There have been so many news stories this past week which could lead to very interesting conversations. I would like to focus this morning on the Colorado “balloon boy stunt.” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33341233/ns/today-today_people/
Was the Colorado balloon boy event a hoax? That question will be debated in the news and in circles for months to come. That isn’t my question here. I guess I am confused why the family called the press prior to calling the police when their child was taken into flight. Is it possible that the family in Colorado is using the media to its advantage? Have we as a Society become so needy for “reality-based” drama that we create the need for people to do things like this?
I look forward to your comments.
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First, people have to realize that the term "reality TV" is an oxymoron. If it has been created specifically for the purpose of broadcast on TV then by definition it is not reality. Hide a camera somewhere, turn it on, and leave it unattended and unedited, and then you'd see reality. These programs, however, whether it's "Survivor" or any of the now-countless variations, have no basis in reality whatsoever. They are manufactured products created for the purpose of attracting an audience (and paying sponsors, of course!), and nothing more.
ReplyDeleteWhen you add the unfathomable (to me, anyway) success of these shows to some people's nearly pathological desire for fame, however, hoaxes and weird stunts are bound to crop up. As H. L. Mencken once said, "No one ever lost money underestimating the intelligence of the American audience." In a similar vein, Gary Trudeau noted that, "Only in America is the failure to engage in self-promotion considered a character flaw".
I have to admit, I have not heard that Trudeau quote before, but I really like it. I will be using it in my programs. I would be curious to sit around a table with the decision-makers for the advertisers. Imagine the discussion, "Yeah this is so twisted that ten million homes will watch, so this is where we will put our advertising dollars." What will our future demographic studies look like?
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