I Love Reality Television

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Abstract

l, Björk sings:</p><blockquote id="52ae"><p>If you ever get close to a human And human behavior Be ready, be ready to get confused</p></blockquote><blockquote id="3ac8"><p>There’s definitely, definitely, definitely no logic To human behavior But yet so, yet so irresistible</p></blockquote><p id="c1b9">I identify with these lyrics as I’ve always found it irresistible to watch people in their natural habitats. As Björk points out, logic is not always a human strong suit. In fact, our actions are often random and foolish at first glance but like a well-crafted novel, a good reality show artfully reveals the inner motivations of every character, enabling us to understand them -or at least empathize with them no matter how illogical they seem. This is valuable for a number of reasons. For one, the colorful cast members of reality TV offer perspectives that usually stay invisible.</p><p id="bf5e">The Learning Channel (TLC) is a perfect example of this as viewers are introduced to a variety of extraordinary personal circumstances that are yes, highly sensationalized and c

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heapened but also mesmerizing. Viewers may be confused by a cast member’s lifestyle choice (for example, <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/my-strange-addiction-an-adult-baby">living as an adult baby</a>), but when they are thrust into this person’s emotional world, something magical happens. Though the confusion persists, a connection is established. Quirks become less bizarre and more human. I believe reality TV has provided an outlet for those we may otherwise ignorantly consider wrong or unwell. Understanding one another is what makes us better allies, better writers, and better people. Watching content that pushes the boundaries of “normal” can help us get there.</p><figure id="f245"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*2wNmaDbT3Z7CsDRr.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h2 id="fb2a">This story is published in a Few Words, Medium’s publication that only accepts stories under 500 words.</h2><h2 id="0259">If you have a few meaningful words to say and want to be a writer in our publication, visit here.</h2></article></body>

It feels good to admit it

I will no longer be ashamed of my love for reality television. Let’s stop pretending. Reality television, typically discredited as mindless or shallow, is a sophisticated art form that deserves our acclaim. The best reality shows are social experiments that combine the complexity of human behavior with petty melodrama. The trashy premises hypnotize us because inside, everyone is a messy bitch who lives for drama, but that’s not always what makes us watch another episode. Beneath the frivolity, if we look close enough, there are complicated characters that make us ask questions about the world. In one of her most popular songs Human Behavior, my idol, Björk sings:

If you ever get close to a human And human behavior Be ready, be ready to get confused

There’s definitely, definitely, definitely no logic To human behavior But yet so, yet so irresistible

I identify with these lyrics as I’ve always found it irresistible to watch people in their natural habitats. As Björk points out, logic is not always a human strong suit. In fact, our actions are often random and foolish at first glance but like a well-crafted novel, a good reality show artfully reveals the inner motivations of every character, enabling us to understand them -or at least empathize with them no matter how illogical they seem. This is valuable for a number of reasons. For one, the colorful cast members of reality TV offer perspectives that usually stay invisible.

The Learning Channel (TLC) is a perfect example of this as viewers are introduced to a variety of extraordinary personal circumstances that are yes, highly sensationalized and cheapened but also mesmerizing. Viewers may be confused by a cast member’s lifestyle choice (for example, living as an adult baby), but when they are thrust into this person’s emotional world, something magical happens. Though the confusion persists, a connection is established. Quirks become less bizarre and more human. I believe reality TV has provided an outlet for those we may otherwise ignorantly consider wrong or unwell. Understanding one another is what makes us better allies, better writers, and better people. Watching content that pushes the boundaries of “normal” can help us get there.