I loved your article. I have long felt that the Realtiy TV craze was just a fad. However, I am now worried that it is here to stay. Why am I worried? I believe that reality TV is desecrating humanity, albeit most people are unaware that it is happening. We now live in a society that accepts and condones voyeurism. What happened to privacy? Do we really have so little self-worth and self-confidence that we need to live vicariously through Adam or Joe?
Thank you Mr. Wu for your insight,
Dave Radke
I loved your article on Reality TV; I agree that today's television, and entertainment industry, seeks to destory our heroes; afterall, tragedy sells better than triumph. I also agree with you that it is a tragedy that men have moved from adoring heroes to gloating over reality stars. I'd like to add the omitted "female perspective" of reality TV; men can sit and gloat that they are better than Average Joes, but women sit and despair that the only way anyone will ever notice us is if we look like Larissa. Take The Apprentice: the men range from Kwame to Bowie, yet not a single woman could be described as anything less than gorgeous. Survivor: the first season featured a nice range of ages and appearances of both genders, but the following seasons became a forum for aspiring actresses to flaunt their size 2 bikini-clad bodies on national television. Even the famous survivor males - think Colby, Ethan - are considered attractive. Reality TV makes women, at least myself, feel inferior. That said, I still tune into Survivor every Thursday.
I guess I am masochistic that way. There is no solution to the turn television has taken. I will say that 9/11 has given us heroes, and documentaries such as "Saving Jessica Lynch" are still among the best-watched programs on television. Perhaps that can give us a glimmer of hope for the future.
Sincerely,
Dana, Chicago