Introduction

 The concept of "Reality Television" is something that has become exceedingly popular over the past decade. Reality TV began in 1946 with the hit series "Candid Camera", and has evolved from there. It has become massive in it's production, with close to 1000 shows being filmed, in The United States alone.

So what is it that makes it so desirable? Why do people give up hours of their time,only to become spectators of other people's lives? The most likely explanation, is that people unknowingly use TV as a form of escapism. A way to temporarily forget the stress in their lives.

This is where Reality TV becomes an issue. By labeling it "reality", the implication is that these shows are a reflection of real life. Yet they couldn't be more different. How many times can the average person say they've been stranded in a remote location, or been followed by a camera crew for the larger part of their lives. Reality TV is often perceived as nothing but harmless, mindless entertainment. However, these shows are undoubtedly a bad influence, and there is substantial evidence to support this.