Reality TV is a innovative and unconventional genre that accentuates and reflects human reality in a entertaining and fantastical way. Hill (2005) explains 'there is no one definition of reality programming, but many, competing definitions of what has come to be called the reality genre.' Hill describes techniques that are unique to the genre such as non-professional actors, unscripted dialogue, surveillance footage, hand-held cameras. Although techniques may be commonly used among the genre, the variety of styles has developed within the genre over time. In the early stages of the genre, there was a heavy focus on officialdom. This focus is on people who hold a positions of power and authority that may include governments and politicians, police and emergency services, or such positions like doctors and lawyers. Over the decade the genre has become increasingly fluid, with MTV empire spanning an entire channel dedicated to reality TV. The focus of such shows have expanded from officialdom to everyday reality and rely on viewers relatability and empathy towards the characters.
Reality TV strives on new formats and often regenerates itself. After a successful first season, writers and directors will develop and shift the format, characters, action and drama, perhaps even context. This will maintain the interest of viewers, who can use previous seasons as background schema for the current season. For example Survivor, this series began in 2000 and is continuing on currently with season 31. Each season the format and structure of the 'game' is considerably similar to the last but with a new cast and environment, the season is decidedly different from the last. The personal development of the cast, the relationships between teams and individuals and the series of challenges the cast are put through, evoke watchers to follow the progress through out the season and inevitably on to the next one. It's important to note that reality TV tends to finish with a final 'catch up' interview panel episode, where cast can reflect on experiences after the show is aired. This is a prominent feature of the genre that differentiates reality tv from other genres.
Reference List:
Hill, A. (2005) The reality
genre. In A. Hill, Reality TV:
Audiences and Popular Factual Television.
(pp. 14 – 40). Oxon:
Routledge.
Nice post, thanks Megan
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