Where’s the reality (TV)?

My beef with “reality” TV.       

I know I have skirted around this topic in a recent blog, and many a facebook rant. But I really mean it. I find reality TV puerile. Meaningless. Contrived. Because - and here's the shocker - IT ISN'T REALITY. Its barely TV.

The reality of what?

Seriously are we so bored with our own lives that we willingly sit down to watch someone else brush their teeth? Are we so boring that we believe these contrived circumstance to be reality? The reality of what? A reflection, or microcosm, of the world we live in? Err, no.

There is nothing genuine about a show that forces unnatural, contrived, crisis points of stress, and drama of such little consequence to the actual world - all with a handy film crew of course – that makes the enjoyable competitive whilst at the same time sucking any potential joy out of competition.

Is "reality" real?

You tell me. Please! Tell me what is real about this genre? Yes there is competition in the world, in both the natural and human world. Yes some people are better than others at things. Is that nature or nurture? It’s hard to say. Yes a group of people forced to endure a series of tasks is bound to create drama and points of conflict. But reality? No. Its not reality. It’s not real. It has no long-term value and what’s more the viewers pay for the privilege of watching this crap through their voting addiction, which is born of advertising.  Advertising, marketing and its inherent drama. Contrived inherent drama.

I watch TV, yes. I think its great. I like investigative police dramas. I enjoy the cleverness of plot and character development. The richness of character. (Like Frank Pembleton in Homicide - Life on the Street, who I'd go so far as to say informed Samuel L. Jacksons portrayal in Tarintino's Pulp Fiction). Where no one is being exploited and this will not scar someone for the rest of their lives for no reason, as it reruns for future audiences.The thrill of drama and the genuine escapism of watching something where talented actors and writers come together to transport you from your day.

I also like true crime, criminology, docu-dramas about crime, nature docos and everything Environment.

I also like movies and listen to music, not the crap you’d see on a “reality” show, good music. I also read.

So I’m not immune to having my partialities, in the shape of my purchases (not piracy), inform so called “popularity”. But as to feverishly texting my preferences on which housemate, cook, dancer, singer, handyman or product I think is the best? I draw the line. Go out people. Go out dancing or singing. Stay home cooking or handymanning. But I implore you to turn that shit off. It is making a fool of you.

So much drama!

I find this penchant for implied drama is also now seeping into the realm of documentary filmmaking. (A genre I'm a big fan of). I noticed this in a Nordic documentary recently that highlighted the seasonal eating habits of the native bear, and my dubious self asked: How do we know the bear is really starving, are the writers trying to create drama?

How do we know it’s the same bear we’re following – they do look kinda similar?

How do we know that he didn’t have a huge feed off camera? Earlier in the season? And they are just enjoying life now.

How do we know he isn’t just like – well humans have fucked this planet and there is no point living any more so I'm not going to fatten up to survive this winter because every year it just gets harder and harder?

He might be depressed, fatalistic even, about eating. He might have chosen vegetarianism.

It’s funny that they always make predatory animals out to be suffering and the prey out to be fine, like the musk oxen that are just standing there for 6 months in the blizzard. But they’re well adapted to it. Don’t you think a bear is well adapted to feast and famine? This is contrary to what I know of climate change, global warming and the genuine suffering of animals, so I am using examples from my childhood. Many many years ago.

Point is - Humans always want the inherent drama or its not “interesting”.

The two closing thoughts I have on this matter are these:

What will this era/genre of television be known for? For it is certainly not the “golden age” of “live” tv excellence. What is it trying to say? What do we learn? How do we grow as humans by watching it? What does it teach?

And secondly, of these people, the participants, these one dimensional criers who seek their 15 minutes of fame and sign away their rights. These people that storm off at a moments notice, and backstab and undermine to get ahead.. Fuck, and bully for attention. Are they truly reflective of reality? Are they our role models?

As much as that, my friend, is a sad indictment, it is a genuine query.