Reality takes on new meaning in television shows, becomes part of mainstream

What began as a harmless fad slowly has begun to engulf our media, suffocating our television programming like weeds in an unattended garden. What is the culprit of this overwhelming domination of our television sets and, ultimately, our minds? The answer: reality television.

Reality television covers a broad spectrum, from "The Swan" on Fox — where plastic surgery transforms contestants from ugly ducklings into beautiful "swans" — to CBS’ globe-trotting competition, "The Amazing Race." What is it about these shows people find so fascinating? And how "real" is reality television, anyway?

Freshman Katie Wheeler, a fan of MTV’s "The Real World" and "Road Rules," said she watches reality television because she finds it humorous — and hard to avoid.

"Reality television is everywhere," Wheeler said. "Every station has some form of it."

Even professors are not immune to the reality rage. As a fan of everything from "The Real World," to "The Surreal Life" and even A&E’s "Dog the Bounty Hunter," health sciences professor Todd Sabato said the programs’ real-life aspect is what makes them so appealing.

"You put a camera in front of anyone and they are going to act differently," Sabato said.

Not everyone is a staunch supporter of reality television. Sophomore Kelly Harrison, who cites "Newlyweds" as her only reality television weakness, finds the term "reality television" to be an oxymoron.

"Even though it says ‘reality,’ it isn’t like real life," Harrison said. "It bothers me because [manipulation] isn’t professional," Harrison said. "They are not trying to show what is really going on, they are just trying to make people look bad."

Wheeler seems not to be as disturbed by the editing of reality programs. "I think some of it is real, but to I also know a lot of it is editing," Wheeler said.

Sabato said what he finds troubling is not the fact that producers edit the programs, but that the public would buy into the propaganda in the first place.

"It bothers me more that the viewer or the person on the show allows themselves to be manipulated," Sabato said.

What does it say about our culture when our airwaves are dominated by people searching for husbands, getting plastic surgery and eating cow intestines?

Harrison said although she doesn’t watch much reality television, she doesn’t believe those programs are any worse than the scripted programs that would otherwise air.

Sabato, however, said although he is a fan, he hopes the reality television craze ends soon.

"There are so much better things we could put on TV, like educational programming," Sabato said. He suggests that in general, the media is taking up too much of our time as it is.

However, as yet another season of "American Idol" rolls around, it is clear that — at least for now — reality television refuses to die.