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BRAVO, BRAVO, F*CKING BRAVO. IS REALITY TV ART?

Stephanie Devereux

You may not be a fan of reality TV and that’s fine. I won’t hold it against you. However, I’m a member of Gen Z and reality TV is in my blood. For me it’s an art form. It has taught me so much about storytelling, the art of editing, the power of rumour, just how easily something can be taken out of context and the consequences of that. It has also allowed me to observe the ‘reality’ of individuals’ lives that I have no business knowing about. I love it and my addiction runs deep.


Although it can feel like this type of TV is very much a recent thing, the reality is it’s almost as old as the medium of television itself. One of the first reality shows was ‘Candid Camera’ which first aired in 1948. It pioneered the hidden camera format to film practical jokes using two-way mirrors, surprising the unsuspecting participants with outlandish images or fake phone calls.



The next great example of reality TV was ‘An American Family’, an early 1970s documentary series about the Louds - an upper middle class suburban Californian family. Millions tuned in every week, fascinated by the dismantling of stereotypes playing out in front of their eyes.  For many, this is the first example of classic reality TV. Over a period of seven months, viewers got a voyeuristic glimpse of what it might be like to have multiple luxury houses with swimming pools, but also the difficulty of raising five teenage children, and ultimately the breakdown of the parents’ marriage. Despite the Louds’ seeming good fortune, it turned out they had to deal with many of the same issues as everyone else. 


‘An American Family’ was also one of the first shows to confront social issues of values and identity. In a famous episode, Lance Loud, one of the five children, came out. Despite the controversy this caused in mainstream America, Lance became something of an icon within the gay community and used his fame as a stepping stone to a career in the music industry. Although he embraced his role in the gay liberation movement, he was less than enamoured with one of the harshest aspects of reality TV, accusing the director of intentionally editing the show to make him appear 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”.



Lance may have been the first to fall victim to character perception issues created in the cutting room but he certainly wasn’t the last. The deliberate removal of context is something that continues to plague reality TV participants, especially in a world of rampant social media. Yet this poses an interesting question: if you sign up for a reality TV show, are you entitled to a fair edit? If the resultant fame and exposure can lead to lucrative future career opportunities, is an unflattering edit just simply something you have to deal with? 


In the 1990s, we started to see the beginnings of formats that feel familiar to us today. Cameras entered houses, testimonial interviews were conducted, and casting decisions were made to deliberately drive conflict and intrigue. One of the first examples was MTV’s ‘The Real World’. 



By the 2000s, reality TV formats evolved to add an element of competition in shows such as ‘Survivor’ (2000), ‘Big Brother’ (2000), and ‘American Idol’ (2002). Viewers found themselves even more invested by the casting of contestants with emotional backstories and the ability to determine the outcome of the show by voting for their favourite ‘character’. 


This brings us nicely to the current crop of reality TV shows. Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Bravo, Hayu and Amazon Prime have fueled unconventional formats and a variety of new shows, including docuseries, competitions and dating shows that cater to increasingly niche interests and demographics. For me, this has blessed us with some of the most iconic pop culture moments. 


In 2023, there was the Vanderpump Rules ‘Scandoval’ - a cheating scandal that rocked the (my) world. The incident of infidelity that destroyed a nine-year relationship between two of the main characters was edited in such an intense way that it felt like it belonged in a film not a reality TV show. Since then, the main victim of ‘Scandoval’, Ariana Madix, has finished third place on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, released a New York Times bestselling cocktail book, made her Broadway theatre debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago, and has been announced as the new host for Love Island USA. Throw in brand deals with Uber, Lay’s, Bloomingdale’s, SoFi, Duracell, T-Mobile and Nutrafol, and maybe her public humiliation wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened.


Photos: Courtesy of Bravo / Illustration: Variety.


Another iconic reality TV moment happened in season 17 of the UK’s ‘Celebrity Big Brother’. When Angie Bowie found out that her ex-husband David Bowie had passed away, she confided in fellow contestant, Tiffany Pollard. Unfortunately, all that Angie could manage to communicate was: “David is dead'', which Tiffany misinterpreted as a comment about fellow housemate, David Gest, who had been feeling ill and who she had just seen lying under his duvet in the bedroom. I probably think about this scene and Tiffany’s reaction at least once a week. The clip has 4.4 million views on YouTube so it seems I may not be the only one.



