1.Real or not?
1: What is reality TV? Write down your own definition, without the assistance of Google
One of the key pleasures of Reality Television is that it supposedly shows us real life events involving real people unscripted and unplanned situations.
Watch the following clips then answer the following questions:
1: What is reality TV? Write down your own definition, without the assistance of Google
One of the key pleasures of Reality Television is that it supposedly shows us real life events involving real people unscripted and unplanned situations.
Watch the following clips then answer the following questions:
2: How real is reality TV? Do you agree with the following quote? Why/why not?
'Reality TV bears about as close a relationship to reality as one of those banana lollies does to an actual banana'
- Kerrie Murphy
TASK 1: Make a list of all the reality TV shows you can think of. Then rank them in order of the most "real" to the least. When you have finished we will have a class discussion about what motivated your choices.
TASK 2: Choose a Reality TV program to watch and take notes on which elements are realistic and which ones are not. You will be sharing your notes with the class .
2.History of RT
Where does reality TV come from?
Reality based entertainment has been around as long as human civilisation. It can range from harmless 'people watching' to more historic events such as watching the gladiators take on the lions (and each other!) in the Colosseum. On the big screen, first films of the Lumiere Brothers in the 1890's could be called reality based entertainment as they often showed everyday people going about their daily lives - for example clocking off at work or catching a train. Have a look:
Reality based entertainment has been around as long as human civilisation. It can range from harmless 'people watching' to more historic events such as watching the gladiators take on the lions (and each other!) in the Colosseum. On the big screen, first films of the Lumiere Brothers in the 1890's could be called reality based entertainment as they often showed everyday people going about their daily lives - for example clocking off at work or catching a train. Have a look:
The first reality TV show is generally agreed to be the American comedy program 'Candid Camera' in 1948. The show used hidden cameras to film unsuspecting ordinary people faced with odd or embarrassing situations like trying to pick up a coin glued to the footpath. When the embarrassment was at its peak, the camera would be revealed with the line 'Smile, you're on Candid Camera!'
With the invention of smaller, lighter cameras we were introduced to a new cinema-verite style of documentary in the 1960s. This lead to the creation of the 'fly on the wall' style of observational entertainment . 'An American Family' (1973) was the first program to use documentary techniques to record family life in a long-running series. As it turns out, the show captured a painful and unplanned family break-up.
'Cops' (1989) and 'Crimewatch' are often credited with kick starting the latest wave of reality television programming. Like 'Candid Camera', modern reality TV is a product of a surveillance culture. Nowadays CCTV security cameras and mobile phone cameras mean we are constantly observed. In the form of a reality TV program, surveillance has now become entertainment.
Take a look at the first 5 minutes of the pilot episode of 'Cops'
TASK ONE:
Answer the following in full paragraph structure:
Q1: What appeal do these shows have to audiences?
Consider:
-the purpose of each show
-the values and attitudes of the audiences in each era
TASK TWO:
Take a look at this TV guide: TV Guide 2016.pdf
1. Highlight all the reality TV shows you can find.
2. Find as many Reality TV examples as you can.
3. Compare the current TV guide from above to 'TV Guide Western Australia 1993'
Q2: How have the viewing habits of Australians changed over the past 25 years?
TASK ONE:
Answer the following in full paragraph structure:
Q1: What appeal do these shows have to audiences?
Consider:
-the purpose of each show
-the values and attitudes of the audiences in each era
TASK TWO:
Take a look at this TV guide: TV Guide 2016.pdf
1. Highlight all the reality TV shows you can find.
2. Find as many Reality TV examples as you can.
3. Compare the current TV guide from above to 'TV Guide Western Australia 1993'
Q2: How have the viewing habits of Australians changed over the past 25 years?
3 RTV Conventions
Reality TV programs vary considerably; however, most display some if not all of the following features:
Real-life participants - much of the appeal of reality TV is that it is based around real people, not actors playing parts. However, because this is television, there is a tendency to create characters out of those people.
Unscripted performance - people being themselves is the basis of this genre. The programs are largely unscripted, although that does not mean producers can't deliberately set up situations. A narrative structure is usually imposed on real-life events, but this is created during editing and isn't necessarily created from the outset.
Voice-over narration - the actions of the participants are explained to the audience through the use of voice-over narration. It is usually in present tense and an informal style.
Observation/surveillance - reality TV relies on observation. Some shows take it one step further to become actual, sometimes intrusive surveillance.
Voyeurism - the audience is positioned to gain pleasure from the exhibitionism of the participants. Enjoyment is also gained from knowing that the emotions displayed by the participants is real. For example, if someone is crying we know they must be really upset.
