We, the human race, like to think we’ve evolved through the centuries — at least socially, if not physically. We look back on previous generations and feel superior.
We aren’t.
Maybe a few of us are. But I think there were plenty of people in those previous generations who were better, too.
Human nature is human nature. Call me cynical, but I think it always will be.
My evidence is the popularity and prevalence of reality television. I’ve marveled at this phenomenon for years now. The recent incarnation started with Survivor and every year, new ones popped up on network channels and cable and even the Internet. I watch reruns of sitcoms and dramas from the 1980s and 1990s and wonder why we don’t have that anymore. I know it’s cheaper to pay reality stars than real actors, and production costs are minimal for reality shows. But are people proud of reality TV?
Maybe.
Regardless, the industry offers what will sell. And what sells to the human race — what has always sold to the human race — is a good freak show. And after all these years of wondering why, the answer came to me last Tuesday like a message from God. It was all suddenly clear.
I think the thought was a culmination of a week of bombardment by Jersey Shore. I’ve never watched an episode (or even part of an episode) and don’t plan to. But I guess the new season is starting soon because it’s been in the news. First, there was a fashion spread in an issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine with some random female models and two of the male stars of the show. One of the male stars apparently named himself “The Situation.” I don’t know what that means. I’m not even vaguely curious what that means. But I’m fascinated that someone thinks that’s a good nickname.
At first, I thought maybe it was his name. Perhaps he has very odd parents. There could be a good story there. I wondered aloud to Chris (who seemed to care even less than I did) if his birth certificate boasted “The Situation Smith.” Then I remember that the Jersey Shore folks are Guido Italians and for some reason, the only Italian I could think of was Madonna, so I changed it to “The Situation Ciccone.”
That was until a story popped up on www.msn.com about whether your boyfriend might belong on the show and found out The Situation’s real name is something normal. Jack or Joe or Brian or something. I can’t remember. It didn’t make quite the same impression.
But it isn’t just these over-tanned, narcissistic young adults from Jersey who have captured the nation’s attention. Let’s not forget the early audition rounds of shows like American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. They both highlight those who are, shall we say, eccentric, but who have no chance of actually making it past that initial round. And when I found out (I know, I know — I’m totally naive) a couple seasons ago that the producers put those people through on purpose for the entertainment value, I lost all interest in the show. It was funnier when I didn’t know it was on purpose, when it wasn’t a setup.
It’s not just the reality shows, either. Maury Povich and Jerry Springer and their ilk wouldn’t be around after all these years if people weren’t fascinated by the incredibly sad lives they put on display for mockery. Does anyone in the audience take it seriously when we hear, “You are/are not the father”? Or when former friends get into fist fights on national television?
Granted, the people showcased on these shows aren’t the cream of society’s crop, but they are human beings with feelings and lives. I feel better thinking the people appearing on Springer are paid actors. But I don’t know that for sure. So I just don’t watch. I’m far more interested in a good story, anyway, than watching people beat each other to a pulp.
We no longer point, laugh, stare or gauk at people with physical or mental disabilities. It’s not socially acceptable.
Chang and Eng Bunker, the famed “Siamese Twins,” made a fortune on the carnival circuit. People lined up and paid good money just to see them. Many others like them did the same, although their “curiosities” varied from person to person. They did it voluntarily. They profited from the practice.
It’s no longer allowed, if not by legal means then by societal means.
But what’s different? Why is it not OK for someone with an unusual physical anomaly who is of sound mind to choose to go on tour with a carnival and charge people to see them, yet it’s OK to watch Kim and Chloe Kardashian make fools of themselves every week? Or to laugh at women who had sex with so many men that they can’t pin down their children’s fathers to even one or two of them? These are not physically disabled people, but they are emotionally damaged beyond my own ability to understand.
And so, we continue to gauk at freaks, but now we think we’re politically correct because it’s not a physical freakiness that we laugh at these days. Are we really any better now than we were then?
