Verified Document

Real Vs. Unreal Term Paper

Television shows have traditionally ignored the realities of human life. Events such as using the restroom, bathing, shaving and other things have been ignored and are not part of the life of the television characters. When asked why they watch television, many people will respond that they watch it to escape reality. The failure to display human behaviors such as shaving, or using the restroom, assists the viewer in his or her desire to escape reality. If the basic human functions and other evidences of reality were to become included in television shows, it would have a negative impact on the industry and would lessen the ability to watch television for the purpose of escaping reality. The television industry promotes the adoration of television characters. It provides a platform for the viewer to become attracted to the life and actions of television characters. Part of this can be attributed to the fact that many basic realities of human life are not portrayed on the shows. If they were their magical aura would be gone and people would no longer look to them to escape reality (Watson pg).

Viewers are enamored with television life (Amatangelo pp). Watching stars work out issues in 30 to 60 minutes provides the viewer with hope. If the industry were to change its methods and start including human functions such as bathing, restrooms and shaving in the shows the viewers would lose their magical attraction to the shows and might stop tuning in to view.

Realities of life include messy houses, smelly restrooms and snoring people. Viewers who live with these realities each day tune in to characters and situations that are always attractive and neat and tidy.

Viewers...

They see people in immaculate homes living far above any realistic financial means and having more free time than anyone in real life could possibly have. When people tune into these shows they are regenerated and they begin to forget the hardships they have in their real lives. They see that people have hobbies and that they have wonderfully decorated apartments and homes even though they don't have jobs that can support such lifestyles and they can see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Introducing the reality of life to the shows, such as showing where characters can really live on their incomes, or having messy homes, would remind the viewers of the down side of their own lives.

Goldson pp)

One example of the need to keep reality out of television shows is the popular show called the Sopranos. Studies have been conducted on the show's hold on viewers, as it is reported that shopping centers clear out in time for shoppers to go home and watch it. One mental health expert explained its popularity on the fact that the main character does not deal with reality of his actions. According to the professional the lead character Tony Soprano, for all of the crime being committed, comes off as a nice guy with a normal life. This of course is not the reality of full time criminals and is a prime example of how reality is absent from television and that the viewers like it that way.

People love to root for Tony the regular guy to prevail over Tony the violent criminal; they want more than anything to…

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Ethics in entertainment television.(Introduction)(Critical Essay)

Journal of Popular Film and Television; 1/1/2004; Watson, Mary Ann

If you don't like what's on TV, just turn it off."

CHARACTER ASSASSINATION; Top shows justify offing favorite actors.(Arts and Lifestyle)
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Simulacrum: What Is Neither Real nor a
Words: 2141 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Simulacrum: What is neither real nor a copy? The simulacrum subverts the common notion of what constitutes a copy vs. An authentic artifact (Camille 31). In the common, classical ordering of priorities, the 'real' is what comes first, followed by the copy. The copy affirms the real, and the worth of the real, rather than negates it. A good example of this can be seen in art forgery. The worth of

Social Psychology Cognitive Processes, Social Interactions, Cultural...
Words: 1330 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Social Psychology Cognitive processes, social interactions, cultural context, and biological factors are what form what social psychology is in regards to and also how it is trained in that social psychologists are typically concerned in an individual with stress on all the things that make a person who they act the way they do are and who they are and what they think and also how they perform socially (Baron, Branscombe,

Buddhism, Hinduism & Taoism Comparative
Words: 2902 Length: 11 Document Type: Term Paper

In fact, Hindus consider their religion not as a form of religion per se, but spirituality in general. Selvanayagam (2005) discussed the Hindu concept of spirituality, which takes into account all possible ways or manner in which enlightenment can be achieved. In India, wherein the Hindu religion is the dominant and an integral part of people's lives, Hinduism is considered more than a religion -- it is also a political

Faerie Queene
Words: 1581 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

noticeable is the archaic character of Spencer's language Allegedly, this is an imitation of Chaucer's style, but, in my opinion, there are several other issues to be considered. First of all, using archaic language (Chaucer wrote some 200 years previously) allows the reader to perceive more than one sense to a certain word or phrase. This permits an incredible freedom in understanding the text: while the author is writing so

Inception Explanation Some Movies Are Based on
Words: 937 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Inception Explanation Some movies are based on philosophical themes that run through the whole movie and imply meaning other than those being visibly represented. Inception was also one such movie, directed and co-produced by Christopher Nolan, the famed director of Insomnia. The director's favorite theme to make movies has been dreams and we see the same in this movie 'Inception'. The director has taken dreams to represent the power of human perception

One Hundred Years of Solitude
Words: 1058 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Specifically, it will show how the story juxtaposes real and imagined linear time with circular time. What are the distinct differences between these two worlds (reality and linear time vs. imagination and circular time)? What is learned by placing them together and why does the novel do so? "One Hundred Years of Solitude" is an incredible book that blends together reality, imaginary time, and

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now