Week12

How has the documentary genre influenced reality TV and how it presents the ‘real’?

Some influences from the documentary genre are as follows:

Edgy, shaky camera work – Shaky camera work gives the appearance that whatever is being filmed is actually happening. The characters are moving spontaneously otherwise the camera could be on a track and follow them around. If the characters were being told where to move, like in other genres, the filming would have a smoother appearance as a track or tripod would be used. If the cameraman does not know where the characters are going to go, they would need to constantly hold the camera or place it on their shoulders so they can move straight away with them. This is also used in documentaries as movements are also unscripted.

Participant self reflection (video diary) – Video diaries are becoming a very common feature of reality TV. It is featured in game shows to lifestyle shows. They are used so the viewer can see what the participants are actually thinking; it also helps the audience develop an attachment to the show. This is how we end up finding our favourite characters, which in the end is the reason why the audience keeps on watching, to see how they go. Video diaries are also used in documentaries where the journalist tells us what they think and feel about what is happening, this makes it more understandable and relatable.

The focus on regularity – Characters in the reality genre are all ‘normal’ people, stuck in an extraordinary or just an ordinary situation. The difference between them and the audience is that all the ‘boring’ bits are edited out, just like in documentaries, otherwise no one would watch. But they do focus on regular everyday things like relationships and friendships, just in a different context.

Reference

Hill, A. (2005) The rise of reality TV. In A. Hill, Reality TV: Audiences and Popular Factual Television. (pp. 15 – 40). Oxon: Routledge.