I’ve had this idea on my nifty list of post ideas for quite some time. I feel like I don’t need to write mine after reading yours. I miss those sitcoms and I’m not watching the reality tv. I think I just move on quicker than the rest of the world. It is a freak show, anyone who says otherwise is a fool.
You should still write it. I’m sure you have a different perspective.
I miss the days of the good ol’ sitcom… whatever happened to archie bunker, family ties, even the cosby show. Reality television was perhaps a little interesting at first – when it was an original idea. Now its just gone too far. I recently worked on a documentary and the director confirmed that the ‘reality’ shows are pretty much planned — people are selected specifically for entertainment purposes, situations are created — to keep us entertained. This is one of the many reasons I do not have television anymore.
I don’t think it’s much of a secret that the shows are even partially scripted. People choose to ignore that and get caught up in the drama. “Reality” is rarely actually reality.
My first husband used to watch Jerry Springer all the time. I couldn’t stand it. When I asked him why he would watch such awful people playing out their trashy dramas on television, he just said “It makes me feel better about MY life.” And is that it? Does watching these people make us feel like we are somehow OK or better than they are? Or that because THEY can be on TV and famous, of course WE could as well? Hate it or love it, Reality TV is an amazing social phenomenon. Then again…so is blogging!
Stopping by from SITS to say hello!
Oh, I totally agree that it’s a fascinating phenomenon. I just find it interesting that the same people who would be disgusted by the old carnival freak shows will watch reality TV and love it.
I do think there’s an element of comparing your own life and realizing it could be so much worse.
Sometimes I wonder if we all just want to feel ‘better’ than someone else and these shows display people with less than ideal personalities for us to feel superior to.
first of all, i LOVE reading you. you’re a very talented writer with logical thoughts and i love that about your blog. i never know WHAT to expect when you write, but i always know it will be good.
second, no, i don’t think that our generation or era or whatever is any better than any previous generation. what seems to me to be the case is that it’s more and more socially acceptable to be narcissistic and stupid. i don’t know that necessarily fewer people are striving to be educated, but it certainly seems like it. i feel like whenever i do have access to tv and want to find something to watch, i can’t find anything that has any intelligence. it’s all about these incredibly dumb people, some who are supposedly smart, who think only about themselves and how to 1) further their lives at the expense of others or 2) figure out where the next party is.
it’s really sad to me that it’s hard to find shows of value on anymore and the length to which i have to search to find them makes me very glad that i don’t have cable. at least that way, i don’t even have to try.
Thank you so much!
I keep thinking I need a theme for this blog, but I can’t think of one so I don’t bother.
I’m reading a book about the 1920s. It’s really interesting because it was published in I think 1931 (maybe 1933?). Anyway, the perspective from so close to the decade is neat and it seems like people were not much different then than they are now.
We have the most basic cable because I don’t want to deal with an antenna. We get Aminal Planet, which used to have a lot of intelligent, interesting shows on, but even they’re getting all sensationalized so I rarely watch anymore. I remember when TLC and A&E had informative educational shows, a lot of history. I miss that.
My theory is that watching the train wreck that is reality television gives the average Jill or Joe the feeling that they are a bit superior (at least to someone!) What’s sad is that the reality stars are such poor examples to those who seem most invested in the shows, teens and 20-somethings.
Great Post! Renee, I have to admit to watching The Biggest Loser. Otherwise I see most reality shows as gawking at train wrecks. The Biggest Loser is just as bad. I think I watch it because I have struggled with my weight for so many years. But it is low brow of me.
I used to like Biggest Loser. I watched a couple seasons ago. But then they started really pushing some very unhealthy eating and claiming it was healthy and then Jillian Michaels came out with her supplements and I just couldn’t anymore.
Well said. It’s human nature to stare at train wrecks, but we try to rise above that nature to a higher standard.
My wife and I used to watch “The Soup” to keep up with pop culture without having to actually watch daytime or reality TV, but we can’t even watch “The Soup” anymore. The shows it mocks are just too depressing.