The Stereotypical Reality Of Television - 1624 Words

The Stereotypical Reality in TV Although television can sometimes be educational, it is often agreed that reality TV creates dangerous stereotypes. These days, it seems like producers are willing to turn almost anything into a an hour long weekly series. Another growing concern that may indirectly promote stereotypes is the issue of privacy in reality TV. It is said that â€Å"participants in reality shows have openly admitted that giving the public access to the most personal moments of their lives is nothing short of a daily battle† (Smith). Reality TV has been around for a long time. Shows that portrayed people in unscripted situations began in the late 1940s. â€Å"Queen for a Day† was an early example of reality-based television. In the 40s and 50s reality television caught people s eye. In the early 60s the first reality TV show in the United Kingdom was aired. With time reality TV has evolved and has even developed various subgenres. There are eight sub genres th at are commonly known as: gamedocs, dating programs, makeover programs, docusoaps, talent contests, court programs, reality sitcoms, and celebrity variations of other programs. The big controversy is whether these stereotypes exist or not. When this popular new trend first started out, many stereotypes were not existent but as time went on, many developed, especially in the 2000s. Overall, reality TV shows promote dangerous stereotypes. To begin, multiple shows promote different stereotypes. Shows like teen mom,Show MoreRelatedThe Representation of African Americans in the Media and Popular Culture901 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction In popular culture, specifically American television, representations of African Americans often rely upon an array of stereotypes. Representation is the production of meaning through language or signifying systems. 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Women characters being the helpless victims, while the strong men would come to save them (including television shows such as Miami Vice or Threes Company). Today there is a whole slew of shows and movies, which are redefining and re-categorizing the stereotypical language in relation to gender. One such television series is Buffy, The Vampire Slayer (starringRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Saved By The Bell 1102 Words   |  5 Pagesan exposition concentrating on the absurd tendencies of the hit television sitcom’s producers. The main idea of his essay, â€Å"Being Zack Morris,† is to depict how even though television is not always realistic, neither is reality (147). 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Elizabeth Larkins argues with the integrity of the genre of reality TV shows. She describes how watching one’s embarrassment or pain on TV and finding it humorous is wrong morally and mentally. Larkins describes how reality TV a ll began with one of the oldest reality shows â€Å"Candid Camera.† This show would broadcast hidden cameras of people in embarrassing or painful situations. It was a huge success, which ultimately started the popularity of the reality genre