Week 11 & 12 Reality TV

How does Hill define reality TV? Describe his definitions in the context of a contemporary Reality TV show.?

Reality TV is a genre of television programming that documents unscripted situations and actual issues, and often features a previously unknown cast. Annette Hill (2005) points out that there are lots of definitions of reality TV show, because it has relevance to many genres. He mentions that the traditional definition of Reality TV is “factual entertainment” (Hill, p. 42). In addition, Hill describes ‘Reality TV’ as a range of popular programming with factual events. He also points out the difference between the Reality TV shows in UK and USA. The UK audiences tend to have the factual programming that are similar to documentaries, current affairs and investigate journalism (2005) and the audiences in USA, are more likely to lean towards reality entertainment shows, such as survival, game or audition. Therefore, reality TV is commonly used to describe a range of popular factual programming in UK, and the reality TV is described as reality entertainment in USA.

 According to Goodari (2014), 'reality programming is so popular it has changes the dynamics of the television industry (Hill, 2005).' It actually shows that TV has a super power in this media age like television as well. In the article, Hill also defines most of the reality TV shows combine unscripted dialogue, hand-held cameras as the factors (2005). And nowadays, the Reality TV shows always have different themes with variations of styles, for example, audition, survival, game, or talent. In addition, Reality TV shows have been changing over periods of time. It has focused on the footage of law and order or emergency services at the beginning. It has become a variety of Reality TV shows, which are more likely relating to households’ lives these days. It is now diversified with talk shows, game shows, lifestyle shows or different other competition shows, which has led to the formation of many sub-genres within the Reality TV genre. In fact, from a different perspective, Reality TV shows brought a wide range of audience regardless of gender and age. Therefore, the audiences helped Reality TV as something familiar. Likewise, the media can manipulate what people think, People also can affect media, especially Reality TV shows. The diverse numbers of people can also affect it make more drama within the shows which in turn increases the rating of the shows. Moreover, he concedes that reality TV is a genre that gas transformed into different sub genres, which became a multi-industry corporation (2005).

In the beginning of Reality TV, majority topics was mostly crimes and law, because, they were more interested subjects to people. Over the years, Reality TV as of today is not just about the crimes. It is dealing with a wide variety of reality TV genres such as unscripted dramas, lifestyle-change shows, prize winning shows and even talk shows. The ordinary people can also participate in the Reality TV shows. Due to the changes in the reality TV genre during few years, it is difficult to define Reality TV, but there is a common thing. As Hill stated all those sub-genres are differentiated between the rapidly expanding and somewhat bewildering range of programming that comes under the category of reality TV, and it is the capacity to let viewers see for themselves. It is because the audiences find the reality TV shows are about the real-life people and it is literally a reality which might be closely connected to the audiences.

References list

Hill, A. (2005) The reality genre. In A. Hill, Reality TV: Audiences and popular factual television. (pp. 14-40). Oxon: Routledge.

 Goodari, A. (2014). Reality TV. [online] Academia.edu. Retrieved 22 Oct, 2014, from http://www.academia.edu/4417268/Reality_TV.