Reality TV
In the past few years, it has become almost impossible to scan the television channels without coming across at least one reality TV show. From the “Real World” to “Average Joe,” one can not help but find a reality show to watch. This brings up a question: where does one draw the line? Our society is becoming hooked on television shows staring “normal” people, but, if reality shows were truly “real”, they would not be nearly as interesting. In an attempt to grab an audience, reality show producers are beginning to make “real” TV into something even more absurd then a classic soap opera. Some people will do anything to be on TV, no matter how embarrassing it may be. The world gets absorbed and cannot stop watching. Due to the success and large number of viewers that shows of this nature attract, new shows are introduced each and every season. [Also, don't forget that reality television content is significantly cheaper to produce]
Not only will reality shows continue to flood network's schedules next fall, but television executives are also predicting such developments as an end to the traditional television season (CBS).
It may come as a surprise to most people, but these shows are scripted; they are not real. [make sure you actually have evidence for this. I'm not sure these shows are scripted so much as they are carefully controlled situations, but I don't
know that. I would like to see what you turn up.]
This topic is interesting to me because watching these shows has made me realize how fake they really are. I want to get to the route[this is not the word you want to use here] of all reality TV shows and find out what they are really expecting from the audience. I want people to realize that the shows are not real and to understand why they are made the way they are. Viewers should realize that living out your life on a television show will never be realistic. [this is a very important point: the shows are controlled, but that doesn't mean they are scripted]
I want to discuss how much reality TV has improved, but yet has become more pointless at the same time [I don't like this sentence. What do you mean by better? How are they becoming more pointless? Would "profitable" and "sleazy" perhaps be better words?]. For example, there are stations which are making mini reality shows because they know how popular they are becoming and want to make a profit.
On PAX, "Xtreme Fakeovers" is shaping up to be something weirder: a ghoulish celebration of drag and minstrelsy. Using prostheses, chestnut-colored skin varnish and colored contact lenses, makeup and special-effects artists turn men into women and Caucasians into Hispanics, allowing them to play hideous pranks on their loved ones (Heffernan).
I guess the traditional “Candid Camera” was not enough for viewers, and shows like “Xtreme Fakeovers” have to be created in order to capture a larger audience [why? i want you to push this point. Also think about how these shows are making 'reality' TV shows about fakery (tricking your loved ones, etc.)]. Eventually, I want to bring up how the FCC works and the criteria they use to evaluate shows. I also want to evaluate the process that goes into creating reality shows. I want viewers to see that the people on these shows put on acts, and have emotions and feelings that are induced for the viewer’s enjoyment.
The reason why this is such a problem is because TV is portraying reality in the wrong way. The editors of these shows make reality TV look so natural that people are beginning to live their lives as if they were part them. The editors are also making it easier for the viewers to compare themselves to its type-cast stars. This problem can be solved if the FCC takes some action. Reality shows should state in the beginning that what they show is not exactly what may have happened. They should state that editing affects a lot of what they show and it is done in a manner that will make the viewers believe what they see. This could work if brought to the attention of the FCC where they can take into account the statistics and what is going on. People are easily influenced by reality shows and try to follow in the same footsteps. I mentioned before that people will do just about anything to make a name for themselves and will do anything to make it happen, which is true.
People appearing on Reality TV shows are willing to do many things that most people would never realistically consider doing under normal circumstances. They are willing to eat strange and horrible things, perform dangerously life threatening stunts, and put themselves into stressful situations that people would never realistically have to go through (Wearstler).
It is because of this that shows like "Fear Factor" and "Dog Eat Dog" are still on the air. I just want the readers and viewers to understand the truth behind the camera lens.
[
I like this topic a lot. This proposal, however, is a bit of a mess. It's not clear what the structure of your paper will be, but it is very clear what the major points of your argument will be. For your own purposes, I want you to make up a list of the things you want to talk about in short sentences (ie. "Talk about the FCC") and then number them in the order in which you would like to talk about them. This is key. As this proposal stands, there is no sense of organization for your final project, which is something it must desperately have.]
Work Cited
CBS."Reality Shows Changing TV's Reality?".
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/25/entertainment/main537964.shtml∞
Virginia Heffernan."Small Reality TV Shows Reveal Larger Truths".
