Big Brother. The antecedent of the now popular reality TV show format, and – as far as I am concerned – a potent symbol of the dearth of everything that is decent in society.
Strong words, I know, but I grossly understate my case when I say I hold almost everything to do with reality television shows in contempt!
Even worse are the so-called ‘celebrities’ that this mediocre form of entertainment spawns. The usual criteria for success – talent, genius, entrepreneurial skill, even good looks – are no longer a prerequisite for hitting the big time. Anyone crass or naïve enough to go on one of these shows and make a big enough exhibition of themselves is guaranteed to be rewarded with features on magazine covers, a book deal, their own meaningless spin-off reality TV show and invitations to all the celebrity haunts and dos.
Please do not mistake my vitriol for envy. I have no special desire for that kind of fame, or to spend my nights flitting from one awards ceremony to the next propped up by opportunist friends, themselves desperately on the lookout for any paparazzo who may just ‘happen’ to be hanging around outside the posh venue as we leave.
But, taking a hard look at our viewing habits as a nation, you must admit that the widespread fascination with Big Brother is in itself an indictment of our morality. I guess what really gets my goat is how it has been so successful in its obvious appeal to the base nature of man – that part in each of us we like to think we have left behind with centuries of civilisation, education and invention. As a species, we beat our chests and claim to be a million times more advanced and sophisticated than our Neanderthal ancestors, but in truth, the fabric of our collective core does not appear to be very different.
How else can we explain the proliferation of these shows? Big Brother, then Celebrity Big Brother. Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Strictly Come Dancing. Wife Swap – and you’ve guessed it – the Celebrity version. We cheer on the poor creatures misguided enough to put themselves through these experiences on camera for our benefit, as they show themselves up to be, in the main, ignorant and desperate for publicity of any kind. Brashness, blind ambition, cruelty and bad manners have become traits we now accept and even expect from those thrust into the spotlight, with well-mannered gentility, chivalry and restraint considered marks of a long-forgotten era.
So, as the furore swirls around this winter’s edition of Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 4, and the debate on the alleged racist bullying and treatment of an Asian housemate – a Bollywood movie star – by some of the others continues, wider questions are raised.
Why does our society celebrate people with such fundamental character flaws? Why do we fall over ourselves to watch what can only be described as a modern-day version of the gladiatorial combats that took place in ancient Rome, where professional fighters fought to the death for the sole purpose of entertaining and amusing spectators? Why have we gone along with the line that these debacles make for good entertainment, when all they do is lower the tone and insult the collective intelligence of the viewing public? It reminds me of the book ‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding. It was one of our literature texts in secondary school, and managed to evoke both fascination and repulsion in me at the same time. Telling an allegorical tale of the chaos that ensues when a group of boys become stranded on a desert island, its central theme highlights the point that man’s nature consists of a cruel bloodlust that rears its ugly head when all the creature comforts of civilisation are removed. If we do not stop and take a good look at this crazy phenomenon of our times, we will see an increase in the ugly demonstrations of our humanity displayed on our televisions by contestants who are increasingly encouraged by production companies to play up to the ubiquitous cameras, believing that this is the kind of entertainment we crave after a hard day’s work.
Such outrageous behaviour and attitudes may spell the beginning of the end for reality television in this country. But then again, that may not be such a bad thing after all!
First published in Outflow, February 2007.
With regards to this statement, “How else can we explain the proliferation of these shows? Big Brother, then Celebrity Big Brother. Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Strictly Come Dancing. Wife Swap – and you’ve guessed it- the Celebrity version.”
The first and the last examples I can understand, but why the objection to such a classy show as Strictly Come Dancing (which does not have a “Celebrity” version)?
Hi,
I was trying to get across my objection to the fact that television has been dumbed down to the point where such programmes (where people ‘exhibit’ themselves and are ‘voted’ in or out in the name of entertainment) are now the order of the day.
I’ve double-checked about ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and you’re right! There isn’t a seperate Celebrity version, as the particpants in the main show are only ‘celebrities’!
Thanks for taking the time to comment, and for keeping me on my toes!
Hi Scribblings of a Writer,
This is a really interesting piece of writing, and I look forward to reading a lot more of your work – I shall definitely be popping in to your Blog again to read more of your pieces of writing!
Just a point to clarify – even the BBC acknowledge that ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ is a variation on an old TV programme called ‘Come Dancing’ which featured professional dancing couples demonstrating their skills and competing for prizes.
So in a way that too HAS been taken over by the reality television phenomenon too, even though the format has been changed (slightly!)
Keep up the good work!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your support, and for clarifying about the format of Strictly Come Dancing.
Do keep reading and commenting!
Hang on a minute – (he says pulling the pin out with his teeth and lobbing the object into the virtual world) – isn’t this fascination for watching people inside a goldfish bowl, and seeing what they get up to, the same thing that drives people to write and read blogs?
A blog is nothing more than a way for most people to stand naked on the roof tops, wave their arms about and shout “LOOK AT ME!” – you’d think that people wouldn’t be the slightest bit interested, but here we are, reading them, commenting on them.. it’s the same thing.
And before you start telling me that your blog isn’t like that, no, you’re right, but sooooo many are. Look at myspace.com.
Reality television has been with us for years. I’d like to suggest it’s as old as television itself. It’s just that before it was called “social documentary” or “kitchen sink drama”. My mother (now in her late sixties) tells me stories about how she was addicted to the stuff, and my grandfather used to say “why on earth would I want to watch that – I get enough of real life without seeing it on the television.”
I think what you object to, and I’m with you on this, is the way “big bruvver” and other RTV shows of a similar ilk, are so negative. The focus is to watch a bunch of people make fools of themselves (so that we can all feel superior).
Remember the first big brother – fantastic! Loved every minute; they were like my mates and I used to come home to find out what they’d been up to. When they kicked out Nasty Nick I cheered with the rest of the nation – it was people at their best (almost). I guess that’s why they changed the format.
And I stopped watching.
Hi Peter,
You certainly win the prize in the ‘Length of Comment’ category!
Okay, I’ll tackle your observations one at a time. I’ll concede that exhibitionism (and people’s fascination with it) is not new.
Talent shows and social documentaries are features that have long been with us, and I remember how shows like ‘The Big Time’ and ‘New Faces’ made household names of people like Sheena Easton, Lenny Henry and Michael Barrymore.
But, I doubt it has ever been like this. I absolutely draw the line at a phenomenon that makes ‘celebrities’ of characters such as Jade Goody. I’ve got nothing against the girl, but fail to see exactly what talent the British public would have missed out on had she not been ‘discovered’.
And no, this blog isn’t like that! Hopefully it is about writing and growing a readership (is that a word?!), encouraging debate and evoking thought while creating some amusement at the same time.
Thanks for taking the time to comment…much appreciated!
Hi
While I think your opinions are fair for the reality shows that encourage ‘the ugly demonstrations of our humanity’ displayed by contestants I think it unfair to generalise that ALL reality shows are bad and evil.
The proceeds from Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity Fame Academy and such all go to charities such as Red Nose Day and Children in Need and are a way of providing entertainment and encouraging social consciousness. The stars give up their time and energy and are not paid. Surely this is not in the same school as Jade Goody?
Also other reality shows such as Pop Idol, X-factor allow amateurs the possibility to make something out of their lives. Even if they don’t win and get recording contracts they still get some money from magazine shoots – every little helps in raising their standards of living.