The Reality of "The Real World"

            

This is the true story about 7 strangers, picked to live in an casino, to have their lives taped, to find out what happens when people stop being polite, and start getting real.  The Real World.  These are the intro lines into the hit TV show, The Real World.  It really says it all doesn’t it?  It lets you know exactly what’s going to be going on in the show, obviously a lot of drama, fights, and everything else you can think of that isn’t exactly acceptable in everyday society.  The people in the show aren’t afraid to speak what’s on their minds, and to hurt feelings when doing so.  Is this how people really act in Real Life?

The Real World has been around for several seasons, and each season features a new cast of people to entertain the audience.  The latest season, Las Vegas, includes a cast from all different walks of life, so they are certain to be volatile when placed in the same house to live together for three months.  So what kind of message is this sending to the viewers that watch this show weekly?  That it is okay to act like a jerk as long as you’re entertaining people?  That’s what it seems to be saying in a lot of cases.

The main audience for shows such as the Real World is typically young adults.  Females are primary viewers, but there are also a great number of males that watch the show regularly as well.  Middle school aged kids often watch shows such as these, and are inherently absorbing and learning from all of the behaviours that are exhibited on the show.  These kids will be learning all sorts of values that aren’t taught in a functional, normal home.  Instead of encouraging people to be polite to one another, and to hold their tongue so they don’t hurt other people, The Real World encourages people to voice their opinions at any cost, and to say things to purposely hurt others in many cases.  It also promotes “love,” although that usually just translates to sex on this show.  It seems that the cast of The Real World generally has no problem “hooking up” with other cast members, even if they are already in a relationship.  Although they may struggle with their feelings, they almost always end any relationship they had prior to being on the show, because they have developed feelings for another person.  And yes, cheating on their partner is often how they go about breaking up with them.  Obviously, kids are going to pick up on these things, and more and more young adults are going to have a skewed view of monogamy because of shows such as this.  One of the men on the show said “everybody cheats,” and if this is what middle school students are hearing from shows such as this, it will only be so long until they believe it because remember, this is the “Real World.”