PRO: Ella Harner, Managing Editor
Where can you find love, learn how to cook and get stranded on an island? Reality television!
It is no secret that reality TV has its “haters.” Whether it’s those who don’t get the hype, those who think it’s all fake or those who just find it repulsive, it is not the most appreciated genre. According to Statista, most Americans tend to gravitate towards Action and Adventure or Comedy for their movies and TV shows.
The truth is that reality TV can fit both those genres; take the popular show Survivor, for example. Survivor takes a range of contestants onto an island, where they compete in challenges and survive as castaways for a million-dollar prize. Action and Adventure come from the intense challenges the contestants face, and the comedy comes from them failing those challenges. But the best part of Survivor, and the third most popular genre of movies and TV, according to Statista, is the drama.
A common misconception is that reality TV is all relationship games like Love Island, The Bachelor or Love is Blind. That is not the truth at all, and shows like Survivor are just the start. Impractical Jokers is considered to be reality TV, along with Fear Factor and even Naked and Afraid.
This is not to disregard relationship-focused reality TV shows. Shows like Love Island USA brought communities together, where watch parties became a new big hit, according to Glamour. Shows that rely on dropping every day, or even once a week, allow fans to connect to the media and with each other.
In an interview with Columbia Magazine, sociology professor Danielle J. Lindemann says reality TV fans don’t watch because they think everything is real, but because it allows them to see themselves in the participants. According to Lindemann, reality TV has a broad character archetype. This means that there are people who are shy, crazy, sad and joyous, and there is a “character” for everyone to relate to.
Reality TV isn’t just about making fun of the cast. It makes a space for people to feel seen and fits into several genres. Whether you’re looking for drama, action or laughs, reality TV has it all.
CON: Sarah Morris, Staff Writer
In their relentless pursuit of drama, reality television shows frequently distort authentic human connection, promoting superficial values that can negatively shape and affect the perceptions and mental health of its audience. Specifically, the youth.
In an interview with The Conversation, former reality TV contestant Rebecca Trelease said she believes that watching reality TV shows is harmful. In particular, Trelease said that shows which isolate contestants from support systems, such as banning them from their phones and internet to be completely reliant on the crew, are the most harmful. Reality TV shows can be harmful to participants due to contestant isolation, which can lead to severe psychological and physical health issues.
As a former participant of The Bachelor New Zealand herself, Trelease said she spent six and a half weeks either in an isolated mansion or overseas with no return flight until eliminated. With no running water, food kept under lock and key, and chicken served from a rubbish bin, she said the contestants were reminded of how they could not choose to leave.
“I had panic attacks and lost 12% of my body weight in two weeks,” Trelease said.
According to senior lecturer in psychology, Catherine Houlihan, studies have shown that reality TV can lead to a negative body image in viewers, particularly in shows that are appearance focused and display idealized body types. Reality TV can negatively affect viewers’ body image, contributing to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
“One UK survey by the Mental Health Foundation showed that almost a quarter of young adults said shows such as Love Island caused them to worry about their body image,” Houlihan said. “These concerns were also associated with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.”
According to Charles Sturt University professor Suzie Gibson, “reality TV’s treatment of contestants perpetuates a culture of dehumanization for entertainment.” There are many reports of contestants facing psychological and physical harm, sometimes leading to anxiety and stress disorders, according to Gibson.
“In extreme cases, contestants have taken their lives following online abuse stemming from their TV appearance,” Gibson said.