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=e428269f1c70361608bd052edfd8ae6d&_docnum=1&wchp=dGLbVzb-zSkVA&_md5=68c328703b37fdc251cfe8440b85837c-tv∞
Patricia-Anne Tom."Candid Cameras".
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=84db081a82010da8506fc455c057f4c9&_docnum=1&wchp=dGLbVzb-zSkVA&_md5=56676b886373f703ca0b7733e6054f3e∞
Amber Wearstler."Reality TV and the Effects it has on the Public".
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/faculty/ha/tcom103.fall2002/gp16/#effects-tv∞
MonicaKrasProposalDrafts
Reality TV
In the past few years, it has become almost impossible to scan the television channels without coming across at least one reality TV show. From the “Real World” to “Average Joe,” one can not help but find a reality show to watch. This brings up a question: where does one draw the line? Our society is becoming hooked on television shows staring “normal” people, but, if reality shows were truly “real”, they would not be nearly as interesting. In an attempt to grab an audience, reality show producers are beginning to make “real” TV into something even more absurd then a classic soap opera. Some people will do anything to be on TV, no matter how embarrassing it may be. The world gets absorbed and cannot stop watching. Due to the success and large number of viewers that shows of this nature attract, new shows are introduced each and every season.
Not only will reality shows continue to flood network's schedules next fall, but television executives are also predicting such developments as an end to the traditional television season (CBS).
It may come as a surprise to most people, but these shows are scripted; they are not real.
This topic is interesting to me because watching these shows has made me realize how fake they really are. I want to get to the route of all reality TV shows and find out what they are really expecting from the audience. I want people to realize that the shows are not real and to understand why they are made the way they are. Viewers should realize that living out your life on a television show will never be realistic.
I want to discuss how much reality TV has improved, but yet has become more pointless at the same time. For example, there are stations which are making mini reality shows because they know how popular they are becoming and want to make a profit.
On PAX, "Xtreme Fakeovers" is shaping up to be something weirder: a ghoulish celebration of drag and minstrelsy. Using prostheses, chestnut-colored skin varnish and colored contact lenses, makeup and special-effects artists turn men into women and Caucasians into Hispanics, allowing them to play hideous pranks on their loved ones (Heffernan).
I guess the traditional “Candid Camera” was not enough for viewers, and shows like “Xtreme Fakeovers” have to be created in order to capture a larger audience. Eventually, I want to bring up how the FCC works and the criteria they use to evaluate shows. I also want to evaluate the process that goes into creating reality shows. I want viewers to see that the people on these shows put on acts, and have emotions and feelings that are induced for the viewer’s enjoyment.
The reason why this is such a problem is because TV is portraying reality in the wrong way. The editors of these shows make reality TV look so natural that people are beginning to live their lives as if they were part them. The editors are also making it easier for the viewers to compare themselves to its type-cast stars. This problem can be solved if the FCC takes some action. Reality shows should state in the beginning that what they show is not exactly what may have happened. They should state that editing affects a lot of what they show and it is done in a manner that will make the viewers believe what they see. This could work if brought to the attention of the FCC where they can take into account the statistics and what is going on. People are easily influenced by reality shows and try to follow in the same footsteps. I mentioned before that people will do just about anything to make a name for themselves and will do anything to make it happen, which is true.
People appearing on Reality TV shows are willing to do many things that most people would never realistically consider doing under normal circumstances. They are willing to eat strange and horrible things, perform dangerously life threatening stunts, and put themselves into stressful situations that people would never realistically have to go through (Wearstler).
It is because of this that shows like "Fear Factor" and "Dog Eat Dog" are still on the air. I just want the readers and viewers to understand the truth behind the camera lens.
Work Cited
CBS."Reality Shows Changing TV's Reality?".
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/25/entertainment/main537964.shtml∞
Virginia Heffernan."Small Reality TV Shows Reveal Larger Truths".
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=e428269f1c70361608bd052edfd8ae6d&_docnum=1&wchp=dGLbVzb-zSkVA&_md5=68c328703b37fdc251cfe8440b85837c-tv∞
Patricia-Anne Tom."Candid Cameras".
