Quote:
Reality Television Not Just Fun Viewing for Indiana University Students
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Oct. 13 (AScribe Newswire) -- Indiana University freshman Christie Quattrini has more insights than many people into the making of a reality television show. Quattrini's brother was a guest at one of the biggest weddings of the summer, the reality television program "Tying the Knot: The Wedding of Melissa Joan Hart."
"I watched it because I know her, but I don't know why people would be so interested in someone else's personal life to that extent," said Quattrini, an 18-year-old from Tenafly, N.J.
Even with her insights, Quattrini saw the description for a freshman-level course at Indiana University Bloomington as a good way to better understand the latest pop culture phenomenon, reality television. She is one of 22 students enrolled in the freshman seminar course, "The (Sur)Real World of Reality TV," being offered for the first time at IUB.
"In many ways, reality television may be the best example of many characteristics of television in the future," said course developer Herb Terry, IUB associate professor of telecommunications. "We've been saying for years that television was becoming more interactive -- that instead of people sitting passively and being entertained or sometimes informed, they would interact in some way. That happens with reality television."
"I have a group of students, and what I want them to do is understand their current and future world," Terry added. "Showing them the most engaging and interactive programming that exists right now gives them some insight into what television might become down the line."
Interesting, but hardly surprising. So called "reality" television makes up such a large amount of today's TV programming, and therefore today's culture.
Something I DID find surprising from the same article was this blurb about a new show Fox is planning:
Quote:
Terry will be closely watching for a reality show that Fox may present next year to select a "people's candidate" to possibly run against President George W. Bush and the Democratic nominee in the 2004 presidential election. "This people's candidate would of course have all of the publicity value behind him with Fox television, and might win. I hope it wouldn't get to that point," he said.
16th October 2003, 06:22 AM
