http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C1154194%2C00.html
Article Summary/ Criticism
In the article “How Reality TV Fakes It” by James Poniewozik, it criticizes how reality shows are manipulated. The articles gives several cases where the producers play around with the film to make things more entertaining to viewers, but not actually all truthful. The author brings up the idea of Frankenbiting in which producers use under pressure to deliver a tidy story that’s not exactly reality. The staff members who create story lines and cobble video together argue constantly that they deserve to be covered by the Writers Guild of America. They run films out of order, cherry-pick facts and quotes, and even withhold information to downplay a romance in order to create fake suspense. The author then states that the problem with reality tv is that they have gained the power to imply or outright fabricate things about real people who have to carry their fake reputation into their normal everyday lives.
The article hit on the fact that some viewers may know that their favorite reality television shows are cast, but may not know all the fudging that’s going on behind scenes. More than half said accuracy is not a factor in the enjoyment of reality tv. Even so, there are some 30% of people who believe reality tv is factual and another 25% know it’s fabricated. As for the people in reality shows, they have both negative and positive effects from fabricated storylines. In one case, a star feels like she gained tremendous power from being shown as a vilified person across the country.
My Thoughts
From reading this article about how fake reality tv is, it makes me think that most media is untruthful, being that most forms of media want to entertain in order to gain viewings and good ratings. In order to entertain, many forms of media feel like they have to fabricate things in order to make their material seem more presentable.
The critique was good because the author brought up the point that even though reality tv is fake, many people like it. The critique also legit because it covered several reality tv shows that fabricated their films. So, if I were to turn on the tv and get caught up into a good show, it’s probably all fake because what reality is there when there is always some kind of drama going on?
The author doesn’t really suggest improvements, but if I could speak for him, he would want reality tv to be more real and truthful. Even though the author would want reality tv to be more REAL, he sees that people like the fake stories, so there’s not much he can do to change that. Most people like reality entertainment and if they want lies, they will most likely get a whole thirty to sixty minutes worth.
…..So I must say I’m opposed to fabricated shows, but they are still entertaining and it’s a good way to waste down time. This article was about reality tv, but if it were any other source of media such as the news, would people be okay if the stories were fabricated? .....Probably not, but that’s for you to decide. :P
I agree with the author because I think that reality tv shows are manipulated. Not many of them are actually real because everyone likes a good, dramatic show. I understand why the shows are manipulated though because they do need good ratings in order to stay on the air. If a reality show is boring and nothing intense/dramatic happens then not many people will watch it, I know I wouldn't. I agree with Tyrone when he states that there is not much to do in order to change reality tv because the majority of people wouldn't watch it if it was more truthful. Even though they are mostly fake, I honestly don't care either way because I am a HUGE sucker for reality tv shows!
ReplyDeleteLots of the reality "actors" also know that they can get 15 min. of fame from them..so, care less about the manipulated aspect.
ReplyDeleteIt is my opinion that although entertaining, reality TV really is not real. Producers meddle in plot lines or tell characters things that someone said about them to cause drama because drama bring in ratings. TV is a business and at the end of the day, the producers of reality TV shows need to compete in order to still have jobs. I too am a sucker for reality TV but I try to take it with a grain of salt and acknowledge that most of it is probably some altered version of reality.
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