Jersey Shore, Big Brother, The Apprentice, X Factor – you name it; we are constantly feeding our reality TV addiction as more and more shows are churned out every year. Those reality TV shows then churn out Z-list celebrities, which we like to follow after their 15 minutes of real fame. It’s a vicious cycle which repeats every year. What is it that makes us obsessed with these dramatised programmes and the people who participate in them?
It seems that we are entranced by reality TV shows because they are actually real. Well, that’s what people like to think anyway, no matter how obvious it’s scripted when Vicky and Rebecca from Geordie Shore are constantly having slanging matches and then making up in a drunken bathroom chat. However, it is the hope factor which makes people glued to these shows. 39% of people felt that ‘anything is possible’ after watching the X Factor. Perhaps it’s a class issue? Do we feel that applying on reality TV shows eliminates the concept of social class? With many contestants on these shows coming from humble working class backgrounds, it seems that it gives us a morale boost in knowing that fame and money is possible without studying at Eton and receiving hand-outs from mummy and daddy’s bank accounts. A huge proportion enjoy sharing someone else’s success when they see all types of people expressing their talents and who they are – 80% of people felt more comfortable in revealing their sexuality after watching The X Factor.
However, reality TV shows have triggered many in participating in the bullying and shaming of the contestants. Of course it’s entertaining to see Gordon Ramsay yell at someone ‘your food is rotten’ or egg on Snooki to knock out Angelina in the battle of meatballs. But many seem to take pleasure in spitting spiteful insults at reality TV contestants because they are jealous of their famous and rich lifestyles. Some feel that reality TV shows incites the younger generation to join in with the shaming of reality TV contestants. With 14 million viewers of reality TV in the UK, children and teens make up the majority of this number, witnessing 85 insults every hour, on these scripted-swearing shows. Furthermore, reality TV shows damage the self-esteems of the younger generation. A survey found that 28% of girls who watch reality shows said they would rather be recognised for their outer beauty than inner beauty. Apparently to appear on Big Brother you need to have bulging biceps or double D’s with an IQ of 20. Fantastic.
I don’t think we’ll ever get away from reality TV shows – if anything we’re getting worse. I find it astonishing how even though we’re running out of ideas to entice the viewer, we still come up with the most ludicrous concepts such as Bridalplasty, where brides compete for different plastic surgeries to look amazing for their wedding – who’s watching this?! As we move into a digital, robotic world where we feed these shows, to pump more money into launching another series of drama, tears and a Z-list ‘celebrity’ to feature on the front cover of Zoo, we are fuelling a world which belongs in Fahrenheit 451. But sure, go ahead – feed your head with this nonsense, believe whatever Sharon Osborne tells you and slip Simon Cowell another tenner. Or get back to reality.