With one click of a mouse and one push of a button, it is so easy to see what a celebrity is doing in their everyday lives. Whether it be on their social media pages, in magazines or on TV, it is quite easy to keep up with celebrities. A concept invented by Marshall McLuhan suggests that “the world is unified through the use of media technologies”. He calls this “a global village”.
Something that stands out for me as a movement that has influenced the way I view a culture other than my own is Reality TV. I believe that McLuhan’s concept of the global village is something that Reality TV has established with society.
The idea of “Modernity” was established throughout the 19th and 20th centuries through technology, science and industrial/business/finance. There was one belief that stood out to me from that point in time that I can bring reality TV into. “The west was superior to non western societies”.
My point is, the most successful TV shows are still western based. For example, Keeping Up With The Kardashians (USA), Geordie Shore (UK), Survivor (USA).
Watching these TV shows give me an insight into the characters lifestyles. If I never watched them, I wouldn’t know anything about that particular culture. Whilst I do believe most reality TV shows are fake, scripted and entertainment based, you can learn a lot about people and their lives which I believe is interesting.
Using Keeping Up With The Kardashians as an example, the family is American but also Armenian. They are always using Armenian words, eating Armenian food and talking about their traditions and culture. From watching the show, I have learnt about this Armenian culture that otherwise I may never have even known about.
 |
| http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2012/04/24/keeping-up-with-the-kardashians-2015-e-pays-40-million-for-three-more-years/ |
Another example through the Kardashian’s show is America in general. The places I have seen through this show for example, locations/shops/restaurants in Miami, Las Vegas, New York and Los Angeles has given me the chance to visit the same places when I just recently went to America. I visited certain places the family went on the show. Again, without viewing the show, I may not have even known about these places.
The last example I will use from the show is the celebrity lifestyle. Seeing the girls and especially Kim’s hectic appearances and endorsement lifestyle has really shown me how hard it would be to be in that position; constant camera’s, lights flashing, no escaping the spotlight. Although yes they do enjoy it and have chosen the life, it has definitely given the rest of the world an insight into the life we so often love to hear about and watch.
 |
| http://www.kimkardashianfan.net/e-announces-season-8-of-keeping-up-with-the-kardashians/, |
The idea of Postmodernism was influenced by anything that was against modernism. Therefore enter many cultural aspects such as technology, music, film, art, literature from that particular time.
Whilst reality Television and television for that matter began after the postmodern movement was spread, have we really ever left modernism is the question.
REFERENCES:
S, Srivastava, B, Warren, C, Moore . 2013. Globalisation and its Contexts. https://d2l.deakin.edu.au/d2l/le/content/143750/viewContent/1942038/View
MEDIA REFERENCES:
E! Announces Season 8 of "Keeping Up With The Kardashians", http://www.kimkardashianfan.net/e-announces-season-8-of-keeping-up-with-the-kardashians/, accessed 5th August.
Hi, it is interesting how you have used Globalization to explain the Reality TV phenomenon. Increasingly everyday I feel unprotected from the reality TV onslaught. It has become impossible to switch on the television without being exposed.
ReplyDeleteIt is, however, very interesting how you acknowledged the spread of cultures merely by viewing a small demographic on television. This is a great and simplified example of how cultures, ideals and trends can spread around the world.
Globalization can also explain how many countries have adapted their own versions of Reality shows, (Big Brother for example). Being inundated with media technology has made it easy for other countries to produce their own versions of reality show (spreading them all over the world).
Hi Elise
ReplyDeleteLike David I really like how you could explain how globalization is evident in Reality TV, just by using one example, that most of us could relate to. For example I never thought of the fact that you, by watching the show, get to 'experience' so many other parts of the world. It is true that the information flows help spread this notion, I think that is amazing. And I think it is amazing that you learn and see how other cultures mix with your own, when watching Reality TV or as you so rightly said television in whole.