Coming soon ... More reality TV
Amber Ernst
Issue date: 12/7/04 Section: Lifestyles
After the show's success, Barris built his media empire around the humiliation principle. This technique of attracting viewers has become more intense over the last decade.
According to Marshall Allan in his article, "The Case against Voyeur TV," reality TV is full of warped images and sensationalism since viewers watch each character at the worst moments and make unfair, negative judgments.
"Part of the appeal of Voyeur TV is that viewers are the ones who 'get it' while watching characters who so obviously don't," Allan said. "We relish seeing ourselves as superior to the people we watch on TV."
"Herein lies the problem, because easily passed judgments handicap our willingness to relate to people on Voyeur TV and disable our empathy and compassion," Allan added. "The coarsening of individuals polarizes people and has a negative effect on society."
For example, "American Idol" is a singing competition in which people from across the United States audition for the title of "American Idol" and a recording contract. Round after round, the judges; Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, weed more and more participants out of the competition. Once down to a final few contestants, America votes on the winner and the judges simply provide their input.
According to Media Life Magazine, Cowell has been continually criticized for his unnecessary cruelty to the contestants. Of course, watching the contestants wail wildly off-key while floundering around the stage is an undeniable guilty pleasure for viewers, but the post-performance massacres seem completely unnecessary.
Cowell is notorious for saying such things as, "I thought that was absolutely dreadful," "My advice would be if you want to pursue a career in the music business, don't," and "There are only so many words I can drag out of my vocabulary to say how awful that was."
After a certain point in the "American Idol" series, the judges serve no purpose because the viewers begin voting on the qualifiers. Therefore, the judges sit at the panel only to wait for their next innocent victim.
According to Marshall Allan in his article, "The Case against Voyeur TV," reality TV is full of warped images and sensationalism since viewers watch each character at the worst moments and make unfair, negative judgments.
"Part of the appeal of Voyeur TV is that viewers are the ones who 'get it' while watching characters who so obviously don't," Allan said. "We relish seeing ourselves as superior to the people we watch on TV."
"Herein lies the problem, because easily passed judgments handicap our willingness to relate to people on Voyeur TV and disable our empathy and compassion," Allan added. "The coarsening of individuals polarizes people and has a negative effect on society."
For example, "American Idol" is a singing competition in which people from across the United States audition for the title of "American Idol" and a recording contract. Round after round, the judges; Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, weed more and more participants out of the competition. Once down to a final few contestants, America votes on the winner and the judges simply provide their input.
According to Media Life Magazine, Cowell has been continually criticized for his unnecessary cruelty to the contestants. Of course, watching the contestants wail wildly off-key while floundering around the stage is an undeniable guilty pleasure for viewers, but the post-performance massacres seem completely unnecessary.
Cowell is notorious for saying such things as, "I thought that was absolutely dreadful," "My advice would be if you want to pursue a career in the music business, don't," and "There are only so many words I can drag out of my vocabulary to say how awful that was."
After a certain point in the "American Idol" series, the judges serve no purpose because the viewers begin voting on the qualifiers. Therefore, the judges sit at the panel only to wait for their next innocent victim.
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