Reality TV Analysis Test - MPA

What is reality TV?

TV that shows real people and unscripted situations for entertainment, but producers control and edit what we see.

What do reality TV producers do?

They choose entertaining people and may encourage them to create drama or interesting moments.

What do reality TV producers decide?

They decide what is filmed, included, edited, and how people and events are shown.

What are reality TV conventions?

Common features used to make reality TV entertaining, dramatic and interesting.

What is the reality TV convention that give individuals the chance to be honest?

Confessionals/interviews, participants talk directly to the camera about their feelings and what happened.

What is the reality TV convention that reduces the amount of people throughout the show?

Competition/elimination, participants compete for a goal, with some contestants eliminated.

What is the reality TV convention that make shows really intense?

Constructed situations and dramatic editing, producers create situations and edit footage to make the show more dramatic and entertaining

What is the reality TV convention that helps to capture the emotion of the scene?

Dramatic/emotional music, Music used to make moments feel exciting, emotional, tense, or dramatic.

What is the reality TV convention that helps us understand how or the reaction of someone?

Reaction shots, close-up shots that show participants’ facial expressions and reactions to important or dramatic moments.

What are the main reality TV subgenres and examples?

Competition = MasterChef Australia

Dating = The Bachelor

Makeover = The Block

Reality = Keeping Up with the Kardashians

Talent = Australian Idol

Social experiment = Survivor / Big Brother

What are the trends in reality TV?

• More audience participation through social media

• Reality TV personalities becoming influencers

• Streaming services producing more reality TV content

What are some other trends in reality TV?

• More diverse casting

• More dramatic editing

• Mixing different genres together

• International versions of successful shows