How Reality Television Can Be Misleading

What theories seem to apply to your popular culture topic?

Reality television was created to inform people of how life is for other people of different statuses. Some reality show actors or actresses can be viewed as an icon for “regular” people at home to look up to. The thing people do not realize is that everyone lives differently and that on television everything is not reality. A show is successful if it captures the attention of many viewers. If this does not happen then the show can be cancelled. You will see in almost any reality show there will be drama and many occasions of fighting or suspense. There are many underlying situation that people are experiencing when the cameras are off. We may view the people in the show and believe they have this perfect life and watch how they make themselves look like they are very religious, or that they value certain things they normally do not. This makes reality television misleading.

How do these theories describe, analyze or evaluate the topic you have selected?

People are changing their popular culture on television to give viewers what they want to see. Sometimes this could even mean showing forgiveness when you normally would not, or not showing forgiveness and creating a physical fight. They people on television that others are looking up to may not be being honest. Someone’s icon from reality television could be someone totally different. For someone to find out that their icon is not who they thought they were it can completely change their perspective in a negative light. The reunions of these shows is usually what uncovers the truth about how so many people were being mannered and deceptive during the show.

What insights do you gain from applying these theories to your popular culture topic?

My insight on this topic would be to consider myself in front of the camera. How would I act? Would I do your same routines that I do when there is no camera? Would I talk the same, react the same, or cry the same? The misleading of reality television lies to the viewer’s eyes. I do not believe reality television is reality.