What makes reality TV so enticing? After revisiting the notion of popular culture and the affect reality TV has on society is that reality television has the ability to grab hold of the audience’s attention. According to one of the very first articles read for our class entitled, “What is Pop Culture,” ideology plays an important role in popular culture through which a systematic body of ideas are created by a group of particular people. Therefore, the display of numerous reality shows aired on TV is the outcome of the types of topics and events well liked by society.
So what draws the audience to reality TV? Why do people enjoy watching reality TV shows including, “the Hills” and “Real World?” Perhaps it is a guilty pleasure phenomenon through which one can engross themselves into an extreme situation of what we as human beings encounter throughout our daily lives; money, sex, drugs, drama, ideal body images, etc. No matter the degree to which we as individuals can relate to the topics presented by reality programs, every person is able to relate to these events to some degree.
Today, the American people have become infatuated with the thought of personal wealth and prosperity. Words like “money,” “bigger,” better,” and “instant gratification” contribute to a world of pop culture surrounded by materialism. Often reality TV shows are saturated with materialistic items and instant gratification which mainstream society feeds off of. After all, we as a society are in part, responsible for the types of reality shows aired on TV, right? Such presentations are representational of our state of mind and the frames through which we view the world. Does anyone think reality TV is problematical and perhaps, hazardous to future generations? If society is this indulgent now, what will media be reflective of in 10, 20, 30 years from now?
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