Yes - I am a white, educated, middle-class Australian citizen.  And yes, I read classic literature, the ‘reputable’ newspapers and know my local and international politics.  And yes, I have travelled to many European countries, I drink skinny cappuccinos and am proficient in four languages.  And yes, I cannot get enough of trashy reality television.  I crave it, I love it, and most importantly I enjoy it.
Wait. Rewind. Did you just read that?  Did I just admit that?  Isn’t the typical trash television devotee generally an overweight ignoramus with no social life, no friends and, dare I say it, lower-than-average intelligence and a lack of redeemable personality traits?  Perhaps I’m being a little severe in my analysis.  But based on Michelle Johnson’s article in this week’s Age, it is apparently not very far from the truth.
Johnson manages to belittle contestants, producers and consumers alike without taking the time out to consider another side to the story. That is, the fact that maybe we all need to ‘switch-off’, take a breather, a timeout. Why?  Perhaps because some of us are stressed-out-timebombs-ready-to-explode-unless-we-relieve-stress-through-musing-about-the-misfortunes-of-others (Phew!)
And some just need the distraction or the time where we can forget about the sad realities of poverty, pain and hunger in the world, or our personal dramas, stressful workloads, relationship woes and everything else that may be boiling away at the back of our forever ticking and worrying minds.
In the realm of her misconstrued ‘reality’, Johnson appears to have missed the point of reality television programs. These apparently ‘trashy reality’ shows are simply a paradox.  For many, real life - or shall we say ‘reality’- is not trashy. And in the case of shows like Dance Your Ass Off, World’s Strictest Parents, True Beauty and Australia’s Perfect Couple, they are not the reality that most of us are familiar with – nor do they reflect the slightest bit of what goes on in the real world.
So now, back to my shameless promotion of trash television...  Why can’t Johnson (and her ilk) just take these shows at face value?   They are produced with overtly commercial intentions.  ‘Dance Your Ass Off’ wasn’t canned after one episode because somebody called the ‘common-sense police; it was axed because the Nine network couldn’t beat rival ratings.
And to answer Johnson’s question of ‘How much can we possibly take of this brainless drivel?’  Well, to be honest, trash TV is not going to die as long as there are people like Johnson drawing attention to it and ensuring it stays topical.
Because as far as I'm concerned, rants about how nonsensical shows with imperfect couples, troubled teens in Mormon country, model-wannabes and overweight people engaging in awkward dancing is enough to evoke curiosity in anyone!
If you’re not interested or too middle-class for it, switch to Weather Watch on SBS instead.
Gulsum Unal is a recent Arts/Teaching graduate from the University of Melbourne.
What do you think?
Do you watch reality television? Is it as 'trashy' and 'brainless' as it has been described, or is it entertainment which is worth watching?
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Tags: Gulsum Unal, MasterChef, newspapers, reality television, reality television programs, reality TV, sbs, television, television programs, The Age
4 Comments
After reading this article, it made me realise why Johnson has a point. Everyone knows why your average jo falls for the charms of reality tv. The age old creed, ‘well they don’t know any better’. What frightened me however, is that you do. Your argument highlights all that is wrong with these shows yet you choose to ’switch off’. Do you realise that if pioneering Australian citzens and businesses in the 1900s didn’t fight against the status quo and simply ’switched off’ you wouldn’t be part of a ‘middle class’? If instead of applying for captaincy of the first fleet Cook had just shrugged and took some desk job to come home each night and watch ye ‘old reality tv that you wouldn’t have an Australia to call home? The world and it’s comforts, even the beloved television, was brought to you by people who couldn’t, wouldn’t ’switch off’ in the face of all their hardships and stress. So at the pinaccle of our evolution, at the labours of so many intelligent, hard-working individuals you choose to switch off? Our society is turning us into streamlined-idiotbox watching-mindnumbingly stupid-pop obsessed-passionless consumer zombies and you as an educated middle-class ‘white’ australian have the means to offer resistance but instead opt to be ‘distracted’. Well I for one, stand with Johnson, as my english teacher once told me..being educated comes with responsiblity and it’s about time we switch off…our televisions.
Nice article.. Im totally agree in what you are saying =)
Just like there’s good drama and bad drama, there is also good reality TV and bad reality TV.
The show Masterchef was adored by TV-junkies and digital top-box-phobics alike. The reason being that it didn’t belittle contestants, with your Kyle Sandilands-type judges making harsh comments to fulfill the role of being “the controversial one”, and it was an honest journey for aspiring chefs.
The reality shows that Johnson identifies are steaming pieces of television turd. I think a lot of television producers are being lazy and making reality TV shows for all aspects of life.
And I don’t think by writing an article it will invoke curiosity. Let’s face it. The people who read The Age are less likely to watch “Dance your ass off”.
Both Michelle and Gulsum’s articles are hilarious – you may have an opinion either way, but at the end of the day it’s all lighthearted fun – just like the reality shows they reffer to.
Its amazing how many people are getting so worked up about it and blowing the issue out of preportion. So, I’m hoping all the educated people out there are using it responsibly and saving the world! (sarcasm)
Is it fair to say that people who are supposed to be ‘intelligent’ must always be fighting to better the world? That’s a huge statement to make. And evoking curiosity? Hell yes! I’m now dying to see some chubbers shaking all they’ve got – who knows, it might actually MOTIVATE me while I’m running on my treadmill in front of the TV.
We’re all indivuduals –everyone regardless of class, intelligence and background has right to exercise their judgement and their asses. Someone’s trash is another’s treasure. If someone wants to dance their ass off, let them and if I want to watch it, let me!
ps. the Age is great, but c’mon! stop generalising