Taken from
www.plain-truth.org
Much reality TV highlights greed and vulgarity and exploits weakness and insecurity. It provides cheap thrills at the expense of often-troubled individuals who degrade themselves for money, as did the freaks and geeks at Victorian Show Grounds. It reinforces the primeval instinct of wanting to see and almost enjoy the misfortunes of others. Surely this brings out the worst of human behaviour.
Have our ‘real’ lives become so unfulfilling and boring, that we need this kind of stimulation?
Many of the most successful programmes, like Big Brother and Survival have a voting element, allowing viewers to interact in the fantasy world, by deciding who should be eliminated from the game. The evictee is often the quietest and least offensive, allowing the bad and more outrageous contestants to remain for their entertainment value.
It is interesting that in the South American nation of Columbia opposite reactions were noted. Colombia has suffered decades of civil war and is a society riddled by class and racial prejudice. Peaceful co-existence is a distant dream, but Columbia – like most South American countries – is addicted to reality TV. But for Columbians, it has become a vehicle to express their desire for peace. Columbians want real life to echo reality TV. Consequently, they have voted off contestants whom they saw as manipulative, dishonest, liars and opportunists. Those whom live in peace and tranquility will ultimately win the contest.
The high profile of these programmes can influence the setting of norms of behaviour for society as a whole. There is a real danger of a downward spiral in what is acceptable. As formats become bolder and more blatant in an attempt to boost ratings, the trend is for ever more contrived reality situations.
We already are seeing in Japan needy people literally risking life and limb to entertain. The participants are subjected to physical pain and public humiliation, but they suffer this degradation to gain desperately-needed cash.
So is this just harmless fun, or is there an inherent danger?
It seems to me that a large section of the youth of today, at which BB etc are aimed, are quite simply obbsessed with fame and celebrity. We will soon be seeing this series contestants pissed on the front page of the Star,Sun,m*****r etc.
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