Bravo, Bravo, F*cking Bravo. Is Reality TV Art?
You may not be a fan of reality TV and that’s fine. I won’t hold it against you. However, I am a part of Gen Z and it’s in my blood. Why is reality TV important? Should we still engage with it? For me it is an art form- it taught me a lot about storylines, clever editing, the power of a rumour, and how easily something can be taken out of context. It also allowed me to look at the lives and ‘reality’ of personalities or individuals that I had no business knowing about. But I loved it- and the addiction started. To preface, I don’t just watch reality TV. I am well watched, however, I will never deny it space.
Reality TV feels like it exploded in the 21st century, however, it is almost as old as television itself. One of the first reality shows was ‘Candid Camera’ which premiered in 1948 on the ABC Network. ‘Candid Camera’ was a hidden camera show and it was a driver for practical jokes, using two-way mirrors that surprised participants with outlandish images as well as fake phone calls.
The next great example of reality TV was ‘An American Family’ which was a documentary series that followed a Californian family in the early 1970’s and drew in millions of viewers weekly. This is what people refer to as the first example of classic reality TV. It was coveted for breaking down the stereotypes of the realities of upper-middle-class suburbia life. Over the seven months that they filmed the Loud family (the subject of the show), viewers saw the breakdown of the parent's marriage, the luxuries of having a pool and multiple houses, the complexity of having five teenage children, and how despite their good fortune the issues they were facing were relatable.
Lance, one of the Loud family members ‘came out’ in an episode of ‘An American Family’. This led to him being a prominent icon within the gay community and making waves within the music scene. Lance had an interesting encounter with one of the tougher parts of reality TV early on. He was vocal about how the editing of his character was intentionally bad, and that he was painted as an individual that was obnoxious and grating.
“The way they edited… They really make me seem obnoxious. And I really do get harder and harder to swallow during the entire series. Not that I’m so outrageous, just that I'm so dedicatedly stupid, yanno I really think I’m ‘Mr Cool’… They cut a lot of the friction and the dynamic and all that energy that really would reveal that I was not only a fat-ass opportunist, that this was merely a stage and I was going through it and that I would go on”.
‘An American Family’ also inspired a flurry of further reality TV docuseries. BBC’s 1974 ‘The Family’, SNL’s 1978 ‘The Loud Family’ skit, MTV’s ‘The Real World’, HBO’s drama film ‘Cinema Verite’ and much more. We also saw Jonathon Dayton, the co-director of ‘Little Miss Sunshine’, say that his film was inspired in part by ‘An American Family’.
It’s interesting to note that Lance Loud came across editing and character perception issues in one of the first reality TV shows that aired. Although this could be chalked up to him not being self-aware of how his personality was perceived outwardly, to have context removed in the editing process does do an injustice to a myriad of personal dynamics and issues. This is something that continues to be a large conversation in reality TV, and across social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. It has become increasingly harder to interview people organically for a platform like TikTok due to the way that content can be edited and warped. You can end up looking quite unintelligent, and because public forums are involved, it can feel embarrassing. But, overall this also poses an interesting question, are you entitled to a good edit in reality TV? When you sign up for this sort of show format do you expect to be the outlier? If you can reap the benefit of exposure, potential brand deals and a fleeting touch of fame then maybe an unflattering edit is just something you deal with.
It wasn’t until the 1990s that we started to see characteristics of a format that feel familiar to what's used in reality TV today. Cameras entered houses, testimonial interviews were conducted, and casting decisions were made that drove conflict and intrigue. This specifically took place in MTV’s ‘The Real World’.
The format of reality TV further evolved to competition shows such as ‘Survivor’ (2000), ‘Big Brother’ (2000), and ‘American Idol’ (2002). This was a great format that allowed for viewers to feel invested in specific participants and provided the ability for your vote to help determine the overall outcome of the show.
You might be wondering… What reality TV shows have I watched?
Keeping Up With the Kardashians
Toddlers and Tiaras
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, New York, Salt Lake City, Melbourne, Auckland, Sydney… the list goes on
The Below Deck franchise
Dance Moms
Vanderpump Rules
Clarksons Farm
The Traitors
Love Island
Ru Paul’s Drag Race
Buying Beverly Hills
Geordie Shore
Masterchef
America's Next Top Model
Come Dine With Me
Fear Factor
The Block
Project Runway
American Idol
The Great British Bake Off
Married at First Sight Australia (the only one worth watching)
Jury Duty (technically reality TV)
The Simple Life
Kitchen Nightmares
Chrisley Knows Best
Britain’s Got Talent
America’s Funniest Home Videos
Super Nanny
Grand Designs
Say Yes to the Dress
The list goes on. This leads us to the current reality TV conglomerate that exists. With streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Bravo, Hayu and Amazon Prime Video reality TV has diversified to cater to niche audiences and explore unconventional formats. This produced a range of reality shows, from docuseries to competition shows to dating shows, catering to various interests and demographics. We have been blessed with some extremely iconic pop culture moments thanks to reality TV. In 2023 we experienced Vanderpump Rules ‘Scandoval’, a cheating scandal that rocked ‘the world’. We saw an extreme betrayal of a nine-year relationship however the way it was edited felt like the most intense, satiric piece of television that belonged in a film. Not reality TV. Since then, the main victim of ‘Scandoval’, Ariana Madix, has finished third place on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, released a cocktail book (which was a New York Times bestseller), made her Broadway theatre debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago and has been announced as the new host for Love Island USA. This doesn’t even touch on her numerous brand deals with Uber, Lay’s, Bloomingdale’s, SoFi, Duracell, T-Mobile and Nutrafol.
