Mindless entertainment is big- look at some of the new "reality" shows on VH1 and MTV right now. Things like You're Cut Off, Basketball Wives, The Jersey Shore, Parental
Control, The X Life, and Real Housewives (TEAM BETHENNY). They may or may not be even close to true reality, but damn it there are some guilty pleasures out there. (I totally miss Rock of Love, by the way.)Mindless entertainment, yes. But reality TV, I mean real reality TV, is a contemporary writer's dream. Shows like Hoarders, Heavy, Intervention, True Life. Shows that expose absolute raw emotion that exist within human nature. And sometimes I really wonder if the people who believe that Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant glamorize teen pregnancy have ever even seen the show, let alone followed the stories from it. (I'm looking at you, Kim Kardashian. I mean, REALLY?!)
What I love about these shows is that you don't have to necessarily be in the people's shoes exactly- I've never been 300 pounds overweight, but body image and self esteem have been annoyingly low for me since the teen years. And when I watch something like Heavy, or I Used To Be Fat, I'm shown that I'm not the only one that has ever loathed my body. It also puts things into perspective, like how having a vanity issue with your flabby stomach feels kind of stupid when you see these people experiencing serious medical issues because of their weight.
Same with Intervention- even non addicts can see the extreme things that can spiral out of control when something happens in a person's life to trigger the addiction.
Shows like this can prove to be very, very helpful for your character development skills. I believe that the more empathetic a person is, the better and more relatable their characters are. If you're able to explore how you feel about the things that really affect teens and people in general, you'll certainly be able to create a character that has good reason to act the way he or she does.
Even if you don't agree with the opinions behind the show, or what it stands for, some TV shows really showcase what kind of personalities are out there. Toddlers and Tiaras is horrifying, yes, but you can't deny that it's fascinating.
The best characters in YA literature are so multi-dimensional- Cassie in BEAUTIFUL, Emily in I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE, Serena in GOSSIP GIRL (never seen the show, talking about the books), Maya in BALLADS OF SUBURBIA, and pretty much every MC that Courtney Summers has ever written.
Having relatable characters is great. But consider how powerful it can also be to have a character that is indirectly relatable, meaning that your first impression of them wouldn't usually lead you to like them or feel for them at all. But as you read their stories and see them as people, if the story is written well you will fully understand what made the MC who they are, and relate in the most hidden, random ways.
It's books like this that whip out one of two reactions from readers: They either love it, or they hate it. Personally, if I ever have a book published I only want those two reactions from readers. I want them to LOVE it or HATE it. I would rather read a venom laced review that rips the characters apart than read one that's like, "Meh, it was okay." Intense characters should yield intense emotions in the reader, no matter which way it goes.
What about you guys? Are there any reality (or non-reality) shows that really set off sparks of inspiration for you? As far as non-reality goes, I'd have to say the master of characters is Joss Whedon. I'd love to see what kind of stuff you guys watch.
-A.
5 comments:
*gives standing ovation* I LOVED this! And yes, Joss Whedon should be the emperor of the world. Nobody creates characters or dialogue like him.
I agree with you 100% on the effect reality TV has on viewers. Ratings aren't going down any time soon, and I think people either: a) want to see themselves through others and gain confidence from their examples (in the case of I Used To Be Fat) or b) they want to disconnect themselves from whatever bothers them about their lives and watch others live without a (uber-serious) worry (like Real Housewives and Jersey Shore).
Oh, by the way? I'm totally Team Bethenny, too.
*fist pump*
Great post! I was a teen mom, and speaking from experience, the Teen Mom show is extremely accurate. It portrays how painful being a teen mom is. How messy and sad and lonely it is. I think it should be required viewing for all teens.
Amy, you said out loud, everything I wanted to say, and you've done a much better job out of it.
Reality TV, in spite of its detractors, puts truth in your face and that's exactly what writers deal with. Truth. Making it perfect fodder.
I get more inspired by the non-reality TV. Josh Whedon? Brilliance personified. Even now, no one kicks ass like Buffy.
Also, I have a thing for the teen dramas. The OC inspired so many WiPs.
All im going to say is...MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERS FTW!
Just a supplement to your readers' comments above.
Statements like theirs contradict, in the most refreshing way, the oft-repeated, generalized criticism of the genre as garbage. (More on that here: http://realitytvtroy.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/reality-tv-as-punching-bag-enough-already/)
Done well, I think it can be even more engaging than traditionally scripted television, as long as the producers remember to keep story first.
Post a Comment