Q1. Can reality TV still be thought of as a genre given the high level of hybridity that exists?
Since the conception of Reality Television it has morphed into multiple hybrids and sub-genres. Whereby the original concept of Reality TV was documentary style journalistic content it has become a genre in its own right and still deserves recognition as a genre. Reality TV is essentially unscripted content that is woven together to form a narrative. From its beginnings documenting “The Real World” on MTV, where a group of single adolescents shared a house with cameras filming their every encounter, it has transitioned into multiple sub-genres and hybrids.
Now Reality Television encompasses talent shows, cooking shows, following fringe jobs, romance, game shows, house renovations, docu- drama, lifestyle shows and more. While the multiple variations of Reality Television would suggest hybridization the audience has come to understand and expect certain aspects that are unique to the Reality Genre. We expect either complete strangers chosen at random to be put through their paces for a prize, or people searching for love jumping through metaphorical hoops to secure the heart of the prize bachelor or bachelorette. We expect to be able to vote in talent shows which are based on personal likeability as much as talent. We expect to see people fight it out and strategize to survive the odds of game shows such as “Survivor” or “The Block”. We know we’re going to see unobtainable wealth, luxury, and conflict when we watch the “Real Housewives” franchise or “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” We imagine that our favourite recipe could compete on one of the reality cooking shows. We imagine that a friend or loved one may one day give us a “Surprise Makeover.” It’s these little hopes that keep us watching. We want to see how the other half live, even if it is mostly contrived.
Reality Television now is as well-known as a format as Drama or Documentary. There are multiple hybrids of these genres too. There are Romantic Comedies, Tragedy Drama, Psychological thriller drama, Medical drama, Crime Drama etc. Reality Television has created its own Genre and as creators keep coming up with new ways to create hybrids and subgenres it will still be relevant for years to come.
References
Biressi, A. & Nunn, N. (2005). Real Lives, documentary approaches. In
Reality TV: realism and revelation. (pp. 35-58) London: Wallflower.
Hill, A. (2005) The reality genre. In A. Hill, Reality TV: Audiences and Popular Factual Television.(pp. 14 – 40). Oxon: Routledge.
Pop Genres 2020 