Why Can’t We Stop Watching Reality TV?
Illustrated by Marie Bailey (she/her)
Like many other children of the 2000s, reality television was a forbidden treat growing up, barred from my viewing whenever my mother was in the house. In the precious moments where I had the lounge to myself, I would steal the remote and turn the channel to MTV – eyes glued to the likes of Pimp My Ride or Parental Control.
Despite our parents’ constant warnings that reality shows will turn our brains to mush, these shows have simply become ingrained in modern culture and consequently our own consciousness.
This week, as my friends and I unpack the final episodes of Love Island UK, we discussed what draws us to continue watching reality television.
Is it really the mindless, thought-dulling content that keeps us returning? Or is it the commentary on social and romantic relationships that allows viewers to find a sense of relatability and comfortability in the content?
Reality television is considered across scholarship to intrigue viewers through their voyeuristic desires to observe other people’s lives and personal moments. It is also considered that reality shows gain appeal through appearing as an extension of fictional drama, driving positive feelings such as empathy and compassion in viewers.
We all acknowledged in our kōrero that we are drawn to this genre based on a sense of relatability; finding comfort in the shared experiences of ourselves and the contestants.
While mostly functioning as an distraction from our personal lives, reality shows also function to connect with our own experiences, pulling us in through the ability to observe and critique situations that many of us have experienced in our own lives.
As we watch contestants engage in fights or drama, we observe and compare these to our own lives. Viewers are therefore able to debate with their friends how they would have handled the situation if placed in it themselves and critique the actions of contestants they don’t agree with.
This gives reality television a sense of analysis, whereby flatmates will sit around their lounge debating the latest questionable antics of their least favourite Love Island contestants.
While not only bringing forth a sense of critical thinking and analysis to reality television, this also provides bonding opportunities for friends, flatmates and families.
It is true that many will find themselves divided on favourite contestants and who should win, but this is overshadowed by the sense of comradery that is fulfilled through sitting down together every night to listen to the angelic voice of Iain Stirling protruding through your speakers.
To be perfectly frank, though, it is apparent that a large sense of the appeal of reality television is the way we critique contestants’ actions, believing we would never act in the same manner ourselves. In this sense, reality television makes us feel better about our own lives through the knowledge that there are people out there making even stupider decisions than we’ve made ourselves, not only in the privacy of our own lives but broadcast to the entire world.
It was also acknowledged within our kōrero that reality television also offers often needed representation to marginalised groups – such as the LGBTQIA+ community that has very much found space within this genre.
The representation that these shows, such as Queer Eye or RuPaul’s Drag Race, offers is pivotal in a world that pigeon-holes individuals into certain categories or identities.
It is noted across research that marginalised groups are more drawn to reality television because of the low intensity content shown within this genre. Where marginalised groups are constantly barraged with media onslaughts depicting their people or other minority groups in negative ways, reality television offers an escape from these real issues, letting viewers mindfully and positively engage in content.
In situations such as this, reality television is meeting the media needs of marginalised communities and offering positive representation for specific groups or individuals. As mainstream media or news outlets so often depict minority groups based on problematic prejudice and bias, it becomes increasingly important for minority groups to define their representation for themselves.
With a range of reality television out there, individuals have the opportunity to play out a range of personalities or characters. This gives marginalised groups and individuals the ability to present themselves on their own terms and give representation to their communities in ways that they see fit.
Reality television also affords viewers to become invested in characters and drama, with the knowledge that the outcomes of the character’s development on the show will not materialise in knock-on impacts for the viewer themselves. This therefore offers a unique opportunity for marginalised viewers to engage without sacrificing their emotional energy that is so often required from other media content.
In this sense, reality television can be an accessible way for many to cope with the stress of everyday life, and relax the mind after a long day or week of dealing with real issues. It’s therefore time to break the notion that reality TV is a ‘guilty pleasure’ reserved only for those of low-intelligence and lack of taste.
Realistically, it serves a much needed function that supports the mental health and livelihoods of marginalised groups as well as providing entertaining content that has the potential to facilitate critical discussions and analysis.
