Transcript The *Reality* of Social Media

THE “REALITY” OF SOCIAL MEDIA
DISCUSSION - REALITY TV BACKGROUND
• When did reality TV start?
• An American Family originally aired on PBS in 1971
• They shot 12 episodes
• What show revived reality TV?
• Survivor in 2001
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
• 1. Why is reality TV so popular?
• 2. How realistic is reality TV? Consider characters, story lines,
behavior, etc. Discuss
• 3. Which reality TV shows are more realistic?
• Consider the impact of reality TV
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m2vWEpmkmo
QUESTIONS CONTINUED
• 4. What – if any – negative
social/cultural issues have
emerged as a result of reality
TV?
• 16 & Pregnant, Teen Mom,
The Bachelor/ette, Celebrity
Rehab
• 5. How might staged “reality”
shows affect your perception of
reality?
• 6. How does editing play into
how characters are perceived?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=4cBKhnUOXNE
THE DARK SIDE OF REALITY TV
• Which came first, troubles or fame?
• Mental Problems
• In a study published by The Journal of Research, when
celebrities were given personality tests, the results for narcissistic
personalities for reality TV stars was off the charts
• Reality TV isn’t necessarily an indicator of suicide but mental
instability can be an indicator that a troubled person lacks the
stability to deal with the dark side of notoriety
• If you fail on TV, you fail in a big way. Your life is an open book
making you extremely vulnerable
• Mental issues continued
• Reality TV can fuel fantasy feelings of success, power &
glory
• Drug Use/Abuse
• Some reality TV starts turn to drugs & alcohol as a copying
mechanism to deal with pressures of reality TV
• In some cases, this may lead to drug overdose or suicide
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asOotS_7B9o
REALITY TV STARS WHO HAVE DIED
(MOST FROM SUICIDE)
• Gia Allemand
(Bachelor/Bachelor Pad)
• Russell Armstrong (Real
Housewives of B.H.)
• Shain Gandee (Buckwild)
• Joey Kovar (Real World –
Hollywood)
• Mark Balelo (Storage Wars)
• Joe Carniglia (Kitchen
Nightmares)
• Mindy McCready (Celebrity
Rehab)
• Rachel Brown (Hell’s Kitchen)
• Corey Haim (Two Corey’s)
• Cheryl Kosewicz (Pirate Master)
• Phil Harris (Deadliest Catch)
• Najai Turpin (The Contender)
• AJ Jewell (Real Housewives of
Atlanta)
• Paula Goodspeed (American
Idol)
• Julien Hug (Bachelorette)
REALITY TV ISSUES
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0jV6Wa19HA
• 7. What is catfish (ing)?
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zKlzGOA3w0
• Catfish stories
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36mCV6VtNTY
REALITY DATING
• Reality online?
• Would you participate in online dating?
• What would potential concerns would you have?
• Is it easier to express emotions/feelings/thoughts online as
opposed to in-person?
• 8. How has dating changed over time in this online world?
• Consider computer/Internet, texting, avatars, etc.