In the past ten years, it feels like there has been this explosion of reality tv shows coming to the forefront. No longer was it all about The Price is Right, or even soap operas. There came a change towards the teenage-early twenty year old lifestyle. Many people call this the "MTV" generation, which has been around since the 80's. However, I think that even more recently the MTV reality shows have really started to have there impact, with potential repercussions.
The cultivation theory, which believes that tv is a main influential factor on how people will grow up to percieve the world. It allows them to develop a culture in their own minds how things can and will work out for them. It seems to me that shows like The Hills and the Real World are turning more into a lifestyle each season than a show. Both of these shows are just so far past the actual reality of things that it would almost seem impossible for someone to think that anyone can just start living like those characters. For instance, The Hills, shot in southern California, follows a group of girls that belong to the 1% of families that make millions of dollars a year. They get cars expensive cars bought for them, designer clothes and purses, and don't even get me started on the Ugg boots. And lets be honest, do they really pay for all of it with there tanning salon job? No, mom and dad get the bill at the end of the day, and this is what's scary to me. The cultivationg theory is being seen very clearly in my generation. Girls hold these characters to the highest importance, going out and trying to buy what they do and act like they do, 11 year olds getting the new iPhone before I do (and im not bitter about that at all). And the craziest thing is, parents, at least in northern jersey, just seem to throw the money at them. It's almost like they can't say no to being in debt to make their child happy, instead of telling their kid to go work for it. And guys aren't off the hook either, getting the hand outs, and especially expecting dad or his friend to hit them up with a high paying job right out of college.
The Real World is probably the farthest thing from it. Its a group of college kids that live in a house together and have challenges and basically sit in couches until the next dramatic blow up between two or even three people. Come on everybody, does that sound anything like the real world at all? People honestly beleive that things will just be handed to them without any work at all?
This theory was mostly developed and is centralized around how violence and sex on tv can affect a child growing up and watching. However, I think that this is going to be the next application towards this theory--- laziness. It's creating a generation that is going to be looked upon as the 'handout' generation. Our parents and their parents worked to live and lived to work, and it seems like mine just lives to play and it's a scary thing. Slowly but surely the real world and the hills are trying to formulate themselves into a lifestyle that everyone thinks they can live, and its going to be disappointment to all of them when they realize this isn't reality, when that first bill comes in the mail or when their car craps out and THEY have to fix it. Then we'll be the complaining generation, which I'm not sure if that's an improvement. Wake up everyone, this isn't southern cali, and all we have is mountains, no hills.
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ahhhh very much agreed, very much agreed. i think he states a very logical and informative point, especially to the LIMITED people, like myself, who realize that this is going on with our generation and more so the generations below us. Most kids that I see who are in junior high and high school all have EXACTLY what they want, which is more than they NEED. I see kids driving around in bmw's and benz's which is crazy. Not sayin that I envy them, because I absolutely don't. I enjoy working for what I have, and it's an accomplishment to earn something rather have it be given to me. I also agree with how he stated that when younger generations watch these television shows they LEGITIMIATLEY(spelling?) think that's how life is, when in the "real world' it absolutely is not. Good blog, wake up call on the way to those who disagree...
ReplyDeleteits a very good point in that the generation that we live in is just becoming more lazy. Kids and teenagers get whatever they want just by asking their parents and that even the parents don't even encourage their own children to go out and earn money themselves. There are so many junior high and high school kids getting whatever they want. Nowadays, I see middle school kids or younger with cellphones. I don't understand why parents spoil their kids. Just because of all the reality shows out there, there are many people that base life like that. No one really does go out and has a very luxurious lifestyle. And it is impossible for many people to live like that. Its even harder for the younger generation to understand that life does not come easy and that people need to work hard for their money and the things they get. Television reality shows do not really show the "real life."
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you that our generation is very big on the "get rich quick" mentality. The goal is to do as little as possible and expect a lot. Perhaps these T.V. shows are too blame. The Hills shows a world where one of them says they want to work in fashion and the next day they are working in fashion. But in reality everyone isn't on a TV show with producers offering publicity to fashion designers. In real life you have to work so had to get into the fashion business. But because of this show so many people take for granted the hard work it really takes.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with everything. The "Real World" is not even close to being real. The show finds people who are bound to have problems with eachother and throw them into a house. Every season they try to step it up. This past season they had
ReplyDeleteBaya who was raised by hippie parents who is a dedicated hip-hop DJ who wanted to be a dancer
Devyn who was a black woman who was Miss American Teen in 2005 and a Miss Missouri Teen
Sarah was an artist who suffered sexual abuse by a teacher and inappropriate behavior by her father and had tattoos all over her arms
J.D. was a half Cuban, half Puerto Rican gay man who suffered violent physical abuse at the hands of his father, and lived on welfare
Scott was a personal trainer, model and actor
Katelynn, a transvestite
Ryan who was in the army for 3 and a half years
Chet, a "punk rock Mormon"
Honestly, what are the chances that in the real world these people would be room mates and friends?
Not only do reality TV shows give us unrealistic views of the world but even regular shows. The classic show Friends. It's ridiculous to believe that with their mediocre jobs they would really be able to live in their impressive apartments in Manhattan. Highly unlikely.
I totally agree with the very well presented point he had made. The generations our parents live in are all in some way or another a hard working class society. The generation we live in I think is one of the first generations where kids are given more with less work, and with less respect or consideration. Although parents who give there kids everything mean well this is unabling the future society, our society, we are going to live in. Parents expect less from thier kids and the kids in return learn more examples from such realities shows like the hills and real world. Kids have no ideas how much these pretty hi tech phones cost (which you gotta get a plan or upgrade so you wont have to pay the 500+ fee, rip off!) or the price uggs cost.
ReplyDeleteOur future may be in danger of a lazy society and I strongly agree this could be another clear example of cultivation theory