Racial Stereotypes Revealed Through Reality TV
When we think of reality television we think of over dramatized, fluff pieces that more often than not lack a bit of “reality.” The phenomenon of reality television can be traced back to the documentary series named “An American Family” that followed the lives of the Loud family of Southern California. The show was an important milestone in this genre of television in that it showed the appeal of drama. From then on, producers of reality television programs pushed the envelope to further surprise and entertain the audience, even if it meant incorporating elements of fiction to do so. The 1965 ABC production entitled “The Dating Game” was an embodiment of the viewer’s fascination with drama. The show showcased one young man or woman, who grilled a 3 potential dates before picking the lucky one to go out with. A more contemporary example of this kind, can be “The Bachelor” and “Flavor of Love.”
The Bachelor is a reality TV dating game show that airs on ABC. The series revolves around a single bachelor and a group of females compete to become his potential wife over a period of a few weeks. Each episode involves a different challenge, excursion, or trip across seas and the women go on large group dates and one-on-one dates to compete for the bachelor's affection. The show has recently gotten a lot of public scrutiny due to it being a "white-washed" show. The producers have been accused for deliberately choosing candidates for the show based on their race because they are afraid that an African-American bachelor would lead fans to stop watching The Bachelor. The Bachelor is a popular reality TV show and therefore it has the power to impact society. If Is the Bachelor portraying reality in an only white world?
Flavor of Love is a reality television show with a very similar premise to that of the popular reality dating show The Bachelor. Both shows have a single bachelor, and a group of young women competing for his love and attention in hopes of finding true love. There are competitions, drama, romance, and heartbreak in both television programs. Although these shows sound almost the same, after viewing an episode of each, the differences appear to be stark. VH1’s Flavor of Love is considered to be the black equivalent to The Bachelor. While minorities are underrepresented on reality shows like the Bachelor, Flavor of Love misrepresents the black culture completely. However, there is one thing the shows have in common; while on the surface they seem to be promoting true love, the only thing they seem to truly be selling is, drama, tears, and crazy catty women.
The Bachelor is a reality TV dating game show that airs on ABC. The series revolves around a single bachelor and a group of females compete to become his potential wife over a period of a few weeks. Each episode involves a different challenge, excursion, or trip across seas and the women go on large group dates and one-on-one dates to compete for the bachelor's affection. The show has recently gotten a lot of public scrutiny due to it being a "white-washed" show. The producers have been accused for deliberately choosing candidates for the show based on their race because they are afraid that an African-American bachelor would lead fans to stop watching The Bachelor. The Bachelor is a popular reality TV show and therefore it has the power to impact society. If Is the Bachelor portraying reality in an only white world?
Flavor of Love is a reality television show with a very similar premise to that of the popular reality dating show The Bachelor. Both shows have a single bachelor, and a group of young women competing for his love and attention in hopes of finding true love. There are competitions, drama, romance, and heartbreak in both television programs. Although these shows sound almost the same, after viewing an episode of each, the differences appear to be stark. VH1’s Flavor of Love is considered to be the black equivalent to The Bachelor. While minorities are underrepresented on reality shows like the Bachelor, Flavor of Love misrepresents the black culture completely. However, there is one thing the shows have in common; while on the surface they seem to be promoting true love, the only thing they seem to truly be selling is, drama, tears, and crazy catty women.
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