Another season of the CBS reality show, "Big Brother", is underway. However, I would like to pose the question, "How real is the reality of this show?" After all, a group of twelve supposedly random individuals is gathered together in Los Angeles and placed in the "Big Brother House". But wait, the "Big Brother House" is not really a house at all. It is simply a set built on a sound stage. The backyard is not really a backyard but something simulated to resemble a real backyard.
How about the reality of putting twelve supposed strangers into a house to meet for the first time? If, in fact, these were twelve college age young adults moving into a dorm for the first time, it might be more believable. More often than not, we will find out at some point in time that two or more of the contestants have known each other prior to the show. Or, there is some twist to the game where the house "guests" pretend to be part of an alliance or click. The twist becomes to see who will go against a given alliance and betray his or her fellow group members.
In reality, is a TV show like this a "reality show"? How real is it anyway? Why do people of the 21st century in countries around the world crave this type of entertainment? Are we so unable to cope with the reality of our own lives that we must pretend or live vicariously through the "real lives" of a group of people on television?
~ DB Turnmire
No comments:
Post a Comment