Issues, Debates and Theories

Reality TV

• Cultivation theory
• Media effects on audiences
• More people aspiring to be like them
• Becomes more mainstream

Dumbing down

• Stuart Hall
• People who are worried of dumbing down prefer intellectual shows

PSB and commercial TV

• Different values in BBC and ITV shows
• PSBs benefit the public
• Informational and educational
• Commercial channels are privately owned so are more about making profit and gathering mass audiences
• Entertaining
• Appeal to the mainstream - not too intellectual or would exclude viewers

Democracy/interaction

• Audiences like to be able to interact
• See the effect that they have on the television show (someone leaving?)

Structuralism

• Is even reality TV constructed?
• Proppian character roles created - hero, villain
• Audience can emphasise with 'characters'