Heroes and The Cult of the Celebrity in Reality Television

To look for a hero in reality television show I think you need to look at shows such as Real Stories of the Highway Patrol, The First 48, and The Biggest Loser.  The First 48 is about the first 48 hours of a real-life homicide investigation (The First 48, 2004). The show is filmed in various cities across the United States.  Each show will follow two or more investigations in different cities.  The heroes in this reality show are the detectives and at times the witnesses for coming forward with the information.  Being in law enforcement myself I know that the dedication and personal sacrifices that are made in order to complete a high profile case such as a homicide.  These detectives put in hours and hours of work especially in the first 24 to 48 hours in order to bring justice to the victim. When it comes to witnesses, many people want to close their doors and pretend nothing happened. They don’t want to get involved for several reasons. So to find a witness that comes forward in this type of investigation can add much needed information.

            We are saturated with reality television shows.  It seems like every day a new show is aired and normal people become new celebrities. The cult of the celebrity is formed by the viewer who makes it a weekly event when the show is aired. With American Idol where ordinary people are attempting to reach fame viewers are consumed with the performances, judges, and votes.  The only reason these reality shows participates gained there celebrity status is due to the show.  In Storage Wars, Dan and Laura Dotson are getting rich quick. The only explanation for this is the large crowds that gather at the Freedom Storage in the desert between Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Months ago only a handful would show up for such event, today 119 individuals have come to watch the Dotson’s sell off the abandoned refuse (Cava, 2011) .

            I am a Storage War junky.  I love watching the stars of the show battle to get a storage unit. I watch rerun after rerun. 

References

Cava, M. R. (2011). 'Storage Wars' strikes it rich with colorful stars. Retrieved from USA Today: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2011-01-28-storage28_CV_N.htm

The First 48. (2004). Retrieved from TV.com: http://www.tv.com/shows/the-first-48/

Reality Shows Sterotypes and Rituals

Reality shows and stereotypes go hand and hand. In the past two decades unscripted TV has taken hold of the American airwaves, there have been a number of cases where the TV show has portrayed and even focused on behaviors that are used to stereotype individuals due to their race or cultural. Nothing creates drama better then confrontation; routinely producers choose families or contestants who display exaggerated stereotypical behavior and personality oddities.

             One show that comes to mind is Duck Dynasty.  This reality show is about the Robertsons family business of all things, making duck calls.  The show takes place in rural Louisiana.  The first stereotype that viewers will recognize is the redneck behavior of the cast.  The reason this show I feel has become so popular is due to the social niche of being millionaire rednecks.  The family business remains un-industrialized. At the Duck Commander headquarters, the duck calls are handmade in a room by men dressed in camo pants and beards. Each duck call is tested by blowing into the call.  The show challenges traditional ideas about what a multimillion dollar company is, and who runs it (Duck Dynasty).

            Some of the rituals that are seen in Duck Dynasty are the value of family and religion.  Both of which can be viewed as stereotypical “redneck” values. All of the main characters are family members or close friends and all are employed at the Robertson’s business. Each episode ends with the entire family sitting down for dinner and saying a prayer. The Robertsons belief in God and family is very strong throughout the show.  Phil who is the grandfather in the show always makes time to take his grandchildren fishing and Kay who is the grandmother likes spending time in the kitchen with her granddaughters.

References

Duck Dynasty. (n.d.). Retrieved from Common Sense Media: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/duck-dynasty

Reality Television Myths and Icons

One big myth in reality television shows is that they are unscripted. What many viewers are finding out is that these shows are no different than sitcoms.  “Reality TV is a much manipulated format where the basis of it is that real people are put into unreal situations to create a story,” said J. Rupert Thompson, a director and producer who includes “Big Brother” and “Fear Factor” (Ventre, 2009). These reality shows have a beginning and middle and end which are shaped by writers that are called “story editors” or “segment producers.”

            Another myth that has been created by the reality television show “Storage Wars” is that one can make the big find that can bring them thousands of dollars.  Cleveland auctioneer Neal Grossman says that buyers have 24 hours to dispose of their items and failure to move them quickly means some buyers are forced to rent the lockers that they purchased.  Many buyers also have more trouble than they expect unloading their merchandise on EBay or other online auction sites. “You have to be realist,” Grossmann say, adding that many lockers contain household stuff “that no one wants” (Berr, 2011).

