The Truth About Reality Television
Reality is that which, even when we want it to, does not go away. Simply put, reality is what we know to be real and true. So when paired with television, a form of media that is not easily as tangible and is full of fiction, what is the end result? Shows of reality television usually portray highly modified forms of reality, where the participants are put into unusual situations and are often given scripted lines to make the events more interesting. However, viewers of these shows are made to believe that every little thing going on is unscripted and unedited. Not only do these shows give a false sense of what we know to be reality, but the sociological and psychological impact they have on the public and on their participants is highly controversial.
The impact of reality television extends farther than most people realize and is something that has been studied extensively over the last couple decades. Many studies have focused on how television programs that appear to be real alter viewers’ perception of reality (Pontius). But it still seems that reality TV is taking over the networks, polluting peoples’ minds with a distorted version of reality and leaving behind an even bigger effect than regular television programs. Many people are still wondering why the networks are even backing these programs, but much of the decision has to do with the cost. On average, a dramatic television series such as Lost or Heroes costs about $2 million per hour to produce, whereas a reality program costs about $400,000 per hour to produce (Pontius). So it makes sense that the networks would move toward this drastically less expensive option, especially when reality TV ratings are skyrocketing. But why are people so interested in this form of television? It seems to have a lot to do with the curious human nature. People want to learn, they want to find out about new things, and they want to see into the lives of other people. Humans are...