The Real Housewives franchise has also contributed many a memorable pop culture moment. Not only did it give the world supermodel sisters, Gigi and Bella Hadid, it has been a constant source of social media soundbites that remain iconic to this day.



Cast members in these shows realised early on that if they did certain things on camera it would prevent that scene from being aired. In a recent season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Denise Richards took this idea to a whole new level but it didn’t quite end up as planned. Denise figured out that saying the word ‘Bravo’ when filming would mean the network were unable to use the footage because, while audiences know that cast members are aware they are being filmed, they aren’t supposed to know that the production can be manipulated in any way.



Some great films have been influenced by the concept of reality TV, the obvious one being 1998’s ‘The Truman Show’ starring Jim Carrey, which explores the concept of reality television in a fictionalised world. Watching it now in a world where children are starring on reality TV, YouTube family channels and social media without awareness of their overall visibility, it feels more prescient than ever. ‘Edtv’ (1999), ‘American Dreamz’ (2006), and ‘Series 7: The Contenders’ (2001) are further examples of films that have been influenced or centred around the themes, tropes, and culture of reality TV. My personal favourite is ‘The Hunger Games Series’ (2012-2015), in which young people are forced to fight to the death in a televised competition of a dystopian future. It’s a critique of reality TV, celebrity culture, political manipulation and how playing to the audience is critical for success.


The Truman Show -1997 poster


So, can reality TV be considered art? Well, I think we can all agree that film is art, right? 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.” Other scholars have argued that film is an art form because of narrative structures that allow filmmakers to convey said emotions. Artistic expressions within filmmaking that further define it as an artform are the use of colour, shadows, camera angles, sound and light. All of these are conscious decisions that contribute to the overall product's visual style and design. I would argue that the storytelling, filming, editing, and other production elements found in film are also present in reality TV. The creative decisions and craftsmanship involved give it a similar ability to reflect and comment on society, human behaviour, and the culture we live in.


Many will no doubt argue that reality TV prioritises entertainment and commercial interests over artistic expression, that it relies on sensationalism, manipulation, and scripted elements to attract viewership, detracting from its artistic merit. They’re entitled to those opinions but I’m sticking to my guns and here a few more reasons why:


  1. Reflection of Society: Reality TV can serve as a mirror to societal values, trends, and behaviours, showcasing how people interact, communicate, and navigate life. 

  2. Entertainment: Reality TV can offer escapism and be a source of enjoyment relaxation, providing a communal viewing experience for audiences. 

  3. Representation: Reality TV can provide a platform for the representation of underrepresented groups, potentially featuring a diverse cast of participants who can provide visibility and give a voice to those who might otherwise not have a platform in mainstream media. 

  4. Economic Impact: Reality TV contributes significantly to the entertainment industry, providing employment opportunities and generating revenues for production companies. 

  5. Social Commentary: Some reality TV shows tackle important social issues or controversial topics, sparking further conversations and awareness of issues. 

  6. 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. 


 

So, next time you hear yourself putting reality TV down, just take a second. You may not like the format or the participants but it’s hard to deny the impact it has had on popular culture, from influencing movies, celebrities, and fashion to giving a voice to those who may not previously have been heard. You may not be convinced that this makes it 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?  


P.S. At this point you might be wondering, which reality TV shows have I watched? So, in no particular order:


  1. Keeping Up With the Kardashians

  2. Toddlers and Tiaras

  3. Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, New York, Salt Lake City, Melbourne, Auckland, Sydney… the list goes on 

  4. The Below Deck franchise

  5. Dance Moms 

  6. Vanderpump Rules

  7. Clarksons Farm

  8. The Traitors

  9. Love Island

  10. Ru Paul’s Drag Race

  11. Buying Beverly Hills

  12. Geordie Shore

  13. Masterchef 

  14. America's Next Top Model

  15. Come Dine With Me

  16. Fear Factor

  17. The Block

  18. Project Runway 

  19. American Idol

  20. The Great British Bake Off

  21. Married at First Sight Australia (the only one worth watching)

  22. Jury Duty (technically reality TV)

  23. The Simple Life

  24. Kitchen Nightmares

  25. Chrisley Knows Best

  26. Britain’s Got Talent

  27. America’s Funniest Home Videos

  28. Super Nanny

  29. Grand Designs

  30. Say Yes to the Dress


And the list goes on… And it will continue to grow.


 

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