The Reality of Reality Television
"The winner of the first Survivor competition is...Rich." It was the name heard 'round the country the night of August 23, 2000, as 51 million television viewers tuned in to the finale of Survivor. The questions, the predictions, the bets, and the reality rested on that one name. For three months, America watched and wondered. Who could it be? Who is the ultimate survivor? With the unveiling of that single, now infamous, name, you could almost feel the country erupt with emotion. The collective gasp of the shocked was shrouded by the cheers and hollers of all the Richard Hatch fans scattered across the country's living rooms and sports bars. But just how real is this reality tv?
The idea of a "reality tv" show was first presented by MTV in the early 90's. The concept of the show was to place seven strangers in a common house for six months, all the while recording their social interactions. The intention was to observe the social dynamic and development of the housemates as they (according to the show's opening slogan) "stop acting polite and start getting real." The Real World debut was a major success for the network, especially in attracting a large teenage audience. Set in New York City, the show thrived by airing the housemates adventures both in and out of the house. From downtown raves to bedroom battles to intimate encounters, every move the housemates made was seen by the curious eyes of the American public.
The Real World, now in its 10th season, has become a mainstay for the MTV network. Changing cities each season, the show constantly explores the issues and problems that young people face in today's society. In this way, the show tends to reach only a sp...
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...F? Who Wants to Divorce Their Ungrateful Spouse? Survivor: In Space? Well, once again I am shocked by the newspaper headlines. Released to the press (I kid you not) on September 12, 2000: "NBC strikes deal for 'Survivor' show in space." How on earth could that possibly happen? How real can that actually be? I'm sure they have it all figured out. We instead should ask ourselves, does the degree of reality determine the quality of the entertainment? Maybe a better question is, should the degree of reality determine the quality of the entertainment? The decision lies in the viewer's hand, which grasps that all-powerful television remote. Many fates are determined by the simple click of a button.
As for me, you can bet I'll be the first one watching as that lucky winner is launched into the stratosphere during the most exciting live broadcast in TV history.
Reality shows sent a much-needed lifeline to the television networks industry. These shows have found a new way to bring much needed viewers, and even more important they brought in much needed money. The money came rolling into CBS after premiering Survivor, which brought in a profit of around $30,000,000 to the network. Even though Survivor is the must costly reality show, costing close to one million dollars to produce and hour of programming. In comparison to other shows, which cost far more like CBS’s series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” which cost over 1.6 million to produce per hour. With the amount of money coming in such large sums to networks have had to close monitor how much is being spent. Clearly’ the reality shows have brought in much needed assets to the flattering television networks.
We often say how lucky we are to live in a place where we have access to safe water at any time but what if that was questioned? What if our water isn’t safe; it’s just that now we can’t see the dangers? Throughout the world 25 first world countries fluoridate some amount of their water artificially; almost half of these countries have the majority of their population drinking this chemically enhanced liquid every single day. In the UK 11% of us only have access to fluoridated water [70% in Ireland], and in the USA its 60%. After a quick browse on Google, the information about fluoride that can be learned from the NHS is mainly about teeth and tooth decay as fluoride is put in our toothpaste due to its claimed abilities to help tooth enamel fight attack [nothing has ever alluded to supporting this claim]. What can’t be seen at
“This is the true story… of seven strangers… picked to live in a house… work together and have their lives taped… to find out what happens… when people stop being polite… and start getting real” (Robinson par. 8). The reality television program, The Real World, by MTV, had its first airing in 1992 and is one of the longest-running shows in MTV history. Initially, the program was designed as an outlet for young individuals to express common issues of adulthood ranging from prejudice, religion, AIDS, sex, and substance abuse, but eventually it evolved into a showcase for immature and reckless behaviors.
How Reality TV affects the audience and the characters who were participating into it? Does it really give knowledge to people who were watching and supporting? Or is it just the sake of money and exposing their appearance on television? When it comes to watching television, people at home can choose which types of program they want to want for many reasons. Some people look to television for inspiration; others want to be kept informed about their surroundings and the world. In the article entitled, “Reality TV and Culture” by Jack Perry, he argues, there are some good points to how reality television are formed and offered. Perry explains that, not all of the shows are designed to encourage and promote dangerous and unrealistic. However,
“This is the true story, of seven strangers, picked to live in a house, and have their lives taped, to find out what happens when people stop being polite, and start getting real”(MTV). This marks the beginning of MTV’s reality show, The Real World. The show takes 7 strangers, puts them in a trendy luxurious home, taping them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for about 4 months. The cameras capture petty arguments, late night hook ups, and pure laziness. How could this not be real? There are not many people that can live in an expensive home while laying around all day, and partying all night with little work involved. The Real World is a display of 18-24 year olds, typecasted to have their most extreme stereotypical qualities blown out of proportion for the world to see.