Photos: Courtesy of Bravo / Illustration: Variety.
Another iconic reality TV moment that I think about at least once a week happened in ‘Celebrity Big Brother UK- Season 17’. On day 7 of the show, Angie Bowie found out that her ex-husband, David Bowie had passed away. Angie expressed her sadness to fellow co-star Tiffany Pollard. Unfortunately, all that Angie could say was that “David is dead”. This was misinterpreted as fellow Celebrity Big Brother housemate, David Gest (who was feeling under the weather) had died. This miscommunication is a very memorable moment, and with 4.4M views on YouTube, it seems others agree.
The Real Housewives Franchise is also one that has contributed to a lot of memorable pop culture moments. Not only did it contribute to the growth of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid it has provided numerous soundbites for social media platforms that stay iconic. The cast members in these shows realised early on, that they could do things on camera that would prevent that specific scene from being aired.
Denise Richards in a more recent season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills took it to a whole new level, however, it didn’t quite go in her favour. She had realised that you could break the flow of production if you said the word ‘Bravo’ when filming. The network, Bravo, was then unable to use said footage as it would break the fourth wall and ruin the viewer's experience. This only previously worked because even though the audience is aware they are watching TV, and know that the cast members are aware of the cameras we aren’t supposed to know how the inner workings of production can be manipulated.
To bring everything back to the question; is reality TV art? Film is art. To quote film theorist Rudolf Arnheim, “Film is an art because it allows for the representation of human emotions, experiences, and perceptions through a unique and powerful visual language.” A part of what other scholars have argued is that film is an art form due to a narrative structure which allows filmmakers to convey those emotions. Artistic expressions within filmmaking that further make it an art form are the use of colour, shadows, camera angles, sound and light. These are conscious decisions that contribute to the product's visual style and overall design. Whether reality TV qualifies as art is a matter of perspective and interpretation. Some argue that it can be considered a form of art due to its ability to reflect and comment on society, human behaviour, and culture. Reality TV often involves storytelling, cinematography, editing, and other elements traditionally associated with artistic expression. Additionally, the production of reality TV involves creative decisions and craftsmanship.
On the other hand, others may argue that reality TV prioritises entertainment and commercial interests over artistic expression. It often relies on sensationalism, manipulation, and scripted elements to attract viewership, which can detract from its artistic merit. Ultimately, whether reality TV is considered art may depend on individual opinions and definitions of art. Some reality TV shows may exhibit artistic qualities, while others may not. If you had to ask me, I believe it is art. And important.
Reflection of Society: Reality TV can serve as a mirror to society, showcasing how people interact, communicate, and navigate a variety of situations. It often reflects societal values, trends, and behaviours.
Entertainment: Reality TV can offer escapism and be a source of enjoyment, relaxation, and provide communal viewing experiences for audiences.
Representation: Reality TV can provide a platform to provide representation for underrepresented groups. If the production team chooses to feature a diverse cast of participants, they can provide visibility and amplify the voices of individuals who might otherwise not have a platform in mainstream media.
Cultural Influence: Reality TV has the power to shape cultural norms and influence popular culture. The personalities, catchphrases, and trends that emerge from reality shows often permeate into broader society, impacting fashion, language, and social behaviour.
Economic Impact: A lot goes into the production of reality TV. It contributes significantly to the entertainment industry’s economy. It provides employment opportunities for producers, cast members, crew members, and others involved in its production.
Social Commentary: Depending on the reality TV show they can delve into important social issues or tackle controversial topics. This can spark further conversations and raise awareness about issues.
Some great films have been influenced by the concept of reality TV. ‘The Truman Show’ (1998) starring Jim Carrey explores the concept of reality television in a fictionalised world. It’s an interesting thing to see played out in a film, especially now. Considering children are starring on reality TV, YouTube family channels and social media without the awareness of their overall visibility it feels more prevalent than ever. ‘Edtv’ (1999), ‘American Dreamz’ (2006), and ‘Series 7: The Contenders’ (2001) are just further examples of films that have been influenced or centred around the themes, tropes, and culture of reality TV. I can’t forget about ‘The Hunger Games Series’ (2012-2015). Within a dystopian society where young people are forced to fight to the death in a televised competition, we see a critique of reality TV, celebrity culture, political manipulation and how playing to the audience is critical for success.
So next time you hear yourself putting down ‘reality TV’ just take a second. You may not like the format, or the cast members, or a specific show but it’s hard to deny the impact it’s had on popular culture. It’s influenced movies, celebrities, and fashion, created sub-groups and given voices to ‘characters’ that may not have had an opportunity to previously be heard. You may still deny that it’s an art form and that’s ok. Art is subjective. Even if you are a staunch reality TV denier, you have 100% consumed it at one point in your life. I applaud that. Why wouldn’t you want to?
