How does Hill define reality TV? Describe his definitions in the context of a contemporary Reality TV show.
Hill defines reality TV as a hybrid genre. "feeding off successful genres and formats in order to to create new hybrid programmes." (Hill, 2005, p.42). While Hill does mention that there is not just one definition but many open ended definitions in the genre, to me he seems to take a shining to defining reality TV as a hybrid genre. Under Hill's definition of the hybrid genre he mentions five different sub-definitions: Docu-soaps, reality gameshows, popular factual television, documentaries & contemporary factual and docu-dramas. The docu-soap, which Hill describes as a soap opera and an observational documentary combined, is very common in the USA. 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' is an extremely popular show which emerged in 2007, coming from the the E! channel. The show follows the real lives of a family which gives it the observational documentary element while the soap opera element is made from how scripted the show is (Ryland, 2014). Hill's next sub-definition of the genre and it's hybrids is the reality gameshows. The formula for this is: gameshow + the observational documentary = reality gameshow. 'The Amazing Race' spans 25 seasons and also has many international variations (as the show is originally from the USA). Hill describes these 'gameshows' as a part of the reality TV genre which dominates prime time television. "Popular factual television commissions formats, celebrity profiles and entertaining documentaries" (Hill, 2005, p42). To say the least, popular factual television is very 'people' orientated. 'Katy Perry: Part of Me' truly fits into this sub-definition due to having the formula of celebrity profile + entertaining documentary. The film follows her California Dreams Tour as well as speaking of her 'whirlwind' life and the lead up to fame (Duff, 2013). Documentaries & contemporary factual is a smaller sub-definition but includes shows which involve crime and consumer affair programming - all with some sort of 'fly on the wall' filming technique. 'Police Ten 7' is a New Zealand show which follows police all around the country and shows what these law enforcers have to 'deal' with on a daily basis. The camera man uses the fly on the wall filming style to show how 'raw' and 'real' the show is. Lastly there is the docu-drama, while Hill does not exactly define this style of reality TV, it is important to mention. The docu-drama is less common in contemporary times but it was very important to the reality TV genre pre-millennium. 'Cathy Come Home' was the first docu-drama produced by the BBC and it caused a public outcry within Britain in the 1960's when it was aired. 'Cathy Come Home' did exactly what the reality TV genre is meant to do: Make the audience feel attached to what they are watching (Brooks, 2011). All in all reality TV is a hybrid genre, it takes elements from other shows on television to create something completely new.
References:
Brooks, L. (2011, September 4). Cathy Come Home still rings true today. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/sep/04/cathy-come-home-rings-true
Duff, S. (2013, June 25). Top 10 Celebrity Documentaries from One Direction This Is Us to In Bed With Madonna. Retrieved from http://metro.co.uk/2013/06/25/top-10-celebrity-documentaries-from-one-direction-this-is-us-to-justin-bieber-never-say-never-and-katy-perry-part-of-me-3856048/
Hill, A. (2005) The reality genre. In A. Hill, Reality TV: Audiences and Popular Factual Television. (pp. 14 – 40).Oxon: Routledge.
Ryland, A. (2014, February 21). More Kardashian Fakery Exposed: ‘KUWTK’ Episode Featured Kim’s Engagement Ring BEFORE Kanye West Proposed! Retrieved from http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2014/02/kardashian-show-fake-scenes-kim-engagement-ring-keeping-up-kardashians/
Good. Thanks Monique.
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