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Janine Dunn
Professor Brand
Eng1010
07-07-2014
Reality Television on Todays Society
Reality television is a rapidly growing genre of entertainment that takes the average per-
son and puts them in a controlled, surveillance situation, which usually brings them to fame.
Some of these shows include American Idol, Survivor, Jersey Shore, and Here Comes Honey
Boo Boo. I feel that these shows are as harmless as any other television show, and it is just an-
other form of entertainment. People may try to mimic what they see on the T.V., but they will do
that with any other genre. Reality Television is not only a form of entertainment to many, but it
is also an easy way for people to learn about things they may not be exposed to.
The Effects of Reality Television from USA Today College is an informative article on
the newest genre of television and the effects it is having on people. The author, Micki Fahner,
shows both the good and the bad of the newest fad, that takes people who typically have no ex-
perience in the show business industry and puts them on national T.V. and that usually ends very
profitable for the network (Fahner p. 10). Fahner shows a study in her article done by Dr. Brad
Gorham, chair of the Communications Department at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Com-
munications at Syracuse University that have proven that All TV shows, not just reality shows,
help construct scenarios that demonstrate how some behaviors will be rewarded or punished
and continues that reality shows portray that there is never consequences for negative actions
(par. 9). The article also portrays that reality television can cause more negative stereotypes on
groups of people and cause the younger generation to have a more dramatic affect on their life to
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reflect what they see on the television (par. 14). On the more positive side, Fahner supports that
networks such as BET or OWN do have shows people overcoming stereo types that other shows
do not take the time or show the opposite (par. 18).
Reality TV Is Making Us Smarter, Even When It's Stupid from Hollywood.com put a
different twist on reality T.V. than most Americans view. The author, Brian Moylan, explains
that these shows are like anthropological experiments for everyday people (par. 3). People who
watch reality T.V. are being exposed to things that they normally wouldnt be because some
shows are going either across the country, or even across the world to show you how different
cultures can be (Moylan par. 3). Moylan also says that we are being forced to come with our own
conclusions after watching these shows, making us more well rounded people who are able to
form educated opinions about things other than just their surroundings (par. 2) A third point that
the author made was that just because people choose to watch shows that others might deem
trashy or disgusting doesnt mean that you are going to pick up the traits that they use in the
shows (Moylan par. 4). Moylan makes a point that although Honey Boo Boo and her family may
not make the healthiest eating habits or live an extravagant lifestyle, they still show more com-
passion for each other than any other reality show on the television (par. 4). There can be good
found in any show.
Why America Loves Reality TV from Psychology Today, written by Steven Reiss, and
James Wiltz, gave great insight into why people are going crazy for this new form of television.
Reiss and Wiltz conducted a detailed survey of 239 people, asking them about their television
viewing habits and also their values and desires. (Reiss et al. 1). The authors explained that the
two most common reasons that people watched these shows was for people to be able to talk to
coworkers and friends about the shows and for lack of morals shown, however, their study
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proved that was wrong. (Reiss et al 1). One of the most common findings was that people love
the competitive nature of shows and the way people acted to come out on top such as American
Idol or Survivor (Reiss et al. 2). The biggest reason why people loved reality television was that
they felt they could relate with the stars of these shows as opposed to high list celebrities (Reiss
et al. 2). Reiss and Wiltz argued that people felt they love to fantasize about becoming rich and
famous through these television shows, as these common people were able to do. (2). All people
proved that they just wanted to be important to millions by becoming famous, and reality televi-
sion helps them think that it can become a possibility (Reiss et al 2).
Reality television can be used as a learning tool, just as Moylan explained. There are
many shows out there such as Breaking Amish, 19 Kids and Counting, and Laguna Beach that
show different cultures and religions that most people will not experience first hand and can see
how different people even just in our own country live. There are also many shows such as
American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, and Extreme Home Makeover that are actually
helping people change peoples life for the better. All reality televisions shows arent bad, and
should not be placed under the stereotype that they make people dumb.
Some shows such as Jersey Shore and Real World do not display the best of morals for
younger ages, however, that is not always a bad thing. Some people may see this show and real-
ize that it is not a good way to live. They may model their life to be the opposite of how these
people act. There are plenty of other shows that are scripted that can show unpleasant characters.
Shows such as Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead show crime and drug use and glamorize it.
Those shows can be just of bad of influences on people as reality television is.
Reality television can be used as a great educational tool. It is as harmful and harmless as
any other form of television show. The articles helped inform people this through studies that
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they had conducted and by interviewing highly qualified experts in this subject. As Moylan said,
Reality television is making us smarter by making us better judges and shrewder audiences.
And this happens because of, not despite, the shows that many detractors would call the worst.
Everyone must come up with their own conclusions, making us a well rounded audience because
of reality television.


















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Works Cited
Fahner, Micki. "The Real Effects of Reality TV." USA TODAY College. 18 Apr. 2012.
Web. 30 June 2014.
Moylan, Brian. "Reality TV Is Making Us Smarter, Even When It's Stupid." Hollywood.com.
5 Oct. 2012. Web. 30 June 2014.
Reiss, Steven, and James Wiltz. "Why America Loves Reality TV." Psychology Today. 01 Sept.
2001. Web. 30 June 2014.