Reality bites
For someone who used to be a reality television snob, I sure do seem to watch a lot of it nowadays. My poisons of choice are Project Runway, America's Next Top Model, and--God help me--American Idol. This is actually the first season I've ever watched AI, and like so many other reality tv shows, it's eerily compelling.
But I'm not here to talk about the cat fights or how the reality tv industry would come crashing down if there was ever a film editors strike. Mostly, I'm fascinated by the Reality TV Contestant Mentality.
Like, some people have staked their entire lives and identities on winning these shows. And don't get me wrong, I'm all about following dreams. Writing, in some ways, is exactly that, and I take personal offense at those who say a goal is out of reach and that you need to be practical. I strongly believe in fighting the odds to follow a dream--but dude, you gotta have a back-up plan. Even with books published, I keep an eye on that dusty old teaching certificate of mine because you never know what can happen.
But these contestants are utterly floored when they don't make it--particularly in the early episodes when shows are culling the herd. Maybe it's the shock of the moment, but I'm always amazed when someone says: "I don't know what I'm going to do with my life now." Whoa. Really? Did you have a job or maybe some other way to pursue music? Is there another reality show you can go on? The Top Model ones really have good sound bites, like the sobbing girl last cycle who cried, "What am I going to do? I don't want to get a job or go to school!" You tell 'em, girl. It's hard, no lie.
I'm also fascinated by the battle cry of contestants across all reality shows, no matter what the theme: "I want it more than anyone else on this show." They all say that! How do you prove that? What exactly has to happen for you to want it the most? I might say that I want me to finish Shadow Kiss more than anyone else in the world...but yanno? I think there might be some fans who want it even more. Not sure how you quantitatively measure that.
Maybe I'm being a little harsh here. I think for a lot of people, who come from certain walks of life, being a singer or a model is akin to walking on the moon. They have neither the knowledge nor resources to even begin to pursue something like that. To them, I suppose reality tv might be the only way in the world to even come close. Maybe. Or are these people simply products of a get-something-for-nothing mentality in America? Is our society fostering an idea that hard work is less effective than a few weeks of judging and challenges?
I can't say for sure. All I can say is that I got 5 hours of sleep, and right now, I want coffee more than any of ya'll.
But I'm not here to talk about the cat fights or how the reality tv industry would come crashing down if there was ever a film editors strike. Mostly, I'm fascinated by the Reality TV Contestant Mentality.
Like, some people have staked their entire lives and identities on winning these shows. And don't get me wrong, I'm all about following dreams. Writing, in some ways, is exactly that, and I take personal offense at those who say a goal is out of reach and that you need to be practical. I strongly believe in fighting the odds to follow a dream--but dude, you gotta have a back-up plan. Even with books published, I keep an eye on that dusty old teaching certificate of mine because you never know what can happen.
But these contestants are utterly floored when they don't make it--particularly in the early episodes when shows are culling the herd. Maybe it's the shock of the moment, but I'm always amazed when someone says: "I don't know what I'm going to do with my life now." Whoa. Really? Did you have a job or maybe some other way to pursue music? Is there another reality show you can go on? The Top Model ones really have good sound bites, like the sobbing girl last cycle who cried, "What am I going to do? I don't want to get a job or go to school!" You tell 'em, girl. It's hard, no lie.
I'm also fascinated by the battle cry of contestants across all reality shows, no matter what the theme: "I want it more than anyone else on this show." They all say that! How do you prove that? What exactly has to happen for you to want it the most? I might say that I want me to finish Shadow Kiss more than anyone else in the world...but yanno? I think there might be some fans who want it even more. Not sure how you quantitatively measure that.
Maybe I'm being a little harsh here. I think for a lot of people, who come from certain walks of life, being a singer or a model is akin to walking on the moon. They have neither the knowledge nor resources to even begin to pursue something like that. To them, I suppose reality tv might be the only way in the world to even come close. Maybe. Or are these people simply products of a get-something-for-nothing mentality in America? Is our society fostering an idea that hard work is less effective than a few weeks of judging and challenges?
I can't say for sure. All I can say is that I got 5 hours of sleep, and right now, I want coffee more than any of ya'll.