Is Reality Tv Really the Reality?

Freshman Composition I
Is Reality TV Really The Reality?
In the world we live in today, television is one of the most popular technological advancements. Television catches the eyes of many viewers with captivating program series of shows such as game shows, dramas, cartoons, scary shows, comedies, sitcoms as well as reality shows. Among many American teenagers we commonly find the same interest in the reality shows such as 16 and Pregnant, Jersey Shore, The Challenge: Rivals, The Hills, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, and Dancing With The Stars.
Teenagers are mostly interested in reality shows because a lot of times we find “individuals compar[ing] themselves with others for a variety of reasons, including to: determine relative standing on an issue or related ability; emulate behaviors; determine norms; lift spirits or feel better about life and personal situations; and evaluate emotions, personality, and self-worth” (Frisby 292). Sure the programs are entertaining, hilarious, suspenseful, exciting, and obnoxious. But is this the real reality? Do these kinds of scenarios happen every day, is it really okay to go out and party and show up hours late to work, if even that? Is this what life is really about?
This is not the reality of life. Reality is everyday challenges that humans face, it is about responsibilities, family, friends, and values. Somehow, someway these television shows fool the audience by forgeting to include the more important things such as the topics listed above, which then makes it seem okay, and input the things that mean nothing at all for entertainment purposes. For example the hit MTV reality show Jersey Shore is about 8 college aged people, that are not in college, but have nothing better to do than go out party, drink, and have sex. The Jersey Shore cast members assigned specific jobs in certain locations where they are then told to cause a scene. Why viewers ask? For publicity reasons: To attract attention from more viewers around the world. Creating a scene in the work environment is not what normal working people do. A job is a responsibility, which the Jersey Shore often neglects by showing up with a hangover, if they even show up. Another neglected issue would be religion. The cast members of the Jersey Shore show no respect towards religion. They go against their own beliefs; they contradict the idea of sex before marriage. In my opinion it would seem that if millions of viewers were watching my figure on television, I myself would want to be presented to them a positive manner. Reality is not about going out, having fun, and drinking. Parents need to explain to their children how life actually works in the real world. The real world is tough; nothing is as it seems on TV, or in the movies. You have to work hard at something if you really want it; money is not just handed to you based on the ratings of a television show or movie. The feeling of accomplishing something on your own is so much greater than knowing you made a complete fool out of yourself just for money. The morals created in today’s society are contradicted by the TV showed aired by the media. Schooling teaches kids to assimilate with modern society, but these TV shows are corrupting this idea by showing how to not be accepted by society. They are getting thrown out of clubs, getting into fights and are being arrested, and sexually active: today’s society would not accept that as the norm. Life is not about money, or exposing yourself as an individual, it is about the pursuit of happiness.

Works Cited
Frisby, Cynthia.” Getting Real With Reality TV.” Perspectives on Contemporary Issues.5th Ed. Katherine Anne Ackley. Boston Wadsworth Cengage Learning. 2009. 291-294. Print.

Cited: Frisby, Cynthia.” Getting Real With Reality TV.” Perspectives on Contemporary Issues.5th Ed. Katherine Anne Ackley. Boston Wadsworth Cengage Learning. 2009. 291-294. Print.