I don’t know about you but it has been three days since the LAST EVER Big Brother and I feel lost without it… I am sure that around half the British population breathed a sigh of relief and even threw a party once this controversial reality tv show ended, but the other half probably shed a quiet tear, realizing that this is the end of an era. The past decade, in media terms, has seen a huge rise in the popularity of reality television which contributed to the birth of the notorious celebrity/ reality TV star. From Come Dine with Me, to Wife Swap, Britain’s Got Talent to The X Factor – we have been glued to our screens, viewing with fascination as randoms like you and I, without any obvious talent, intelligence or striking good looks, have risen to fame within the space of weeks. So why have we been obsessed with this phenomenon?
Unlike the glamorous, gorgeous and talented movie stars of the 1950’s we have been worshipping the likes of Jade Goody, Jedward and Kerry Katona. Surely not the best role models to look up to and idolize? What appeals to us about reality tv and the notion of the ‘celebrity’ is just that. Reality tv shows have installed a belief system in us that even the thickest, ‘minging-est’ of us can achieve fame and fortune. We mere mortals and minions have hope and a realistic chance of obtaining the celebrity status. All you need is a lot of confidence (insanity also helps) and a bit of luck. With the end of Big Brother and the scandal associated with this years X Factor, it seems to me that we are getting tired of reality TV. Maybe the coming decade will be an end to this quick fix fame mentality and deserved individuals will take the lime light. Until that happens, though, we still have time to dream – maybe there is time to sign up to Britain’s Got Talent?...
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