Spring Break
Re-examining the 'reality' behind reality television
Lindsay Pfeffer '06 looks at the obsession of the American public with reality TV shows as a blaring societal flaw.
by Lindsay Pfeffer
Justice Contributing Writ
Arts | 1/28/03
Posted online at 10:26 PM EST on 1/27/03
It's here again -- a whole new slew of reality television shows, each one just begging to spark public interest. There's Fox's "Joe Millionaire" and "Bridezeilla," ABC's "The Bachelorette," the WB's "High School Reunion," Fox's "American Idol 2," the upcoming NBC show "Meet My Folks" and A & E's "Married by America," to name a few.
Meanwhile, it seems that "Survivor" and "The Mole" have begun to somewhat fade into the dim background of the American viewer's mind. But how can a person blame the American public? Currently, they have more sludge than ever to sink their teeth into, and it's quite evident that many have been enjoying the taste of the fresher ingredients.
First of all, just what is reality television, really? Nope, it's not reality. It's only real people vying for airtime through a public and often humiliating display of their desperations. Is it feasible, for example, that the petite, blonde bachelorette Trista has such a difficult time meeting men, when she so completely embodies all that is the male dream?
Does she really crave so much attention? If she's looking for someone who will look past her appearance and love her for who she truly is, my guess is that she won't be finding a man to marry over the course of a few weeks because of some type of deep, emotional connection, but because of the lustful appeal of her plunging halter tops. My guess is she wants revenge for the embarrassment she suffered as second best to Amanda, the Bachelor's first pick.
I don't believe I'm being too harsh. It seems that reality television has become an infinite celebration of human superficiality. What makes "Joe Millionaire" the most interesting of them all is that the women pining over Evan will eventually be sat down and enlightened to the fact that he is of the working class and not bred from high society.
The producers of the show might as well cage the women and study them like lab animals. They are testing the accuracy of a stereotype -- women desire to marry into good money -- when they already know the results. Truly grounded, genuine women would not audition for such a show that parades them around like prostitutes who drool at the sight of the pearls and precious gems that Evan distributes at the end of each episode. This selling of their dignity is really an exhibit of the shallow and the even shallower.
Meanwhile, it seems that "Survivor" and "The Mole" have begun to somewhat fade into the dim background of the American viewer's mind. But how can a person blame the American public? Currently, they have more sludge than ever to sink their teeth into, and it's quite evident that many have been enjoying the taste of the fresher ingredients.
First of all, just what is reality television, really? Nope, it's not reality. It's only real people vying for airtime through a public and often humiliating display of their desperations. Is it feasible, for example, that the petite, blonde bachelorette Trista has such a difficult time meeting men, when she so completely embodies all that is the male dream?
Does she really crave so much attention? If she's looking for someone who will look past her appearance and love her for who she truly is, my guess is that she won't be finding a man to marry over the course of a few weeks because of some type of deep, emotional connection, but because of the lustful appeal of her plunging halter tops. My guess is she wants revenge for the embarrassment she suffered as second best to Amanda, the Bachelor's first pick.
I don't believe I'm being too harsh. It seems that reality television has become an infinite celebration of human superficiality. What makes "Joe Millionaire" the most interesting of them all is that the women pining over Evan will eventually be sat down and enlightened to the fact that he is of the working class and not bred from high society.
The producers of the show might as well cage the women and study them like lab animals. They are testing the accuracy of a stereotype -- women desire to marry into good money -- when they already know the results. Truly grounded, genuine women would not audition for such a show that parades them around like prostitutes who drool at the sight of the pearls and precious gems that Evan distributes at the end of each episode. This selling of their dignity is really an exhibit of the shallow and the even shallower.