The 21st century has seen a huge increase in reality-style TV shows. Building from the competition-based Big Brother, American Idol and Popstars clones, more and more shows are beginning to move away from the competitive nature, and focus more on real-life situations, where drama does not need to be manufactured and forced through a group of people living in restricted space (because let's face it, drama is arguably the key audience winner for most of these shows). The main network to push out these new shows is without a doubt MTV, and for some time had a near-monopoly on the concept. Shows such as My Super Sweet 16 and Exiled are front-runners in setting the benchmark, however it was soon realised that a diverse range of shows was needed in order to fully capture the reality feel. The creation of the infamous Jackass franchise (and other related shows such as Viva la Bam and The Dudesons) is one example of this, as well as Ashton Kutcher's Punk'd, and the often laughable Pimp My Ride. What really seemed to provide everything an audience wanted, however, was Jersey Shore.
Jersey Shore copped a lot of flak for various reasons on its debut. Multiple Italian-American organisations felt that the show was bordering on racist, and the Governor of New Jersey expressed annoyance at the negativity thrown on New Jersey by the show, despite the fact that none of the cast members were from New Jersey. Needless to say, the show's popularity is undeniable, with multiple American spin-offs being produced, as well as Canadian and British versions. Whilst the first season only averaged 2.7 million viewers (keep in mind that 4.8 million watched the season finale), the second season averaged a stunning 5.252 million, and the third season premiere hit just under 8.5 million viewers - making it MTV's most viewed telecast of all time. That is until the second and fourth episodes were aired, garnering 8.57 and 8.87 million viewers respectively.
But what is it about Jersey Shore that makes it so appealing? Yes, it is rife with the drama that brings out the schadenfreude in all of us, but surely that can't be the only factor. It's openness towards sex, nightlife and general party aspects are undoubtedly as enticing as the constant disagreements, arguments and outright conflict.
And it's those last factors that really need to be looked at closely. In particular, sex. Today's society is far more open about sex and sexuality than it has been in decades. It's interesting to note that this openness is almost cyclic; by all accounts the ancient world was more open than today's, as well as the Renaissance world; however today the subject is far more acceptable than it was a hundred years ago. And TV programs are following this. Programs in the '70s - the age of 'free love' - were heavily censored, and it was not really until the late '00s that nudity and blatant sexual activity became acceptable to air - prime examples of this would be Rome, The Tudors, and Spartacus, just to name a few. While these are examples of fictional shows, the same has begun to happen in the reality world. My Super Sweet 16 has now become 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. Sex is even spilling into competitive shows, with The Bachelor and The Bachelorette being replaced by shows such as A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila. Whilst drama is again a key factor of these shows, I'm unwilling to suggest they'd be as successful without the blatant sexual overtones - and in some cases, sex acts.
A more recent show that has just finished airing is the product of the UK's Channel 4. Titled The Joy of Teen Sex, it is a semi-documentary, filmed in similar a format to 16 and Pregnant. The show aims to answer various questions that British teens may have regarding sex and their bodies, particularly focusing on questions that are likely to cause embarrassment. Through the use of real-life stories, a team of actors demonstrating sex acts, and investigative journalism (there is a teenage journalist with her own section), the show aims to provide as much information as possible. In some cases, quite graphic information.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a prude. But there is a huge difference between suggestive silhouettes and full frontal nudity. And I'm still fine with full frontal. When it gets to the point of watching a bloke receive a Prince Albert piercing, or an in-depth examination of a girl's STI-ridden genitals (or picture thereof), I do have a little bit of a problem coping.
I suppose the question I'm asking is, how much information is too much information? Are we so desensitized that we need fully confrontational material in order to get the message home? Or do we just enjoy being confronted, or shocked?
More than anything, will we ever have a chance of breaking free of the grip of schadenfreude, or are we doomed to forever find the greatest joy in the distress of others?
Jersey Shore copped a lot of flak for various reasons on its debut. Multiple Italian-American organisations felt that the show was bordering on racist, and the Governor of New Jersey expressed annoyance at the negativity thrown on New Jersey by the show, despite the fact that none of the cast members were from New Jersey. Needless to say, the show's popularity is undeniable, with multiple American spin-offs being produced, as well as Canadian and British versions. Whilst the first season only averaged 2.7 million viewers (keep in mind that 4.8 million watched the season finale), the second season averaged a stunning 5.252 million, and the third season premiere hit just under 8.5 million viewers - making it MTV's most viewed telecast of all time. That is until the second and fourth episodes were aired, garnering 8.57 and 8.87 million viewers respectively.
But what is it about Jersey Shore that makes it so appealing? Yes, it is rife with the drama that brings out the schadenfreude in all of us, but surely that can't be the only factor. It's openness towards sex, nightlife and general party aspects are undoubtedly as enticing as the constant disagreements, arguments and outright conflict.
And it's those last factors that really need to be looked at closely. In particular, sex. Today's society is far more open about sex and sexuality than it has been in decades. It's interesting to note that this openness is almost cyclic; by all accounts the ancient world was more open than today's, as well as the Renaissance world; however today the subject is far more acceptable than it was a hundred years ago. And TV programs are following this. Programs in the '70s - the age of 'free love' - were heavily censored, and it was not really until the late '00s that nudity and blatant sexual activity became acceptable to air - prime examples of this would be Rome, The Tudors, and Spartacus, just to name a few. While these are examples of fictional shows, the same has begun to happen in the reality world. My Super Sweet 16 has now become 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. Sex is even spilling into competitive shows, with The Bachelor and The Bachelorette being replaced by shows such as A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila. Whilst drama is again a key factor of these shows, I'm unwilling to suggest they'd be as successful without the blatant sexual overtones - and in some cases, sex acts.
A more recent show that has just finished airing is the product of the UK's Channel 4. Titled The Joy of Teen Sex, it is a semi-documentary, filmed in similar a format to 16 and Pregnant. The show aims to answer various questions that British teens may have regarding sex and their bodies, particularly focusing on questions that are likely to cause embarrassment. Through the use of real-life stories, a team of actors demonstrating sex acts, and investigative journalism (there is a teenage journalist with her own section), the show aims to provide as much information as possible. In some cases, quite graphic information.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a prude. But there is a huge difference between suggestive silhouettes and full frontal nudity. And I'm still fine with full frontal. When it gets to the point of watching a bloke receive a Prince Albert piercing, or an in-depth examination of a girl's STI-ridden genitals (or picture thereof), I do have a little bit of a problem coping.
I suppose the question I'm asking is, how much information is too much information? Are we so desensitized that we need fully confrontational material in order to get the message home? Or do we just enjoy being confronted, or shocked?
More than anything, will we ever have a chance of breaking free of the grip of schadenfreude, or are we doomed to forever find the greatest joy in the distress of others?
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