Artifact Selection

According to a 2005 MSNBC poll, 56% of Americans believe that there are too many reality television shows, yet 54% of Americans tune into reality television shows on a regular basis. This shows us that even though, we as Americans claim to be tired of this overwhelming trend, we’re tuning in at a high percentage rate. So what is it that draws us to reality television? Is it purely for it’s’ entertainment value? Or, are we learning something from the pseudo reality that these television shows portray? Also, as these shows become more prevalent and their shock value wears off, what affect are these shows having on the viewing audience as a whole and also the participants - in particular, the children who are featured on these shows. The newest reality television fads have been shows like; The Super Nanny, Wife Swap, and the most famous of all, Jon and Kate plus eight, which feature the lives of parents and their children placed under the microscopic vision of the American public where everyone has an opinion. These children are forced participants. The fall-out that occurs or the spectacle that is created by these shows affects the participants and also the viewer. For my artifact, I will look at how the reality television shows have grown in popularity and evolved into mainstream American culture. It is also inevitable that because of the broad reach of these shows, that in some way our personal relationships, society and also the participants themselves, have been changed or shaped by this trend. Also, I will research why Americans are so drawn to this type of programming. What is it that makes us continue to tune in even though we realize that it is not a true portrayal of reality?
The cultural significance of reality television stems from its’ prevalence and mainstream accessibility. Whether people watch it for pure entertainment, because they are curious about how other people function within their community or to expand their standard for what is considered normal, the plethora of the material has in no doubt permeated our culture in one way or another. It is a part of the lives of 54% of the population. That is a significant amount of people in our society who are partaking in the media exploitation of someone else’s life. And whether you find yourself hugely addicted to a particular reality series or just merely curious, one thing is for sure, we all find it somehow disturbing and fascinating at the same time.