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=84db081a82010da8506fc455c057f4c9&_docnum=1&wchp=dGLbVzb-zSkVA&_md5=56676b886373f703ca0b7733e6054f3e∞
Amber Wearstler."Reality TV and the Effects it has on the Public".
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/faculty/ha/tcom103.fall2002/gp16/#effects-tv∞
MonicaKrasProposalDraftsReality TV
In the past few years, it has become almost impossible to scan the television channels without coming across at least one reality TV show. From the “Real World” to “Average Joe,” one can not help but find a reality show to watch. This brings up a question: where does one draw the line? Our society is becoming hooked on television shows staring “normal” people, but, if reality shows were truly “real”, they would not be nearly as interesting. In an attempt to grab an audience, reality show producers are beginning to make “real” TV into something even more absurd then a classic soap opera. Some people will do anything to be on TV, no matter how embarrassing it may be. The world gets absorbed and cannot stop watching. Due to the success and large number of viewers that shows of this nature attract, new shows are introduced each and every season.
Not only will reality shows continue to flood network's schedules next fall, but television executives are also predicting such developments as an end to the traditional television season (CBS).
It may come as a surprise to most people, but these shows are scripted; they are not real.
This topic is interesting to me because watching these shows has made me realize how fake they really are. I want to get to the route of all reality TV shows and find out what they are really expecting from the audience. I want people to realize that the shows are not real and to understand why they are made the way they are. Viewers should realize that living out your life on a television show will never be realistic.
I want to discuss how much reality TV has improved, but yet has become more pointless at the same time. For example, there are stations which are making mini reality shows because they know how popular they are becoming and want to make a profit.
On PAX, "Xtreme Fakeovers" is shaping up to be something weirder: a ghoulish celebration of drag and minstrelsy. Using prostheses, chestnut-colored skin varnish and colored contact lenses, makeup and special-effects artists turn men into women and Caucasians into Hispanics, allowing them to play hideous pranks on their loved ones (Heffernan).
I guess the traditional “Candid Camera” was not enough for viewers, and shows like “Xtreme Fakeovers” have to be created in order to capture a larger audience. Eventually, I want to bring up how the FCC works and the criteria they use to evaluate shows. I also want to evaluate the process that goes into creating reality shows. I want viewers to see that the people on these shows put on acts, and have emotions and feelings that are induced for the viewer’s enjoyment.
The reason why this is such a problem is because TV is portraying reality in the wrong way. The editors of these shows make reality TV look so natural that people are beginning to live their lives as if they were part them. The editors are also making it easier for the viewers to compare themselves to its type-cast stars. This problem can be solved if the FCC takes some action. Reality shows should state in the beginning that what they show is not exactly what may have happened. They should state that editing affects a lot of what they show and it is done in a manner that will make the viewers believe what they see. This could work if brought to the attention of the FCC where they can take into account the statistics and what is going on. People are easily influenced by reality shows and try to follow in the same footsteps. I mentioned before that people will do just about anything to make a name for themselves and will do anything to make it happen, which is true.
People appearing on Reality TV shows are willing to do many things that most people would never realistically consider doing under normal circumstances. They are willing to eat strange and horrible things, perform dangerously life threatening stunts, and put themselves into stressful situations that people would never realistically have to go through (Wearstler).
It is because of this that shows like "Fear Factor" and "Dog Eat Dog" are still on the air. I just want the readers and viewers to understand the truth behind the camera lens.
Work Cited
CBS."Reality Shows Changing TV's Reality?".
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/25/entertainment/main537964.shtml∞
Virginia Heffernan."Small Reality TV Shows Reveal Larger Truths".
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=e428269f1c70361608bd052edfd8ae6d&_docnum=1&wchp=dGLbVzb-zSkVA&_md5=68c328703b37fdc251cfe8440b85837c-tv∞
Patricia-Anne Tom."Candid Cameras".
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=84db081a82010da8506fc455c057f4c9&_docnum=1&wchp=dGLbVzb-zSkVA&_md5=56676b886373f703ca0b7733e6054f3e∞
Amber Wearstler."Reality TV and the Effects it has on the Public".
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/faculty/ha/tcom103.fall2002/gp16/#effects-tv∞
MonicaKrasProposalDrafts