Pop Culture-Reality Television

5 Pages 1290 Words

Reality Television
A Reflection on American’s Entertainment Realm

Reality television preys on the vulnerability of individuals and relies on the public's desire to see others humiliated. Unfortunately, it did not take long for people to take a liking to this new craze. Because of the popularity of shows like “Survivor” and the MTV’s “Real World”, there has been an influx recently of different so-called reality shows. However these shows do not provide good, quality entertainment, instead they suggest that something is very wrong with American society. These shows glamorize underage drinking, pit friends against each other and cause ruthless fighting between the cast members. These behaviors pass on a negative message to viewers that acting this way is acceptable. Bringing about the disintegration of American values, like friendship, loyalty and fidelity, and causing psychological as well as physical pain to the real people who “star” in them, are all part of what America is seeing as the latest cultural fad-reality television.
At my college’s café one morning, America’s obsession with reality shows was apparent in a conversation I overheard. Rather than discussing current events such as the war in Iraq or the upcoming Presidential debate this group of girls were more concerned with the drama on last night’s episode of “The Bachelor.” It is ridiculous how reality television can blind viewers to the meaningful events happening around them! When, as a society that spends countless hours in front of the “tube”, we get so profoundly caught up within reality television’s grasp that we forget what is important and where our values are there is something wrong with us as well as well as what we are watching.
By taking ordinary people who would regularly be at home or work, and throwing them into a new environment and withdrawing the necessities of life, and not reco...