Assess the Debates About Whether or Not Reality Television Is a Form of Tabloidization. Refer to at Least Two Academic Sources.
This essay will assess the debate on whether or not reality television is becoming more like a form of tabloidization; whether, reality TV has shifted from to entertaining the audience rather than educating the audience. John Corner believes that television has greatly expanded its range of images, depicting more of the ‘real’. He added that the shift in reality TV has employed factual programming, such as an increase in documentaries. On the other hand, Richard Kilborn believes that reality TV is a simulation of real life events through various forms of dramatic reconstruction… ’Documentaries can never be any more than a representation or an interpretation of events and issues in the real world’ (Kilborn, 5). Therefore, programs can be promoted through reality credentials. Hill also argues that reality TV has been constantly being criticised for being cheap and sensational television. Programs such as Big Brother and Survivor, who explore the notion of observational and experimental documentary game shows whilst also trying to be educational, can be defined as example of reality TV. The viewer will either love it or hate it although will still be a popular topic for public debate. The essay will also explore the shift in reality TV and reason to why reality TV is becoming more like tabloids.
Reality TV is a type of television genre that documents actual events and usually feature ordinary people instead of celebrities. Reality TV is difficult to categorise in some sense as because of its hybridity. It has also been developed within historically and culturally specific media environments. In addition, reality TV shows have influences of other television genres such as sports television, children’s and soap television, etcetera. Use of webcam helps depict the realness of the situation as the audience get a real insight to how the person/ contestant is feeling. There is use of unedited footage, such as live shows. This is all to enhance the realness hence the
Reality TV is a type of television genre that documents actual events and usually feature ordinary people instead of celebrities. Reality TV is difficult to categorise in some sense as because of its hybridity. It has also been developed within historically and culturally specific media environments. In addition, reality TV shows have influences of other television genres such as sports television, children’s and soap television, etcetera. Use of webcam helps depict the realness of the situation as the audience get a real insight to how the person/ contestant is feeling. There is use of unedited footage, such as live shows. This is all to enhance the realness hence the
Bibliography: Annette Hill, Reality TV: audience and popular factual television, Routledge: New York, 2005 Richard KIlborn and John Izod, An introduction to television documentary: confronting reality, Manchester University Press: Manchester, 1997 Ruth Lorand, Television: Aesthetic Reflections, Peter Lang Publishing: New York, 2002 Filmography Big Brother, Channel 4, 1997 Super-nanny, Channel 4, 2004 Crime Watch UK, BBC, 1984 The Jerry Springer Show, NBC, 1991 DIY SOS, BBC, 1999 Survivor, 1992 60-Minute Makeover, ITV, 2007 Ricki Lake, 1993