Savannah Welsh - (Reality TV/Cathy Come Home)

How does Hill define reality TV?

Hill (2005) describes reality TV as popular factual programming. He discusses how there are many different styles of reality TV, such as those that use non-professional actors, no scripts, hand-held cameras and events happening straight in front of the camera instead of being pre-filmed. 

The idea of reality TV has changed over the years as when it first began, it was only used for things such as on-scene footage of emergency services. It has now become associated with almost anything. For example things like peoples personal lives, game shows and other real life stories. Today it has become hard to tell what is actually reality, especially when people such as the Kardashians from “Keeping Up With the Kardashians”, have cameras constantly following them. How can people continue with their day to day lives while cameras surround them? Are they acting and creating drama just for the show? These are questions constantly asked and is what causes some people to dislike the reality genre, but is also what brings in so many viewers. The drama of other peoples lives seems to widely excite people.

Reality TV was very influenced by Documentary’s. The similarities they have taken from documentaries such as, the fly on the wall/observational approach, the focus on everyday lives, encouraged action from the producer, voiceovers, subjects explored through close ups and sound, show the link between the two. However we see that Documentaries are far more factual compared to reality TV which can be stretched in some way from the truth. 

A more unknown sort of genre is one used by director Ken Loach in things such as “Cathy Come Home”. His interest in drama as well as being able to give voice to common-place working class experience, created the name “docudrama”. This gives us an example of the different types of reality TV and how there can be many different approaches that can still go under the reality TV genre.

Hill states that it is human interest rather than reality that defines popular factual programmes. For example Hill explains that 68% of reality TV viewers express enjoyment at witnessing group conflict and 60% also admitted they enjoy watching ordinary people do everyday things. This portraying reasons why reality TV is so popular.

References:

Biressi, A. & Nunn, N. (2005). Real Lives, documentary approaches. In
Reality TV: realism and revelation. (pp. 35-58) London: Wallflower. 

Hill, A. (2005) The reality genre. In A. Hill, Reality TV: Audiences and
Popular Factual Television. (pp. 14 – 40). Oxon: Routledge.