Crititque Paper

Running head: REALITY VERSUS SCRIPTED TELEVISION 1

Reality Television Benefits Society More than Scripted Television Does

Student’s Name

Institution

REALITY VERSUS SCRIPTED TELEVISION 2

Reality Television Benefits Society More than Scripted Television Does

The article compares how reality and scripted television content benefit the society.

Reality television comprises live shows and debates over real issues that a viewer can relate to

expressly. On the other hand, scripted television comprises television shows, movies,

documentaries, or any other content that is creatively generated outside reality to appeal to

preferences of viewers. Media tools such as televisions and radios play a major role in our daily

lives. Firstly, they provide information to viewers through news, debates, documentaries, shows,

and films. However, the quality of the information differs with the types of programs that

choosen to disseminate. The various types of programs offer educational, emotional,

entertainment, or, the aesthetic value in varying degrees.

Hirschhorn, an accomplished producer of digital content, argues that reality television

offers informative content that has greater value for the society than scripted content. His long-

standing reputation in the generation of media content allows him to criticize related matters with

sufficient insight. In the aforementioned article, he explains his position regarding the reality

versus television debate with clarity. He offers well-thought assertions that are supported with

descriptions that enable a reader to understand his point of view.

The outlaid arguments are descriptive and easy to understand. Thus, he effectively

communicates the merits of reality over scripted television. However, he does not discern his

audience. Coyne, Robinson, & Nelson (2010) explains that certain categories of viewers may not

be able to relate to ceryain reality shows. For example, children may fail to deconstruct topics

that are discussed to draw lessons or conclusions, but they may draw them when the watch a

scripted character acts in a way that they can relate to. However, in most cases scripted versions

present such issues as undertones in plots. Thus, it makes it hard for people who are not

REALITY VERSUS SCRIPTED TELEVISION 3

proficient or informed in certain fields to understand. Movies and films present such pertinent

issues as themes that are developed through characters and settings (Lukács, 2010). In contrast,

reality shows present the information in a structured, open fashion that enables the viewers to

grasp easily.

The author’s assertion that reality television airs content that offers greater educational

value is right. Reality shows discuss real issues that take place on a daily basis. They pick out on

matters of concern and invite the appropriate people to discuss them. In this vein, they may

consider scholarly experts, professionals, victims, or stakeholders to provide insight into a matter

of concern. Noteworthy, reality television disuses pertinent social issues with clarity, insight and

honesty. Therefore, viewers can make sense of the issues in a memorable factual fashion.

Stakeholders can create more Awareness creation concerning Matters of concern such as

governance and social justice through discussing them in reality television.

The author’s claims about documentaries are contestable. He notes that they are designed

to promote a specific view thus deviating from objectivity. The assertion is not agreeable to

entirely. Over time, documentaries have served the educational or informative purpose very

significantly. In fact, in certain factual issues that may be discussed in reality shows or covered

as documentaries, the latter may offer more detailed facts because they are researched and

substantiated before they are published.

According to the author, reality television allows readers to make factual sense of issues

that affect their emotions. Bonsu, Darmody, and Parmentier (2010), reality shows air real and

sensitive issues appropriately. They enable people to understand the facts that underlie the issues.

They assist viewers to make sense of the complexity of certain issues by presenting others who

have an alternate perspective on the matters. When viewers reflect on the issues from the new

REALITY VERSUS SCRIPTED TELEVISION 4

point of view, they are able to deconstruct the complexity surrounding them. For example, when

a reality show presents a successful person who successfully overcame drug abuse, the viewers

can relate to the lessons that he offers and uses them for the same course. In this vein, reality

televisions become more beneficial to viewers than scripted televisions.

The element of cost that the author raises is not relevant to the debate. The society does

not bear the costs of prediction of scripted content. Therefore, a critic can counter the assertion

that reality show benefits the society more than scripted television by arguing that scripted

television benefit the society because it raises the opportunity for actors, producers, and, editors

to generate income.

The author does not consider various categories of viewers in his point of view. He

outlines his positions in a fashion that suggests that his he wrote for the grown generation. In this

respect, he fails to recognize that most reality shows offer content that targets people who can

utilize critical thinking skills such as observation, analysis, and interpretation to isolate lessons

and general arguments. However, other categories of viewers such as children lack the

intelligence to analyze. Content and isolate lessons, but they can relate to scripted television

shows and movies that illustrate issues through characters. However, the lessons or conclusions

are difficult to draw from scripted content because they are laced with plots and characters.

References

REALITY VERSUS SCRIPTED TELEVISION 5

Bonsu, S. K., Darmody, A., & Parmentier, M. A. (2010). Arrested emotions in reality

television. Consumption, Markets and Culture, 13(1), 91-107.

Coyne, S. M., Robinson, S. L., & Nelson, D. A. (2010). Does reality backbite? Physical, verbal,

and relational aggression in reality television programs. Journal of Broadcasting &

Electronic Media, 54(2), 282-298.

Lukács, G. (2010). Scripted affects, branded selves: television, subjectivity, and capitalism in

1990s Japan. Duke University Press.

Nabi, R. L., Biely, E. N., Morgan, S. J., & Stitt, C. R. (2013). Reality-based television

programming and the psychology of its appeal. Media Psychology, 5(4), 303-330.

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