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Cynthia M. Frisby Reality Tv Analysis

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Cynthia M. Frisby Reality Tv Analysis
What impact does Reality TV have on its viewers? Cynthia M. Frisby an associate professor of advertising at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, and coeditor of Journalism Across Cultures. Answers the question in “Getting Real with Reality TV” on September 2004 in USA Today magazine. Cynthia M. Frisby validated the appeal of Reality TV to viewers. Television networks are providing more dramatic, hilarious, and shocking content. Based on what is socially acceptable, and entertaining Reality TV fits the standards. Cynthia M. Frisby describes Reality TV as cameras following “real life” people around showing their everyday schedules making it into a television show. She then explains that people attract to Reality TV, because …show more content…
Frisby mentions that the six gratifications of media are: “information (also known as surveillance or “Knowledge”), escape, passing time, entertainment, social viewing/status enhancement, and relaxation” (273). She then goes into discussing the different reasons that viewers have by comparing their lives to the reality shows. Determining whether their lives are up to the standards, as well figuring if they have a good lifestyle, and their personal value. She then expresses that people who compare themselves with a high-level and a more sophisticated person is known as an Upward Comparison. She believes that people that do this comparison are encouraged to learn, and are prompted to reach their objectives. Upward comparison makes people alternate their way of being, and gives them control to conquer their struggles. She later claims that Downward comparison occurs when people compare themselves to an inferior and unfortunate victim. The comparisons alleviate their troubles, and are able to notice that life is not as bad as others have it. Cynthia M. Frisby later says that for comparison to happen people must be aware to some degree to try to resemble other, but the theorist suggest that comparison also occur without noticing and without having a face-to-face

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