How does Hill define reality TV? Describe his definitions in the context of a contemporary Reality TV show.
Reality TV is a category of television which covers a wide variety of shows, so many that it can be hard to pin down what is reality television and what is not. Hill takes care to define what reality TV is from various perspectives in his 2005 article.
There are a few perspectives to look at when defining reality television. One such perspective is that of the viewers. 'Viewers equate reality TV with 'Cameras following people around'' (Hill, 2005). According to Hill's focus group studies, viewers saw reality TV shows as shows that filmed everyday people and put them on TV. But when do you draw the line between real and not real? Hill (2005) says that many factual formats use techniques such as characterisation and contain a semblance of a narrative structure. This is problematic of course, as real life does not have a story line or a main character. However, this 'fakeness' isn't all it seems to be. 'Its easy watching isn't it... You can miss it for a few weeks and it doesn't matter." (Hill, 2005) This shows us that while a reality television program can be structured and warped, many still retain the spontaneity and accessibility of real life. Like meeting a new person, watching reality TV doesn't need all the back story to make sense. Its grounded and relatable, arguably the most relatable genre of all, which is its appeal. A good example to illustrate this point is the show Border Security. In Border Security Australian customs officers are followed about by a camera crew in their job. The security officers are presented like characters; they are introduced and talk to the viewers and their actions are the focus of the show. The show even has a loose narrative structure episode to episode, where they will pick a few dramatic encounters and stretch them out across the duration of the show by switching from incident to incident. But all of these things, the characterisation, the loose narrative structure, they are only important within the episode. It is entirely possible to move from episode to episode without feeling as if some information was lost or required. It seems that reality TV can have story and plot, admittedly in the loosest sense, and still warrant the title of reality television.
Hill, A. (2005) The reality
genre. In A. Hill, Reality TV:
Audiences and
Popular Factual Television.
(pp. 14 – 40). Oxon:
Routledge.
Good, thanks Rowan
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