfortunate, yet common, situation of being exploited on these shows and it does so purposefully for the sake of money and ratings.
To start off reality shows has become a popular show amongst the younger crowd inducing dangerous stereotypical behavior in America. Reality shows have evolved to a new level of outrages crazy behavior, creating new versions of over exaggerated fake personal lives. For instance, a reality show on television Love & Hip Hop a show that depicts former black girlfriends of famous people and their climb to the top or strive to stay at the top violently and carelessly doing whatever they can by creating a “ghetto stereotype persona”. Targeting the young adults and teens Love & Hip Hop is a very influential show among young female viewers leading these viewers to believe that this is the way to live and make it to the top and in order to do it you have to act like a “ghetto black girl”. Another show that has a similar vibe to Love & Hip Hop but depicts the similar stereotype is Bad Girls Club. Bad Girls Club is a reality show that has a few young adult women living in the same house that party all the time
Reality based television has a broad landscape ranging from competitive game-like shows to programs following the daily lives of a group of people. Every major network now has some form of reality programming because these programs are high in viewership and require low costs for production. The genre’s shows provide audiences with a first-hand look into the lives of everyday people, which creates resonance among viewers because they feel like they can relate to the characters on screen (Hasinoff, 2008). Since the majority of modern reality stars start out as unknowns, frequent viewers of reality television have essentially bought into the belief that they too can achieve overnight fame by appearing on a popular show (Mendible, 2004). According to Mendible’s evaluation i...
Cynthia M. Frisby, in her article "Getting Real with Reality TV", analyze reasons why audiences are attracted to reality television programs. According to Frisby, reality television shows have captivate audiences because, apparently people enjoy watching other people 's lives, and they can compare themselves and lives with others. Different people in society see reality tv in different ways: some see it as something to lift it, in either way reality affect society both positively and negatively.
Reality Television has changed television in a way that no one could have imagined. Being the one of the most talked about genre in history, it is seen by millions of viewers. It has more ratings than any other kind of show (Breyer 16). From its start, there have been many Reality Television shows. Shows like The Real World, Survivor, Big Brother, and Jersey Shore. All of these give off a negative portrayal of reality. While Americans watch these shows, it seems that the show is real life, but in reality, no pun intended, before the show is even filmed, it’s written, edited, and produced (Breyer 21). Writers humiliate and degrade people just for the plot of the show, making their private lives public (Breyer 16).
Papacharissi, Z & Mendelson, AL 2007, ‘An exploratory study of reality appeal: Uses and Gratifications of reality TV shows’, Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, vol. 51, issue 2, June, pp. 355-370.
In this day and age, there isn’t hardly a person who doesn’t watch some form of reality television. Whether it is an adrenaline pumping baking competition, a talent based show with singing and dancing, or the pure entertainment of a day in the life of celebrities most everyone watches some form of reality television. There seems to be a few different sides of reality TV that make it so entertaining for people to watch. There seems to be the shows that lure people in because of the motivational aspect, the drama, or the deep down genuine appearance. However, most people are oblivious to the fact that the screen they are watching isn’t usually what actually happens in real life. James Poniewozik explains the manipulation going on behind the camera
Reality television has been around since 1948. Over the past decade, reality TV has seen a dramatic rise in popularity. Today, you can turn on the television and there is a chance that a reality TV show will be on. Reality television is a big part of American’s lives today. There are reality shows starting from relationships, drama, entertainment, to cooking, fitness, sports, and many more. According to a recent study by the Girl Scouts Institute, “Forty-seven percent of girls and young women say they are regular viewers, with thirty percent saying they sometimes watch it." It also reports, “eighty-six percent believe these shows often put girls against each other to make the shows more exciting, and seventy percent say they make people think it is ok to treat each other badly.” Reality television has affected society greatly by encouraging violent behavior, it elevates imprudent personalities, and depicting women of their values.
Have you ever wondered why people are so addicted to watching their favorite shows on TV? Have you ever wondered why reality TV is so popular? This paper is an explanation of why large numbers of people watch reality TV shows. Proof and facts will be provided showing that reality TV provides entertainment, inspiration, the stirring of emotions, vicarious living, and a substitute for social life for many who watch. Here are a few examples of these statements.