Reality Bites: The Cynical Underpinning of Reality TV
From "Survivor" to "The Amazing Race," from "The Apprentice" to "Runway," the ugly truth is that, far from being a competition in which the best contestant wins, Reality TV shows are rife with infighting, political cliques, backbiting, betrayal, and exclusion. Alliances are formed, individuals are targeted for expulsion, and participants often lie about each other in order to put themselves in a better light than their competitors.
In a recent episode of "The Apprentice," one team discovered that the competing team had arranged to purchase every available megaphone from a store chain for an upcoming promotion. The team that made the discovery beat their competitors to the store carrying the equipment, misrepresented themselves to the store clerk, and made off with the other team's megaphones. Donald Trump's response? "Good for them!"
All of which says what about American culture? Have we entered an era of social Darwinism in which "the survival of the fittest" rules? Is Reality TV redefining the values of the American people, or are they only reflecting a shift that had already taken place?
Consider this: Over a million additional Americans fell below the poverty level in the year 2004. Over forty million Americans are without health insurance coverage. Huge spikes in oil and natural gas prices, even before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, threatened the financial survival of the working poor as they faced a harsh winter and impossibly high heating fuel bills. And all the while, Congress and the Bush administration promoted tax cuts for the wealthy, okayed windfall profits and subsidies for the oil companies, and discussed cutting fuel assistance programs.
Survival of the fittest. Now think about Katrina, and the woefully inadequate governmental response, and the circling of land speculators around the ruined neighborhoods of New Orleans only days after the hurricane.
Substitute food and water for those purloined megaphones, and adequate health care, and decent affordable housing, and ask yourselves: Is the view of life expressed many times a week on these Reality TV shows what we truly want for this country? Do we want our government and private citizens to react to a disaster like Katrina by fighting for necessities, cutting the weak out of the loop when it comes to essential services, and turning our backs on the most vulnerable among us in favor of the strong, the healthy, the well-connected, and the rich? Because those are the values we're worshipping constantly in our support of the ubiquitous Reality TV programming.
We need to take a good look at Reality TV and the morally bankrupt values it is promoting, and ask ourselves this: What do we as citizens want our relationship to be with each other? What do we want our government, which acts as our surrogate, to do to help the poorest and the weakest among us? Are we really committed to the "survival of the fittest" view as expressed by Reality TV, corporate interests, and current government officials, or do we want to create a community which provides a safety net for the vulnerable and help for each other in the event of unexpected misfortune?
Fans may enjoy all the high drama of their favorite reality TV shows, and may laugh at any comparison to our larger social structure. But the grim fact is, Reality TV eerily reflects the cynicism and self-interest that permeates American society today, and the implications of that, should another widespread disaster strike, are not pretty.
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips and Topics. She has published numerous articles in local and regional publications on a wide range of topics, including business, education, the arts, and local events. Her feature articles include an interview with independent documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and a feature on prisoners at the New Hampshire State Prison in Concord. She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.Borsa Lavoro Laureato Marche
Caldana Viaggi Parigi
Scandinavia Vacanza Invernale
Ufficio Tarsu Cagliari
Macchina Domestiche Pane
Valore Marche Bollo Documento
Agriturismo Toscana Case
Telefoni Fax Con Segreteria
Vacanza Al Mare Jesolo Lido
Lezione Personal Yoga Mobi
Firenze Casa Vino
Cartolina Compleanno Gratis
Casa Acquisto Mutuo
Cancellazione Ipoteca Bersani Legge 40 Automatica
Corriere Sera Recensione Ristorante Giardino Milano Maggio 2007
Sconto Notebook
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Prove D Esame Terza Prova D Esame Matematica Applicata
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Lavoro Casa It
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Tesina Esame Liceo Scientifico
