A question often asked when discussing the genre of reality television is, How real is reality television. In this blog, I will be considering this very question.
A note before I begin, what we now call reality television began a resemblance of documentaries (Smith, 2020) that eventually shifted to the new definition (Smith, 2020). The definition for reality television is vague Philippa Smith’s definition as a variety of shows “the only thing they have in common are the so-called “real people” doing real things. Rather than fictional people doing made-up stuff,” (Smith, 2020) Richard Kilborn ops to put aside the format of the show rather focussing on the filmmakers “primary aim” of showcasing the shared experience or lived reality (Kilborn, 1994). So on this basis, one could look at reality television being real simply because the audience watches real people in allegedly unscripted situations the focus for entertainment being their actions and experience during the situation rather than the situation itself.
A good example of this I feel is the Korean reality television series I Live Alone it is a program that’s entire basis is hosts, who are called members, who sit in a studio and watch pre-recorded and edited footage of each of them as they go about their daily life (Hwang, 2013). Not all of their videos are shown in the studio rather they take turns watching how each of them goes about their lives, ever so often they have guests who part take in the filming of their daily life, and the viewers watch as they react to it, it’s a combination of docudrama, video diary and reaction footage (Hwang, 2013). The base never changes as each week new footage is shown of a certain member or guest and how they go about a day and then they react to it (Hwang, 2013). the focus and draw of the show as Kilborn explains is the sharing of the experience (Kilborn, 1994) as each member and guest often express their relatability of the footage shown to their own lives, just as audiences get to see celebrities in their allegedly lived reality of day to day footage where they wake up without makeup and unkempt hair go about eating their favourite food and getting together with their friends. The second layer of reality television of course being the allegedly unscripted authentic reaction by the hosts and their guests to the footage being shown (Hwang, 2013).
Of course, as mentioned reality television varies a great deal in content so, while shows like I Live Alone’s format seems straight forward with no real desire from the audience to watch fast-paced action or large drama there are shows in the reality television section that involves activities such as the challenge show survivor where players, or castaways, spend around thirty-nine days in a camp eliminating each other, real people face real consequences for the decisions they make inside the secluded island as the players have the incentive of monetary gain (Parsons, 2000). We see Kilborn’s definition of reality television on display as yet again the overall scenario and goal of the players are the same, survive long enough to plead your case as to why you should win a million dollars (Parsons, 2000), but it is the player’s reaction to this challenge that draws audiences in because in one season the focus is on how much people will lie and cheat for a million dollars, another will focus on the complete opposite like Survivor all-stars where viewers watched players Boston Rob and Amber Brkich form a relationship through being allies eventually cumulating in Boston Rob proposing to Amber who then goes on to win the million dollars(Parsons, 2003).
These programs stand second to the more recognized reality television shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians a show that follows the Kardashian Jenner family as they get married, get divorced, have children, and the fights and drama in between (Seacrest, 2007). This show which contains what Philippa Smith calls ‘Reality bite’ where events are cut and sequenced for the audience in a way that captivates them through the perceived spontaneity of events (Smith, 2020). This version of alleged authentic reality is more doubted side of reality television as it stands at a larger distance from reality television beginnings of the documentary (Smith, 2020) to the point where an audience laughs when members of the Kardashian Jenner family described reality television as “real people just being themselves”( Shared News, 2019).
All of this to say that to the question How real is reality television, I can’t give a definitive answer and it seems no one else agrees either on the answer to this question. Are there real people? Yes. Is the general premise and situations of the show based in reality? Yes. Is this enough for it to be classified as real? Maybe. So how real is it, that depends on how much investment the audience members place on the shared experience or lived reality created by the filmmakers?
References
Hwang, J Y (Prod dir). (2013) I live alone [television]. Korea: MBC
Kilborn, R. (1994). ‘How real can you get?’: recent devolpments in ‘reality’ television [article]. European Journal of Communication. Retrieved from https://blackboard.aut.ac.nz/bbcswebdav/pid-5350847-dt-content-rid-13171289_4/institution/Papers/ENGL602/Publish/How%20Real%20Can%20you%20get%20%20Characteristics%20of%20RTV.pdf
Parsons, C (creat). (2000). Survivor [television]. United States: CBS
Parsons, C (creat). (2003). All-stars [television]. Survivor. United States: CBS
Seacrest, R (creat). (2007). Keeping up with the Kardashians [television]. United States: E!,
Shared News. (2019). Kim Kardashian & Kendall Jenner laughed at while presenting at 2019 emmys? [Youtube]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Y7j5Q9tQs
Smith, P (lec). (2020). Reality television part 1 [Lecture PowerPoint]. Retrieved from https://blackboard.aut.ac.nz/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_96250_1&content_id=_5350843_1 Smith, P (lec). (2020). Reality television part 1 [Lecture recording]. Retrieved from https://blackboard.aut.ac.nz/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_96250_1&content_id=_5350843_1
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