Rijaliti program u globalnom društvu - od skrivene kamere do Velikog brata i Survajvera

Abstract

This paper deals with presence and topicality of reality shows in the world of global media and with popularity of micro-stars as newly composed cultural models whose provocative and aggressive behaviour spills over from reality into everyday life. A question is raised whether reality programmes represent just another in a series of harmless pastimes of the global audiences, or whether they are a danger to the post-modern society, a kind of manipulation, a media opiate? The market orientation of the global society has led to a pursuit of light entertainment products. Commercialization of the news programmes is entertaining according to the infotainment; emergence of a new genre of advertainment combines advertising and entertainment in various media content. Although television is not omnipotent in the global society, it still has a strong impact on the audiences obsessed with technology and screen images that have endangered other types of expressing people's thoughts and feelings. Rapid technological development has opened the door to a new way of gaining fame and popularity, leading to the so-called celebritization of ordinary people. Numerous public controversies regarding broadcasting of such content range from those who perceive reality shows as distorted real-life events by portraying them as plays rather than real events, to those exploring the educational level of the media content or portraying everything as a fun contest. Is it the matter of the viewers' voyeurism and exhibitionism of the programme participants? What is the level of interaction between the two categories? Are the viewers really enchanted by such media content to the point that they can easily and quickly identify themselves with the participants of a reality show? Do these programmes adversely affect people's behaviour or do they represent an escape from the harsh everyday life and social injustice? Although the critical public points to the suppression of the freedom of thought, to the inhumane treatment of the participants, toying with their emotions and manipulation with contestants' profiles, most viewers still refer to this television genre as harmless entertainment. That a part of the public in Serbia perceives them as a flood of ignorance, immorality and aggression is evidenced by the collected citizens' signatures in support of the proposal of the Law on restriction of reality programmes, because they promote violence, hate speech and pornography.