Thursday, October 25, 2007 || The reality of reality shows
Although the stars and fans of reality shows are ordinary people, they all hold different, personal reasons for their participation and fascination with the television genre.
Lauren Conrad used to be an average high school student. Three years ago, however, she became a star on MTV's "Laguna Beach," which followed the lives of a group of teenagers.
Conrad, 21, now stars in her own reality show on MTV Networks - "The Hills" - which chronicles her life in Los Angeles while she attends school and interns at Teen Vogue magazine.
Her father, Jim, encouraged her to do "Laguna Beach."
"I knew she wanted to be in the fashion business, and to get a good start, you have to be visible," her dad said.
Breaking into show business isn't the only reason people participate in reality shows, John Kroncke, an educational and school psychologist, said.
Some are "exhibitionists" who will do anything to be on television, Kroncke said.
"They have a chronic, overwhelming need for attention and love," he said. "They need fulfillment from others to feel OK. They are not content with their own life."
For exhibitionists, the invasion of their privacy is worth it.
"[Celebrity] is almost like a drug," Kroncke said.
Part of the allure comes from the media. Celebrities are put on a pedestal and heavily promoted as holding the ultimate lifestyle, Kroncke said.
"People want that same level. As long as they're in the limelight, it's seen as a positive thing," Kroncke said.
Although it might seem like anyone can have a piece of the stardom drug, Conrad's dad said it takes a certain type of person to be a reality star.
"Some of it is being photogenic, some is being able to be relaxed in front of the camera and some is just innate," he said.
People not interested in reality fame can choose to live vicariously through the television tubes, Cynthia King, a communications professor at Cal State Fullerton, said.
There are many motives for tuning into reality programming, King said. Besides self-comparison, people also watch because of the simplistic nature of reality shows.
However, in large part, viewers watch reality television because of compulsion and added suspense, King said.
Because the shows are unscripted, there's a greater chance for spontaneity, Philippe Perebinossoff, a CSUF radio-TV-film professor and former ABC network executive, said.
Reality television emphasizes the tragic and unusual, Kroncke said.
"Everyone loves a train wreck," Kroncke said. "There's a morbid fascination by others' troubles."
Reality shows, however, don't just add unique layers to the average television programming. They take layers away as well.
"Make-believe isn't as satisfying to people. The reality aspect removes one layer of fantasy. People get more invested then," King said.
Despite reality shows drawing in more fans, the debate over how long they will hold control over sitcoms in ratings continues.
"People have been saying every year that reality shows are dying," Perebinossoff said. "I don't think they are. They'll have to either get more dangerous, more edgy or a new gimmick."
Kroncke said he does think the shows will die out soon.
"TV goes through cycles of programming. [Networks will] milk each genre for all it's worth because TV is about one thing - making money. But tastes will eventually change," he said.
-dailytitan.com
posted by Lysandra @ 10:56 AM
"New City, New Drama"
3 Comments:
But how real is the hills really. I've been watching the Hills since day one. And now there is alot of talk about the Hills being fake. Does anyone else think so. Read this article. Thats what made me to start questioning it.! http://www.bestweekever.tv/2007/10/25/reality-victims-unit-meet-gavin-my-friend-who-went-on-a-date-with-lc-from-the-hills/
^ That was an interesting interview. It was said before that MTV people would tell them what to talk about but setting up the date with Gavin, is a little extra. When these things first stated out it didnt seem as "put together" by the producers as it is now. Now it seems to be a total soap opra. I'm sure some of the topics are fact base, like Speidi and the sex tape scandal but imo The Hills seems to be less reality tv.
Babybluecsumb I agree it is really soap operaish. The rebuttal that was posted on her FriendSpaceBook is silly. Look at the link http://www.friendspacebook.com/blog/profile/638/permalink/613
Post a Comment
<< Home