Chapter 3
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This chapter discusses the differences and blurring lines between documentaries and reality television. It explores how networks present similar programs differently based on their brand images and target audiences. An early example is the 1973 series An American Family, which some consider the first reality show while others view as a documentary. More recently, shows airing on both Fox and PBS like American High were marketed very differently based on each network's values and censorship constraints. The chapter concludes that it is difficult to strictly define these genres, as networks can shape audience perceptions through how they present programs.
Chapter 3
- 1. CHAPTER 3: “I THINK WE NEED A NEW NAME FOR IT” The Meeting of Documentary and RealityTV Jocelyn Pimental & Justin Ernst
- 2. What this chapter teaches you… Ways to recognize the differences between a documentary and a reality television show To explore how network’s interwork brand image and marketing into these programs To look past the textual elements of programs and focus more upon the extratextual factors in order to better understand what you’re watching
- 3. Documentaries at a glance… Educational Informative Authentic Ethical Social Engaging Independently Produced Serve Public Interest Focuses on the mundane
- 4. Reality TV at a glance… Commercial Sensational Popular Obsessive Exploitative Manipulative Focuses on entertainment
- 5. An American Family Focused on the Loud family and aired on PBS <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sF3bs4 xvbYg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
- 6. Difficulty of classification “I do not think American Family should be called a documentary. I think we need a new name for it, a name would contrast it not only with fiction, but with what we have exposed to up until onTV.” –Anthropologist Margaret Mead Even today critics don’t know whether to consider it an observational documentary or an early form of reality tv.
- 7. Reality tv transformed to documentary FOX vs PBS -American High -Different brand image -Financing Structure -TargetAudience Both networks aired American High, with little success, but presented it differently
- 8. American High <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IeJc35F 7gdM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
- 9. FOX VS PBS FOX- “Other shows are not real the way our show is…. Our show is a drama series with real characters and real stories that continue over the course of the year.” –Director R.J. Cutler Adjective choice in promos: real, bold, entertaining PBS- “An observational documentary in the tradition of PBS.”- CEO of PBS Pat Mitchell Adjective choice in promos: authentic, remarkable, meaningful
- 10. HBO: The documentary powerhouse HBO is not limited to censorship content like FOX or PBS is victim to Most of documentary programming featured adult oriented content HBO target audience is considered “responsible, mature and tasteful” America Undercover
- 11. America Undercover Comprised of a series of investigative documentaries focusing on labor struggles, racial profiling, terrorism and sex Marketed in such way to intentionally blur boundaries between reality tv and documentary “If you could see it on A&E, if an advertiser would sponsor it, then I don’t want it put on HBO, because people are paying to see something a little spicier.” –HBO Head of Adult Documentary Shelia Nevins
- 12. American Undercover <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/X4Hzo Bku_bU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
- 13. In Conclusion The generic instability of shows like American High and America Undercover demonstrate just how difficult it is to define documentary and reality tv outside of reception and content Networks are able to mold viewers perception of a show based on their perceived values The distinctions made between these formats are usually only based on our need to categorize them into either entertainment or educational
- 14. Quiz Documentaries focus on what? _______ Reality television focuses on what?_______ American Family aired on which station? _______ Which 3 adjectives were used to describe American High by Fox? _____ _____ _____ Which 3 adjectives were to describe American High by PBS? _____ _____ _____ Who said, “If you could see it on A&E, if an advertiser would sponsor it, then I don’t want it put on HBO, because people are paying to see something a little spicier.”? _______