Audience participation - Fans can be more than just observers, they become active participants in the narrative. Audience members could actively participate by voting for favourite contestants and effecting the outcome of the results. Audience participation also proved to be a good way of enticing viewers to become committed fans.
Can you think of a show that has most of these features?
Activity One
Provide examples from at least 3 reality TV shows and explain their features.
(Explain what makes them a reality TV show)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Other features of reality TV include:
Plot - Reality Tv uses the narrative structure of soap operas to give shape to the events on camera. The programs are often divided into segments between ad breaks. Each segment may have 2-3 story lines that run for a few minutes each. Reality shows often have rotating storylines, just like soap operas, that focus on developing relationships between different characters.
Character - Most reality shows are built around character, not plot. For most viewers, the attraction is following characters and getting to know the kind of people they are. Often people are chosen for shows because they fit into certain character types. For instance, there might be characters who represent heroes or villains. Others might be cast because they are likely to provoke conflict or create headlines.
Setting - Reality TV shows are most often set in 'closed systems'. For example, Big Brother is a specifically built house that is closed off from the rest of the community. These locations are specifically designed to force contestants to live in certain ways. For example, the Big Brother house has mixed gender shared bedrooms that encourage housemates to form couple relationships. Survivor, on the other hand, uses locations that force contestants to undergo physical challenge.
Activity Two
Find examples of the above conventions in the trailer from the Real Housewives of Melbourne.
Real-life participants - much of the appeal of reality TV is that it is based around real people, not actors playing parts. However, because this is television, there is a tendency to create characters out of those people.
Unscripted performance - people being themselves is the basis of this genre. The programs are largely unscripted, although that does not mean producers can't deliberately set up situations. A narrative structure is usually imposed on real-life events, but this is created during editing and isn't necessarily created from the outset.
Voice-over narration - the actions of the participants are explained to the audience through the use of voice-over narration. It is usually in present tense and an informal style.
Observation/surveillance - reality TV relies on observation. Some shows take it one step further to become actual, sometimes intrusive surveillance.
Voyeurism - the audience is positioned to gain pleasure from the exhibitionism of the participants. Enjoyment is also gained from knowing that the emotions displayed by the participants is real. For example, if someone is crying we know they must be really upset.
Audience participation - Fans can be more than just observers, they become active participants in the narrative. Audience members could actively participate by voting for favourite contestants and effecting the outcome of the results. Audience participation also proved to be a good way of enticing viewers to become committed fans.
Can you think of a show that has most of these features?
Activity One
Provide examples from at least 3 reality TV shows and explain their features.
(Explain what makes them a reality TV show)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Other features of reality TV include:
Plot - Reality Tv uses the narrative structure of soap operas to give shape to the events on camera. The programs are often divided into segments between ad breaks. Each segment may have 2-3 story lines that run for a few minutes each. Reality shows often have rotating storylines, just like soap operas, that focus on developing relationships between different characters.
Character - Most reality shows are built around character, not plot. For most viewers, the attraction is following characters and getting to know the kind of people they are. Often people are chosen for shows because they fit into certain character types. For instance, there might be characters who represent heroes or villains. Others might be cast because they are likely to provoke conflict or create headlines.
Setting - Reality TV shows are most often set in 'closed systems'. For example, Big Brother is a specifically built house that is closed off from the rest of the community. These locations are specifically designed to force contestants to live in certain ways. For example, the Big Brother house has mixed gender shared bedrooms that encourage housemates to form couple relationships. Survivor, on the other hand, uses locations that force contestants to undergo physical challenge.
Activity Two
Find examples of the above conventions in the trailer from the Real Housewives of Melbourne.
4.Survival
Man Vs Wild
Man Vs Wild is an example of Reality TV show that relies on dangerous settings and a unique character: Bear Grylls article.pdf
Q1: What is it about Bear Grylls that makes him a good character for a Reality TV show?
Man Vs Wild is an example of Reality TV show that relies on dangerous settings and a unique character: Bear Grylls article.pdf
Q1: What is it about Bear Grylls that makes him a good character for a Reality TV show?
TASK 1: Choose another Reality TV character and explain what makes them suitable for the genre or 'watchable'. Come up with at least 3 reasons.
TASK 2: How are the contestants on survivor characterised as either heroes or villains? Make a list of at least 3 ways that a character is constructed as a hero and then do the same for a villain.
TASK 3: Now come up with your own characters that would be watchable and that you might use in your original RTV program. Start with a brainstorm of different characters and then choose at least one to go into more detail. Write down their aspects like: job/profession, physical, personality, pastimes, background etc.
bear_grylls_article.pdf | |
File Size: | 322 kb |
File Type: |