Reality TV has become a significant part of popular culture, giving scripted shows such as dramas and sitcoms, a run for their money and its viewer’s potential attitude problems.
Since “The Real World “was popularized in the ’90s by MTV, reality shows have since dominated TV programming on many channels, minimalizing the number of shows viewers can watch.
“I don’t really like reality shows. They completely defeat any purpose of watching TV at all. I deal with reality all day,” Christian Rentera, 19, undecided major said. “I live my life and deal with its dramas, and when I watch TV I don’t feel like focusing on them so why would I be sitting in bed watching some stranger do the same thing?”
Major networks such as CBS, NBC and ABC, have line-ups littered with reality TV shows.
“I see way more commercials for reality shows than actual scripted shows now-a-days, which is really disheartening for the sake of actual TV,” Jacob Gregory, 20, undecided major said. “I think the increase in reality shows recently is the main reason why people who don’t really watch TV say they don’t because there’s nothing but crap on to watch today.”
Some of the current popular reality shows are Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Dancing with the Stars, Pawn Stars, and The Real Housewives series. Most of these shows portray reality TV personalities with aggressive attitudes, which have raised concern for those watching.
According to a report by CNN, many psychologists worry that watching such shows can have long-term negative effects and raise aggression. When we watch shows with people being aggressive with others, “we are primed to behave aggressively,” Sarah Coyne, psychologist said.
“I don’t think TV is the problem. I think its people that are the problem. They watch certain shows and assume because it’s supposedly reality that it’s okay to act like the people on the show in real life,” Victoria Hall, 24, communication studies major said.
Reality TV, serves as an escape from the daily routine to a “reality” that is consistently changing from one dramatic scene to another.
“I think reality (TV) gets a really bad wrap. It’s TV, which is supposed to be entertaining! It shouldn’t matter what the shows genre is to define it as good TV,” Evangelina Ramos, 22, cosmetology major said. “If it entertains you, then it does what it’s supposed to. What’s the harm in that?”
