According to Darren Archer’s ‘Reality Television’ by definition reality TV is a broad category that includes a wide range of programs aiming to be both factual and entertaining.
Types of reality television include;
· Observational docusoap or ‘fly on the wall’. Typically high-stress work situations like Border Security for example.
· Formulated docusoap. Shows take people out of their own worlds and place them in a formulated or specially constructed environment to see how they behave, Big Brother.
· Reality game shows or sometimes referred to as ‘gamedocs’ contestants are placed in a demanding artificial situation; Survivor is a perfect example of this.
· Lifestyle reality. Ordinary people and their lifestyles are transformed by experts, who make them extraordinary.
· Talent show reality, obviously Australia’s Got Talent comes to mind.
· Clipshow reality, Australia’s Funniest Home Videos
Key defining features of ‘reality tv’ as a television genre are things like; Real-life-participants, unscripted performance, voice-over narration, observation/surveillance, Voyeurism (audience as a peeping tom), and audience participation.
Sarah Malcolm, author of a PhD thesis on reality television narrative, Flinders University believes ‘Reality TV is format based and can be successfully franchised globally.‘ Without a doubt I can agree with this, especially since Idol has aired in 185 countries around the world. In 2003, a World Idol competition was held, with the winners from South Africa, the United States, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Norway, the Arab World, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada and Poland. The winner was Kurt Nilsen from Norway. There have even been various adaptations of the show and similar formatted ones such as the now very popular The X Factor. Australian Idol ran for 7 seasons with probably only 4 or 5 competitors really making a dent in the music industry. If I were to ask you who won every season of the show I doubt you could remember. Like a lot of reality shows with a competitive factor, the people involved are hardly mentioned once the season has ended. It is a ‘five minutes of fame’ opportunity for most which makes me believe that these sorts of shows are a quick fire and then a sizzle into nothing. When a new season of The X factor starts up and they claim it’s going to be different it’s a stupid thing to say because of course it’s going to be different there are different competitors. What makes me laugh even more is when the judges say ‘this has got to be the best bunch of singers this year round’. The statement is a repetition every time round which hardly means much when you think about it. It’s like saying every year is the best meaning by definition no one is the best by contradiction.
Basically these reality TV shows, especially ones that have a competitive element involved, become a form of ‘Big Event Television’, the world is watching and anticipating who will be voted off next. What I have never understood is the appeal of watching shows like Big Brother or The Kardashians is the fact that the majority of the time it’s just about people doing everyday things. If this was so fascinating to everyone why not start filming yourself and your roomies and then watch that. People who get so hooked into these television shows make me think that their lives are just not that good. Why not go outside and make your own shocking and fun episodes of life with friends instead of watching what is considered ‘reality TV’ when I’m pretty sure majority of the time these ‘real’ people you see on TV are probably putting it all on. The real question that should be asked, as opposed to ‘omg I wonder if blah blah is going to find out?’ or ‘will he get kicked out?’, is whether or not this is in fact all set up?
Film and Television Appreciation 