As I delve into researching the world of reality TV I am constantly struck with the feeling of falsity as I observe what is labelled “reality TV”.
Naked and Afraid; Features two strangers, dropped into a severely scathing climate, fittingly, feeling naked and afraid.
Big Brother: A house of 24 strangers, isolated from all forms of the outside world locked inside for anywhere from one week to three months, in which they must compete in gruelling and humiliating challenges to earn basics such as food and heating.
The Block: Four coupled placed in run down houses or apartments, in which they have under one week to renovate, refurbish and furnish complete rooms in the house.
The Biggest Loser: Severely and dangerously over weight contestants are placed in a house in which their food intake is monitored 24/7 and they are worked until they are bleeding, in competition of who can lose the most weight.
All four shows are not in any sense, close to reality, however we regard them as ‘reality TV’. Although I will plead guilty to often indulging in some reality TV (never The biggest loser; there is no show on this earth I despise more),
I have to question what is it about watching people grabble for their basic needs that is so entertaining? Why is it that we like to test the limits of the human psych?