The Reason Our Culture is Infatuated with Reality Shows

It seems that every time I turn on the television set, there is a new reality show of some sort. Right now, the cooking shows are finding their popularity and are spinning out of control. Let's see, we have "Hell's Kitchen", where Chef Gordon Ramsey spews profanity at his culinary chefs in training, then there is "Dinner Impossible" where a chef is asked to create and serve a gourmet meal under impossible odds and of course the mainstream reality shows such as "Big Brother", "Survivor" and so on.

So, what is the buzz about these type of tv shows and why are they so popular? My hypothesis is that our culture is still trying to figure out the beast of dealing with what I term "office politics." In other words, when 2 or more people are competing for a prize, the element of personality enters the game and the idea of trying to outsmart, out maneuver the other participant in the game becomes the focus. This, is what they term "the game" and for some reason, people can't seem to get enough of it.

I think technology is directly involved with this type of entertainment, as you have the participants giving "personal confessions" as well as "backstabbing sessions" when one of the participants isn't present. It is really interesting to observe these shows in a whole new light. It is sort of like a new type of blogging only our thoughts are verbalized, not typed into a diary.

In the technology limited days, I remember when employees would gossip around the water cooler or backstab a co-worker and so on. This unappealing behavior has bled over to multi-media and has caught the attention of everyone who has had to deal with some type of "office politics" in their lives. The focus is how to win at this game. Sure, at the conclusion of the season, someone will win the big prize, whether it be a car, a job or some other desirable.

But what is the payoff for the viewer? It's like watching real life play out before your eyes as the ultimate voyeur. Do we really pick up tips on how to deal with others in our lives from watching these shows? I guess some people do, but I surely don't. I think the surreal setting for these shows only mask what the true outcome would be in "real life".

Maybe it's the Human Resources background in me, but while I watch some of these shows, it is purely for entertainment purposes. It doesn't show me anything practical or positive. It only reinforces the idea that people are vulnerable and they will do most anything to mask that feature in themselves to others. The basic concept of survival of the fittest comes into play and a group of people that are firmly planted in the 21st century rely on this almost animalistic, yet core principle to become the winner of the game.

I don't know about you, but I haven't learned much from watching these shows except that we will always have a tough time understanding those who are different from ourselves. Maybe that's the real point of the shows...learning about our differences, not our likeness.