etc.

Let me just start by saying that the only reality TV show I watch is The Amazing Race, and I consider that more of a gameshow than reality TV, and no, it’s not just about semantics. Read this book and you’ll know why.

Communications and media students would love this book. Reality TV has got to be the favoured research topic amongst them, possibly because it’s a new TV phenomenon and new TV phenomena don’t happen everyday. But also because reality TV is sexy and everyone watches it. Brenton and Cohen trace the history of documentary, docusoaps, and gameshows, three formats that collectively gave rise to what we consider reality TV today. They also devote at least 50% of the book to various strands of discussion about the format itself and the psychosocial and anthropological implications of placing x number of strangers in a completely orchestrated setting where fear and reward are alternatively withheld or offered, all in front of the camera lens (hence “shooting people”). For me, these were the most interesting bits of the book and Brenton and Cohen don’t stop short of accusing reality TV producers of undermining and often withholding basic human rights, and all for the purpose of entertainment and spectacle. Shame on them for doing it and shame on us for watching.