Today, reality television shows seem to be everywhere on the television, on websites and even in your social media feeds. It seems like they have taken over our lives and are impossible to avoid. However, these shows are doing more than just entertaining us; they’re changing the way we view our world and they’re teaching us some very dangerous lessons about what it means to be real, good, and successful in this life.
5 reasons why reality television is fake
Television is filled with reality Reel Craze shows that are faked, or manipulated in some way. These reasons are how many producers change their shows to gain higher ratings. Don’t believe us? Lookup any show on Wikipedia, and then take a look at what people say about it on IMDB forums. And don’t just take my word for it, look up what other people think too!
Scripted Dialogue
This isn’t really a new phenomenon. Since Shakespeare, playwrights have used scripts to create compelling theater and cinematic performances. Still, we might be setting ourselves up for disappointment when we watch these shows. Have you ever heard someone say I could write a better show than that!? In some cases, it turns out they can…because they did! The reenactment genre is fascinating and also a bit worrying in how much truth it reveals about human nature. What do you think: is there something that case wrong with us that compels us to watch shows like Jersey Shore? Or are these programs merely showcases what would happen if cameras were pointed at everyday people (i.e., morons)?
Unrealistic Casting
Today’s popular reality shows showcase people living extraordinary, ridiculous lives. Popular programs like Jersey Shore and Bad Girls Club depict a very specific type of person as a representative of an entire demographic. They paint broad strokes, but ultimately fail to show viewers what typical people are really like. What viewers see is mostly exaggerated and highly edited – real life isn’t quite so dramatic, high-octane, or pointless. In fact, there are many reasons that these shows are edited in such a way: it helps capture audience attention and makes for great television. It also paints a distorted picture of what normal people actually do!
Unscripted, but Intentionally Filmed
The documentary nature of unscripted shows is what makes them so fascinating—and so potentially damaging. While we’re watching people’s lives unfold, it’s often hard to distinguish between what’s being portray as real and what has manipulate. The storylines are not script, but they are heavily produce, such as with professional actors providing voices for animals and other characters. And some behind-the-scenes action may stage or edited out, not unlike a traditional script.
Selected Footage
For many viewers, reality television is simply entertainment. In fact, Reelcraze shows like Survivor may seem to be so exaggerate that they have no bearing on real-life at all. However, whether we realize it or not, these programs have a powerful impact on our thinking and behavior. The same holds true for other fictionalized shows such as news programs and biopics – even documentaries! When viewing any type of entertainment media (including movies), it’s important to note how what we see may differ from reality. This can change how we think about certain people, topics, and issues in both positive and negative ways.
No One Really Gets Hurt
It’s true that there are occasional physical altercations on some reality shows, but they’re very rarely violent. Violence—aside from actual violence—is an incredibly powerful tool in entertainment and it has to use sparingly if you want to maximize its effectiveness. In a show like Survivor, which is all about strategy and collaboration, there simply isn’t room for fighting; if someone got violent with another person (or accidentally hurt them), they would lose valuable political allies in a heartbeat. Reality television is just like any other kind of television: It’s mostly a visual medium and getting physical at every opportunity can detract from your message by taking up too much time or attention.