Piccola Suora Sacra Famiglia
Migliore Acqua Minerale Commercio Bambino
Centro Universitario Sportivo
Casa Affitti Vacanza Liguria
Studente Lavoratori Psicologia Padova
Link Www Rent Sardinia Com
Aeroporto Malpensa Sea
It81
Mobile Giardino Firenze
Offerta Mobile Emilia Romagna
Festa Birra Telgate
Carta Parati Kid
Shopping Compere Spese
Percorso D Esame Liceo Scientifico
Agenzia Matrimoniale Viaggio Europa Est
Affitto Case Liguria
Gatto Norvegesi
Testo Preghiera Chiesa
Viaggi Ventaglio Sharm
Affitti Agriturismo Campania
Schema Oleodinamico Appunto Universitario
W Avvocato It
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Catalogo Nero Giardino
Occhiale Sconto Vista
Francobollo Valle Bormida
Secondo Piatto Ricetta Culinaria
Batteria Ipaq 3660
Gioco Italiano Gratis Carta Italiana
Prenotare Vagone Letto
Cisalpina Tour Agenzia Viaggio
It23
Diritto Dei Bambino
Noleggio Barca Vela
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It24
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Software Motore Ricerca
Pescare Lago Trasimeno
T Mobile Samsung Cell Phone
Assicurazione Line
Lezione Batteria Genova
Trasformatore Calcolo Potenza
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Istituto Credito Online
Biglietto Compleanno Walt Disney
Albergo Provincia Bari
Inaugurazione Casa Famiglia
It96
Allevamento Gatto British Shorthair
Batteria Benq Ef81
It10
Gestione Patrimoniale Immobiliare
Magic The Gathering Tutto Carta
Eden Viaggi Marsa Alam
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Web Acquisto Gioco 5
Albergo Castelfranco Veneto
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It21
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In a recent episode of "The Apprentice," one team discovered that the competing team had arranged to purchase every available megaphone from a store chain for an upcoming promotion. The team that made the discovery beat their competitors to the store carrying the equipment, misrepresented themselves to the store clerk, and made off with the other team's megaphones. Donald Trump's response? "Good for them!"
All of which says what about American culture? Have we entered an era of social Darwinism in which "the survival of the fittest" rules? Is Reality TV redefining the values of the American people, or are they only reflecting a shift that had already taken place?
Consider this: Over a million additional Americans fell below the poverty level in the year 2004. Over forty million Americans are without health insurance coverage. Huge spikes in oil and natural gas prices, even before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, threatened the financial survival of the working poor as they faced a harsh winter and impossibly high heating fuel bills. And all the while, Congress and the Bush administration promoted tax cuts for the wealthy, okayed windfall profits and subsidies for the oil companies, and discussed cutting fuel assistance programs.
Survival of the fittest. Now think about Katrina, and the woefully inadequate governmental response, and the circling of land speculators around the ruined neighborhoods of New Orleans only days after the hurricane.
Substitute food and water for those purloined megaphones, and adequate health care, and decent affordable housing, and ask yourselves: Is the view of life expressed many times a week on these Reality TV shows what we truly want for this country? Do we want our government and private citizens to react to a disaster like Katrina by fighting for necessities, cutting the weak out of the loop when it comes to essential services, and turning our backs on the most vulnerable among us in favor of the strong, the healthy, the well-connected, and the rich? Because those are the values we're worshipping constantly in our support of the ubiquitous Reality TV programming.
We need to take a good look at Reality TV and the morally bankrupt values it is promoting, and ask ourselves this: What do we as citizens want our relationship to be with each other? What do we want our government, which acts as our surrogate, to do to help the poorest and the weakest among us? Are we really committed to the "survival of the fittest" view as expressed by Reality TV, corporate interests, and current government officials, or do we want to create a community which provides a safety net for the vulnerable and help for each other in the event of unexpected misfortune?
Fans may enjoy all the high drama of their favorite reality TV shows, and may laugh at any comparison to our larger social structure. But the grim fact is, Reality TV eerily reflects the cynicism and self-interest that permeates American society today, and the implications of that, should another widespread disaster strike, are not pretty.
