With the recent Mzansi boom in South African reality TV shows I found myself deeply pondering about the validity of all this reality.
I mean seriously? Let me ask you a simple logical question. If you were a well known self-respecting individual who happened to have his face on newspapers and television screens, how authentic would you be if camera's followed you around? Would you show us sides of yourself that you wouldn't normally show? If you cheated on your wife with the helper would you allow the camera's to at least see the previews of the passion?
When you argue with your father would you actually show the parts where you tell him, how unreasonable he is?
Remember the camera is right there in your face, the constant reminder that your proud mother who tells all her friends at work about you is watching. How can we forget your pastor who always uses you as an example during his sermons, who sees you as a role model to other young and upcoming teens. What about potential business clients and partners, how much of your self-exposure will hamper their dealings with you?
None of us can doubt that the mere knowledge that there is a camera pointed in our direction changes our 'action'. It can be a mere digital camera at a braai, it won't be long until you try to turn around and show us your good side or try to pop a hand sign from an old Tupac rap video. Whatever the case or scenario, camera's do alter the way we handle ourselves and the manner in which we handle ourselves in front of them cannot be said to be reality.
My understanding of the business of reality TV is somewhat jaded. I am smart enough to understand, though, that nobody would allow the discomfort of having middle-aged men with big stomachs, hanging camera's over their shoulder to follow them around, without a little compensation. We all know that these people get millions or hundred thousands of rands for letting camera's follow them around. Which for me brings a-whole-nother aspect of 'unreality' to the reality.
If you are getting paid, for reality, you are actually getting paid for the entertainment people will derive from watching your life on screen...if the economic benefit you derive is that important you are more likely to get as controversial and suspense-filled as possible, which decreases the likelihood of us seeing the 'real' you on television.
So it's not really reality...it's just a form of what the famous reality television producer Jerry Bruckheimer calls, "Unscripted Drama".
The more I think about it, the more I realize that television can get a bit ridiculous. I mean what's so interesting about Kenny Kunene's life? And those twins? Who are they? Now it's Nelson Mandelas grandchildren, yes we like their grandad he's like the father of the nation but where do they come from? What quality contribution have they made in our country that allow them to gain 30 minutes of every monday of our lives?
Who's next Khanyi Mbau? Nonhle Thema?
I'm all for quality television, I watch the news, sports, comedy cause laughter realy is the best medicine...and the odd movie.
But to be honest I think there is a global conspiracy to feed us a whole of manyol, to fill our heads with fantasies, and get us disturbed from the real issues in life. Issues like, why the heck they aren't giving the Dalai Lama a visa? Or why they're not giving Palestine UN statehood?
What genre of music does the. Dalai Lama sing, And where in KZN is Palestine?
I smile, grin and laugh...but I really wanna cry, because even though our younger brothers and sisters might take some time to solve the square root of 144 is, or tell us who Helen Suzman is, they can easily point out with a burst of excitement at a picture of Kim Kardashian. *sigh* DOUBLE SIGH*
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