It is no secret that reality television shows often present contrived situations as reality. Many producers claim that there are no scripts used in the production of reality shows. They maintain that nothing in the lives of the participants is planned purely for viewers’ entertainment, and that what is presented in the show is their actual reality. However, most people know this to be untrue to a certain degree. The events and situations in reality shows are often staged, re-enacted, or cleverly edited to make them appear more dramatic, thereby more interesting, than they are. Elizabeth Larkin writes, “After so many “reality” programs, we can discern a pattern of “characters” that isn’t very far different from the stock characters found in fictional programming. There’s the sweet and naive person from a small town looking to make it big while still retaining small town values. There’s the party girl/guy who’s always looking for a good time and who shocks those around them—and the list goes on” (Larkin 290). Participants in reality television shows are often looking to gain wealth and fame, and they are willing to do anything necessary to achieve that.
...the of the world has rejected fluoride and said it was ineffective to the body. Over 94% of the world’s population drinks unfluoridated water (12 Reasons). In Europe, only five out of 48 countries fluoridate, and European health officials have cited medical, effectiveness, and ethical concerns with it (12 Reasons). The people in Portland, Oregon and other countries that don't fluoridate could do other things to prevent tooth decay. Fluoridation is not a way to reduce the high cavity rates in the cities that have fluoridated their waters for a long time. In the city of Portland, To help protect childrens teeth, they should increase the access to dental care. “The Portland Metro Area untreated cavity rates are 21% which is below the average 29% by having better access to dental care and prevention Portland, Oregon could have a lower cavity rates by 2020” (12 Reasons)
The main reasons for adding fluoride to water is because of the pressure from industries like aluminum and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Addition of fluoride to water continues and it has become hard to go against these actions. This practice has been controversial right from the beginning. It was first added to water in 1940 by Grand rapid, mich to avoid dental cavities. Due to the same reason fluoridated toothpastes are being used. In 1969 world health organization advertised fluoridation, since then all the countries started adding fluoride to water. The American dental association, the world health organization and the British government emphasized that addition of fluoride to water will reduce the tooth decay and does not pose any threat to health.
When asked to describe the above-mentioned events, words like horrific, saddening, and terrifying inevitably are among the first to cross one’s mind. The question arises, “Where does the line lie that separates American’s personal freedom from the public’s safety?” The Second Amendment promises, “[…] the right of people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” But after the recent shootings and scares at the campuses of Purdue and Oklahoma University, one must ponder the idea, “Should America ban assault weapons?” This emotionally charged battle has even reached the White House steps, and is hotly debated by Republicans and Democrats alike. This paper will present a comparative analysis of banning and not banning assault weapons, and will conclude with a discussion in favor of lighter gun control.
Howrad C, D. L. (2001). The Science and Ethics of Water Fluoridation. Journal of Canadian Dental Association, 67(10), 578-580.
Poniewozik, J., & McDowell, J. (2006). HOW REALITY TV FAKES IT. Time, 167(6), 60-62 retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost
Do you know the guiltiest pleasure of the American public? Two simple words reveal all—reality TV. This new segment of the TV industry began with pioneering shows like MTV’s The Real World and CBS’s Survivor. Switch on primetime television nowadays, and you will become bombarded by and addicted to numerous shows all based on “real” life. There are the heartwarming tales of childbirth on TLC, melodramas of second-rate celebrities on Celebrity Mole, and a look into a completely dysfunctional family on The Osbornes. Yet, out of all these entertaining reality shows arises the newest low for popular culture, a program based on the idea of a rich man or woman in search of the perfect marriage partner. The Bachelor, and its spin-off The Bachelorette, exemplify capitalist ideology founded on the Marxist base-superstructure model and establish the role of an active American audience.
‘Water fluoridation (noun): the addition of fluorides to a public water supply as a public health measure to reduce the incidence of dental caries’. –MedicalDictionary1
Presently, most organizations emphasize extremely about leadership in organizations. Leadership means that ability, capability, and skills of leader to guide members of organizations to success or achieve objectives and destination. Leadership studies are interesting in several organizations. According to Walters (2009), “Leadership has been an intriguing and important part of human interactions for as long as people have lived and worked together in groups” (P.1). Some organizations have studied about leadership for long times to know what elements and significant factors of leadership is. Those elements will help leaders to have ability, capability, and skills to suggest members of organizations or being leaders efficiently.
The controversy between whether criminals who have committed heinous crimes should be charged with the death penalty has been debated worldwide. Putting people to death, judged to have committed certain extremely abhorrent crimes, is a practice that has been around for a long time. However, in the later half of the twentieth century, it has become a controversial issue. As a supporter of the death penalty, I believe that it is essential part of the criminal justice system to deter crime. There are several reasons it should be in effect including: proof that capital punishment does deter crime that would warrant this sentence, retribution for heinous crimes, and the morality of punishing someone who has committed a crime so horrendous.