            Reality shows have created their own group of icons.  On “American Idol” it is common to have water cooler talk the next day at work discussing your favorite idol and how you feel they performed. Many Americans start to feel that they are part of the idol’s voyage to fame and get so wrapped up in the season show. The show “Cat from Hell” has made Jackson Galaxy an icon to many pet owners. 

            I still enjoy watching “Storage Wars” and have taken an interest in on-line auction sites where you can bid on storage lockers.  The only think holding me back is the reality that I could be purchasing a locker of junk.

References

Berr, J. (2011). The Truth About Storage Auctions: More Trash, Less Treasure. Retrieved from Daily Finance: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/11/03/the-truth-about-storage-auctions-more-trash-less-treasure/

Ventre, M. (2009). Just how real are reality TV shows? . Retrieved from NBC.com: http://www.today.com/id/30092600/ns/today-entertainment/t/just-how-real-are-reality-tv-shows/#.UW82pCnD_mQ

Myths Analysis: American Dream

Myths Analysis:

American Dream

The American Dream functions as a myth within our society by providing hope to citizens and reinforcing beliefs that good work ethics will bring success and opportunities of great achievements.  Achieving the American Dream depends upon an individual’s definition of the Dream. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of racial equality. John Winthrop envisioned a religious paradise in a “City upon a Hill.” Both men yearned for what they perceived as perfection (Warshauer, 2003).

            The first artifact that I chose to illustrate the components of the American Dream myth is the movie “Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory.”  The plot to this movie is that Charlie Bucket a young boy who lives in poverty with his parents and grandparents dreams of winning the golden ticket to a contest that will allow him to go behind the gates of the Wonka Chocolate factory and to become the winner of an unknown grand prize. Charlie sees this as his opportunity to the American Dream of becoming a winner. There is a part in the movie where Charlie ask his mother when will it be his turn to be happy as he watches children all around buying several candy bars at a time to win a ticket.  Charlie does win a ticket and his dreams come true and he becomes the heir to the factory.  The American Dream was reached; Charlie and his family will never live in poverty again.

            This mythic pattern of events is attractive to contemporary audiences. Charlie was a boy in poverty, he was honest and kind, he just wanted to have the same opportunities as the children and families around him.  This is a dream of so many Americans. So to watch this boy go from having nothing to becoming the heir of a well established business leaves one with a happy heart.  It leaves one believing that if you keep trying and stay positive good things will happen.

           

            The second artifact that I have chosen is the television show “The Voice.” In this television show Americans who feel they have strong vocals are invited to compete in a competition.  The first part of the competition is a blind audition where celebrity musicians request to be coaches of individuals whom they feel have talent.  After this segment of the competition there are rounds of challenges between the contestants who have made it this far without being knocked out. In the end one contestant will be named “The Voice” and will receive the grand prize of a recording contract (The Voice, 2013) .

            Again, this mythic pattern of events is attractive to contemporary audiences. “The Voice” soared to the top with a 4.7 rating among the target audience of viewers between the age of 18 and 49 and 13.4 million viewers (Carter, 2013). Part of the American Dream especially those that have an athletic or musical talent spend a lot of time dreaming of becoming famous.  This type of fame doesn’t come easy. There is a lot of hard work that goes into selling your talents.  So when an opportunity arises, many contestants attempt to make it big. As the audience, people feel they are part of this adventure that the contestant is on. You feel like you are part of their dream and are traveling every step with them which in return is giving you a feeling of accomplishment. I think that this show along with other like it help the viewers to reach for goals that they may have put aside. When you see someone achieve it makes you want to achieve.

            Watching programs where the presence of the American Dream myth is the plot I at times feel that same sense of achievement. I often walk away thinking of the challenges the individual faced and the obstacles that they overcome to reach their goal. However, there are times when I have dealt with a struggle of my own and watching such a program does not appeal to me.  In these times, a good comedy which may have the same myth hidden within the story line I find myself needing.    

References

Carter, B. (2013, March). NBC Lures Back Viewers With ‘The Voice’ and ‘Revolution’. Retrieved from New York Times: http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/nbc-lures-back-viewers-with-the-voice-and-revolution/

The Voice. (2013). Retrieved from NBC: http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/about/

Warshauer, M. (2003). Who Wants To Become a Millionaire: Changing Conceptions of the American Dream. Retrieved from American Resources on the Net: http://www.americansc.org.uk/online/American_Dream.htm