Can reality tv still be thought of as a genre given the high level of hybridity that exists?
As discussed in the previous lesson, Reality TV is a TV show with combined elements of documentary, free cinema, direct cinema and documentary TV. In the modern era, Reality TV is equipped with many entertainment and special effects, which is what we know as Reality TV (Smith, 2020).
Reality TV can be said to be the hybrid reality genre. As according to Wood (2004), Reality TV is a kind of hybrid programme with expression elements of fact, fiction, entertainment and advertisement. Fact; is the discourse of sobriety that represent the state of affair of the real world. Fiction; is a unique imaginary domain of creativity. Entertainment; like exhibition activities such as concert, competitions and game shows, convoy a theatrical sense of reality as performance. Advertisement; promotion of particular a product which reveals the material reality with magical inducements and satisfactions.
However, this explanation is too perfunctory, because with the evolution of the times, the expansion of the media and the continuous improvement of technology along with the economic solution. Therefore, Reality TV has also derived a diversified state via re-enactment, diversion, absorption and infomercial. Re-enactment, the use of fictitious technology to create continuity of context, is to establish reality through fictional events. Diversion is an entertainment mode that diversifies the original monotonous form into extraordinary form through diversified methods. Absorption, a reconstruction method by combining with factual reference and fictional technique to enhance the dramatic impact. The infomercial is the combination of advertising and current affairs, which narrates the story of the product by utilizing news broadcasts method along with the explanation of experts and consumers (Wood, 2004).
Reality TV can also be said to be a diversified genre, which combines many aspects of fine follow. As according to Author, Reality TV was first derived from Tabloid Journalism and popular entertainment in its early history, combined with recording method of documentary TV (Hill, 2005). If combined with the development notions of re-enactment, diversion, absorption and infomercial mentioned by wood (2004), then it is the so-called formats of infotainment, docu-soap, lifestyle and reality game show. Infotainment is a combination of information and entertainment, usually reporting a major event including “hard news”, interviews, interviews with celebrities and stories with drama, a compelling event or a trend, representing the spirit of the times, despite these The topic is often not current affairs news at all, but attracts the audience to know some new information (Hill, 2005). Docu-Soap is the combination of observational documentary and character-driven drama. To put it simply, it is to record the facts of special characters when facing various situations, such as rescue 911, cops airport is the so-called popular factual shows (Hill, 2005). Lifestyle is a leisure and fun program, is the involvement of ordinary people and their ordinary leisure interests with experts who transform the ordinary into the extraordinary (Hill, 2005). Reality game show is a kind of competition or competition show. Participants from the ordinary world participate in the competition for rewards. As for entertainment effect, the producer will request the contestants with emotional play. For example, Survivor, it has competition, adventure and emotional interaction to capture the audiences (Hill, 2005). The above programs are successful with high ratings, as the Hill(2005) said because these programs have captured the popular essence and subsequently created a hybrid type of program. More importantly, the hybrid programmes focused on telling stories about real people and real events in an entertaining style. Therefore, it captures the passionate love of the audience and stimulates the audience to follow.
From the view of the development history of Reality TV and its elements, Reality TV is a multi or diverse-reality genre, because it combines actual recording, without scripts, get real people, to participate in real events, and with diverse shooting techniques and entertainment effects. Just like the smartphone, which is a modern multi-communication device (Jackson, 2018). Before the arrival of the smartphone, it was derived from a home phone to a portable phone, and with the development of telecommunications, the portable phone was refined, like the popular Nokia and Mortola at the time. With the widespread use of mobile phones, mobile phone companies have added some functional features such as mini-games, calculation, and weather information. In the digital era of today, smartphones combine business, film and television, camera, online shopping, and other computer-like functions (Jackson, 2018). Therefore, Reality TV can still be thought as a genre and it is a genre with multi-category of reality, like smartphones, absorbed all aspects of reality, and then created a new reality we know.
Smith, P. (2020). ENGL602 Popular Genres: Reality television part one [PowerPoint slides]. Blackboard. https://blackboard.aut.ac.nz/bbcswebdav/pid-5350845-dt-content-rid-13171084_4/xid-13171084_4
Wood, B. (2004). A world in retreat: the reconfiguration of hybridity in 20th-century New Zealand television. Media, Culture & Society, 26(1), 45-62. DOI: 10.1177/0163443704039709
Hill, A. (2005) The rise of reality TV. In A. Hill, Reality TV: Audiences and Popular Factual Television. (pp. 15 – 40). Oxon: Routledge. https://blackboard.aut.ac.nz/bbcswebdav/pid-5350878-dt-content-rid-13171279_4/institution/Papers/ENGL602/Publish/PopGen_Critical%20Reader%2012%20copy.pdf
Jackson, K. (2018). A brief history of the smartphone. Sciencenode. https://sciencenode.org/feature/How%20did%20smartphones%20evolve.php
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