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips and Topics. She has published numerous articles in local and regional publications on a wide range of topics, including business, education, the arts, and local events. Her feature articles include an interview with independent documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and a feature on prisoners at the New Hampshire State Prison in Concord. She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.Borsa Lavoro Laureato Marche
Caldana Viaggi Parigi
Scandinavia Vacanza Invernale
Ufficio Tarsu Cagliari
Macchina Domestiche Pane
Valore Marche Bollo Documento
Agriturismo Toscana Case
Telefoni Fax Con Segreteria
Vacanza Al Mare Jesolo Lido
Lezione Personal Yoga Mobi
Firenze Casa Vino
Cartolina Compleanno Gratis
Casa Acquisto Mutuo
Cancellazione Ipoteca Bersani Legge 40 Automatica
Corriere Sera Recensione Ristorante Giardino Milano Maggio 2007
Sconto Notebook
It31
Long Term Rental Tuscany
Prove D Esame Terza Prova D Esame Matematica Applicata
Offerta Lavoro X Commesse Pavia
Lavoro Casa It
Acqua Minerale Haccp
Tesina Esame Liceo Scientifico
Piccola Suora Sacra Famiglia
Migliore Acqua Minerale Commercio Bambino
Centro Universitario Sportivo
Casa Affitti Vacanza Liguria
Studente Lavoratori Psicologia Padova
Link Www Rent Sardinia Com
Aeroporto Malpensa Sea
It81
Mobile Giardino Firenze
Offerta Mobile Emilia Romagna
Festa Birra Telgate
Carta Parati Kid
Shopping Compere Spese
Percorso D Esame Liceo Scientifico
Agenzia Matrimoniale Viaggio Europa Est
Affitto Case Liguria
Gatto Norvegesi
Testo Preghiera Chiesa
Viaggi Ventaglio Sharm
Affitti Agriturismo Campania
Schema Oleodinamico Appunto Universitario
W Avvocato It
It24
Elezione Amministrativa Risultato Palermo
Catalogo Nero Giardino
Occhiale Sconto Vista
Francobollo Valle Bormida
Secondo Piatto Ricetta Culinaria
Batteria Ipaq 3660
Gioco Italiano Gratis Carta Italiana
Prenotare Vagone Letto
Cisalpina Tour Agenzia Viaggio
It23
Diritto Dei Bambino
Noleggio Barca Vela
Canon Batteria Eos 400 D
It24
Biglietto Milan
It72
Software Motore Ricerca
Pescare Lago Trasimeno
T Mobile Samsung Cell Phone
Assicurazione Line
Lezione Batteria Genova
Trasformatore Calcolo Potenza
Indirizzo Ufficio Collocamento Disabile Roma
Istituto Credito Online
Biglietto Compleanno Walt Disney
Albergo Provincia Bari
Inaugurazione Casa Famiglia
It96
Allevamento Gatto British Shorthair
Batteria Benq Ef81
It10
Gestione Patrimoniale Immobiliare
Magic The Gathering Tutto Carta
Eden Viaggi Marsa Alam
Elenco Commissioni Esame Stato 2007 Trapani
Web Acquisto Gioco 5
Albergo Castelfranco Veneto
Ginnastica Artistica Aerobica
Klimt Morte Vita
Concorso Comunita Montana Campania
Vendita Assistenza Depuratore D Acqua Osmosi Inversa
Caut Casa An Chirie Roma
Registra De Ora Religione
Corso Sostegno Sicilia
Video Festa Inter
It38
Preparazione Olio Massaggio Ayurvedico
Schema Eletrico Motore Trifase
Batteria Acer Aspire 1350
Telefono Fax Stampante
Carica Batteria Schema Elettrico
Pelle Bari Abbigliamento
Vendita Seduta Ufficio
Disegno Fiore Cad
It21
It46
It5
Museo Battaglia Vittorio Veneto
Cartolina Virtuale Amicizia
Access Corso Perugia
Macchina Agricola It
Gestione Condominio Riviera Brenta
Cancro Segno Zodiacale
Guida Turistica Abilitate Visitare Parigi
Noleggio Caravan Camper
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