Reality Shows

Linda Manzano

Mrs. Croker

College Composition

January 29, 2012

Reality Shows

            I personally am not addicted to watching reality shows, but since I have young children; I watch reality shows. I have learned that reality shows are not bad at all but I will always prefer to watch my novela’s ( Mexican soap operas). Reality shows that I have watch and have found to like are Made and True Life. I think that some reality shows are positive because show’s like True Life can teach children and adults about problems different people face. True Life is a show that in each episode features a different topic about people suffering with a problem. True Life can teach people a lot, for instance one episode of True Life was about people with schizophrenia. Watching these show helped me learn about schizophrenia and get an insight in the life of someone who suffers from schizophrenia. True life opened my mind, I used to think people with schizophrenia were crazy and dangerous to be around with but watching the show made me realize I was totally wrong.

 Another show which in my opinion is both positive and interesting is Made. The show is about teenagers who want to be changed; for example, a shy quiet girl wants to be made into a prom queen. In the process of  being made into a prom queen the girl will overcome her shyness and gain more friends and she might or might not become prom queen but in the end will have changed in a positive way. I think that Made is one of the few shows I like watching because it gives the message, that  people can change and achieve what they want. In some Made episodes the person undergoing a change does not always reach their goal, showing that in life we don’t always reach our goals but we must see the positive changes we have made and keep trying to reach our goal. I think that show’s like True Life and Made benefit society because they send positive messages but it is not always the case, other shows send horrible messages to society.

There are shows like Sweet Sixteen and Jersey Shore that send out the wrong message. Sweet Sixteen is usually, but not always about bratty girls who disrespects their parents but end up getting a big sixteen party. Sweet Sixteen sends out the wrong message in my opinion, it tells girls that in order to be cool one must impress their friends with a big party. While watching Sweet Sixteen with my daughter I have not seen the birthday girl spend time with their family members. The girls are usually more concern about what their friends think, than they are spending their birthday with their family. Sweet Sixteen makes girls think that the superficial things are what matter the most than spending quality time with loved ones. I don’t even know where to get started, Jersey Shore sends out a horrible message to our youth. This show Jersey Shore makes it okay to run around having sex with people. Overall I think that Reality shows can benefit society and harm society, depending on the message the reality show is sending to society.