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Real New Formats of Television Looking at Big Brother.
By Phillip Bell
The term 'Reality television,' has become popular in recent years to describe programmes that depict events and interactions, which are supposedly true depictions of the 'real.' As to what constitutes the 'real,' is a constant source of debate and discrepancy. One such example, which attempts to disprove the reality of such shows, and prove 'Reality Television,' to be a misnomer is Phillip Bell's article, 'Real new formats of television looking at Big Brother.' Bell's analysis focuses on the Reality game show, Big Brother, and portrays the negative aspects of it through analysing the contestants as well as those who watch them; the audience.
He presents this pessimistic attitude by using sarcasm, ironies and snide comments, which often appear after a statement in brackets, "They encourage competitive and self-examining behaviours of their participants (victims?)…"1 By doing so the reader is positioned to see Bell's point of view, which offers no credit to Reality television and if anything mocks it.
School papers on Reality Tv: Big Brother
Bell begins with an interesting comparison of George Orwell's novel '184' and the show 'Big Brother,' which evokes a sense of nostalgia and regret from Bell as to what modern day entertainment has become. Big Brother was once "watching his cowering subjects for signs of rebellion," and is now, "paying selected members of the audience to cross over to the other side of the all-seeing lens." This notion that Big Brother, no longer represents a serious and deadly authority but rather a voyeur; concerned with entertainment and ratings somehow diminishes it's authenticity and depiction of the 'real.'
Despite Bell's stern standpoint on what is 'real,' his discussion of contestants involved are insightful. Bell accurately notes that those selected are, "carefully selected 'ordinary' people," who are specifically chosen, "…to generate certain kinds of stories, certain kinds of competitive and cooperative behaviours and inter-personal conflicts." This of course affects the 'real' as there is bias from the onset of their appearance on screen. There are also the specifics of why one is chosen; their 'role' if you like. It is imposed upon the contestant to play up to this role that the program producers have chosen them for. "They'll play the theatrical roles they've been chosen to play vixen, slut ing�nue, yobbo, etc." Such behavioural patterns Bell describes as 'demand characteristics,' which he verifies by describing a societal experiment conducted around the theme of imprisonment. People involved in this experiment felt compelled to 'perform their role,' such as attempt escape if a prisoner and to rule harshly if a guard. Although Bell uses this as an effective argument against an accurate portrayal of oneself on Big Brother, we must acknowledge the fact that we are all subjected to some form of societal conformity within everyday life. There are multi-facets of every person and when put in different situations we often display or conceal certain aspects of our true self in order to be accepted. By showing different sides of their personality, appropriate to the current situation the contestants are faced with a double-edged sword. Bell discusses this as a kind of equilibrium, which entails keeping not only the audience content but their fellow contestants as well. By being too extreme one risks challenging societal norms and hence being pushed to the outer, which of course leads to elimination. Furthermore, being deprived of certain necessities such as family, sex, food and freedom will as Bell points out, inevitably lead to extreme behaviour, where uncharacteristic behavioural traits are displayed in order to win, survive or maintain dignity. This is perhaps where the untrue portrayal of oneself comes into play as competitiveness and winning become issues. On the June 10 (00) Big Brother Live nominations episode, the housemate Mirabai admitted, "There is something held back because you have to think about the game." Such a comment confirms Bell's point of view, that contestants are reserved in offering their real selves as it ultimately comes down to the fact that it is just that; a game.
However, what sort of game would it be without a judge or mediator? This is where the audience come into play. Perhaps the most appealing facet of reality game shows is the authoritative position that the audience hold; that of judge. Bell comments that the audience "…interacts with the participants and their games, judging them, voting for or against them." He perceives this as a rather unnatural situation referring to this arrangement as 'perverse,' and 'voyeuristic;' both of which hold negative connotations. By perceiving this as unnatural Bell is neglecting to acknowledge that this form of behaviour occurs in everyday normal situations. It is inherent within human nature to observe something and then to pass judgement on it. One meets a new acquaintance and within tenths of a second has reduced them to a particular category or stereotype.
Interestingly Bell not only looks at how the audience judge the contestants but how doing so forces them to judge themselves, consciously or not. This is achieved through the television channel ('agent provocateur'), who attempts to "catch the audience in their own moralistic web." Agreeably this is the hook which draws many viewers as we are sub-consciously subjected to internal scrutiny, asking ourselves, "What would I do in that situation?"
Bell's discussion of why people pass judgement raises a valid and interesting point. When, as an audience, we are faced with displays of body flaunting, raw sexuality, and primitive behaviour, "…the native or 'feral' Aussie is on display, and the audience is made uncomfortably aware that it may be more like that species than it cares to admit." It is as though the viewer watches this behaviour that society deems as unacceptable, openly criticises it, despite feeling sub-consciously aroused and interested in behaving likewise and hypocritically act similarly in their own lives.
Moreover, Bell's main qualm with Reality television appears to be that "…they exhibit a kind of perverse, rather than a critical or ironic 'pseudo-documentary.'" This 'pseudo-documentary,' he believes stems from the fact that the contestant know there is an audience who are watching and judging the contestants, therefore there is "….the demand to act as though they are not being looked at," which will undeniably tamper with the 'real.'
Without being able to discuss this notion of the 'real,' as a balanced argument, Bell's only form of flattery throughout his article appears with sarcastic undertones, "Big Brother may not be reality but it certainly is television."
By making unjust generalisations, Bells argument diminishes in worth. He refers to all contestants as "minimally educated, heavy television viewers." This judgemental voice appears loudly in his concluding paragraph where he tries to define the problem with Reality television. He states, "…it is not its apparently ignorant or vulgar participants who are the problem. Nor is it 'human nature.' Rather, it is the imprisoning situations constructed for us to think of as reality itself that should incite the critics' indignation." Perhaps as an academic this should be taken into account, but for the everyday viewer it is human nature, which holds their interest and is of the highest importance.
Although Bell's article does raise some interesting and valid points, his overall attitude is negative and sarcastic. He does not conclusively prove that these shows do not present 'real' situations and people, nor does he gain any kudos by being closed-minded and cynical. By treating the general population as a collective whole, he is forced to make sweeping generalisations, which are often unjustified. Furthermore Bell passes judgement on such things as the contestants intellects, and of the type of people who would be amused by, "the selfish, the perverse, the eccentric," thus appearing class-orientated and naïve towards the richness and quality of human nature. In this sense Reality television is more 'real' than Bell gives it credit for. As an objective audience we catch sight of glimmers of the real and it is these that we should grab on to.
Bibliography
Bell, Phillip, "Real New Formats of Television," Media Information Australia, No. 100, August 001Big Brother Live nominations, Southern Star Endemol, Broadcast date June 10, 00 (Network Ten)
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