When we talked about reality shows in the lecture, we discussed how we, the viewers, feel related to the people on reality shows. Regarding this, we used a couple of examples of shows like Survivor and American Race to address bonding in adversity or solidarity while the participants are undergoing the challenges, and we understand what they are going through by looking at them even though we are not experiencing the exact same thing. Personally, among many reasons why people enjoy watching reality shows, I consider this type of vicarious experience is the most intriguing factor. To elaborate, just like we discussed, the way we feel connected to those people in the shows as if we are in that situation is what drives us to watch reality shows.
Since we haven't taken an example from celebrity reality shows, let me illustrate one. I used to enjoy watching the show called The Rachel Zoe Project. It's basically about personal life of a well-known celebrity stylist living in Los Angeles. For young females, the likely audience of the show, their desire to live fabulous and extravagant life filled with fashion is fulfilled by watching Rachel Zoe's lifestyle in the show.
Some people might say that reality show is not the only text that offers that kind of pleasure and that they can always get substitute satisfaction from watching movie or drama. However, what makes reality shows more fulfilling than those is the fact that it is not, at least 100%, staged. Of course I understand cynicism saying that the audience knows the show is not real but does not care. But, the show obviously contain some fundamental elements that are real and not constructed, and whatever the percentage of the show's reality, that portion is just enough to give the viewers what they want and maybe even make them blind to Zizek's point of cynicism.
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