I’ve started paying attention to some of the popular shows that are on television now. Unlike any of the dramatic scripted television shows such as Gossip Girl or Pretty Little Liars, shows like Jersey Shore and Keeping up with the Kardashians are unscripted reality shows with no set story line or plot. In all honesty, I am quite a fan of Keeping up with the Kardashians. When I started considering the artistic aspects that create an aesthetic masterpiece, I realized Keeping up with the Kardashians possesses none of the key elements.
The draw is not for artistic appreciation, but for an inside look at the lives of socialites. We are interested in the lives of popular figures as if they are people we personally know. Watching a dramatic portrayal of the everyday lives of people in the public eye almost allows us to take part of their lives as well. Some reality television shows are present to provide people with the chance to be transported into the lives of other people who are partaking in activities we can’t. Some might consider reality television and the entertainment provided as an art. Regardless of whether or not popular reality television shows are artistic, they have paved the way for a completely new type of entertainment.
Socialites’ lives can now be directly experienced in the comfort of our own homes. Reality television might just be changing how we expect entertainment to be.
The question I have for Keeping Up with the Kardashians is always, why am I watching this? What have these people done to be on television? Why do they keep calling themselves stars?
ReplyDeleteI'm as big a fan of reality television as the next person (and I do think it might be considered "art" at times), but you have to wonder what "reality" we are constantly reproducing and investing in. There is an art to a spontaneous program (if it is spontaneous) like improv, but I do wonder about the larger picture. What is our culture right now?
I just typed a four paragraph long response and now it's gone. :(
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think reality television can be a great thing. Shows that cause viewers to create emotional connections to real people on shows like The Biggest Loser, Extreme Home Makeover, or Intervention provide the kind of entertainment I would not be embarrassed to say I enjoy watching. However, although I watch an occasional episode of Jersey Shore if nothing else is on, I would not publicly claim I watch the show because I think it is so dumb. I might find myself laughing out loud at how drunk Snooki is or how dramatic Kris Kardashian is, but I would much rather watch The Biggest Loser and see a man's journey from being obese to skinny.
Not all reality TV is bad, but I would choose a series with substance over a scripted, dramatic show any day of the week.