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Student Essay—Summary-and-Response

A summary of, and a response to, Adam Cohen’s Essay “Televising Humiliation”

The Reality of Reality TV

In an International Herald Tribune article titled “Televising Humiliation,” Adam Cohen challenges the ethics, motives and “reckless actions” of television producers responsible for the rampant production and airing of public humiliation (382). He examines how media frequently walks the fine line between exercising freedom of speech and violating individual rights. Recounting the tragic suicide death of Louis William Conradt, Jr. during the filming of NBC Dateline’s “To Catch a Predator,” Cohen exposes the depth to which reality television has plunged in order to meet the voyeuristic demands of American viewers. Our perverse fascination with watching others suffer shame, degradation, injury and even death under the guise of entertainment continues to fuel the rising popularity of reality TV.

If humanity is the state of being humane, compassionate and considerate toward other living creatures, then just what is it that compels us to sustain a culture that demoralizes its own members? The German language calls it schadenfreude, the pleasure we derive at the misfortune of others. In English we might call it gloating. We human beings seem to have a prevailing need to put others down in order to feel better about ourselves, and we are inexplicably drawn to anything that accomplishes that task for us.

The greater the failure and intensity of humiliation we witness someone suffer, the more superior we feel. This is precisely the human flaw that TV producers capitalize on in order to draw an audience and boost ratings. Cohen points to shows like “To Catch a Predator,” “The Apprentice,” and “Moment of Truth” as prime examples of “indulging the audience’s voyeuristic pleasure at someone else’s humiliation” (382). The premise of these shows revolves around malicious exposure or critique, and in our weakness we refuse to divert our eyes from the train wreck that ensues.

The overwhelming stress and strain of our daily lives leaves us longing for an escape from our own troubles. Reality shows provide the value of entertainment as we turn off our brains and focus for a while on someone else’s plight instead of our own. However, a couple of questions arise: Is reality television real or simply scripted to appear real? For the sake of entertainment does it even matter?

For the discerning viewer, reality shows are clearly not as real as their creators would have us believe. Even if we aren’t personally familiar with the behind-the-scenes process, logic offers clues as to what likely occurs. It is no secret that hours and hours of filming are edited down to a single episode, which contains only the juiciest footage. Patricia Conradt, sister of the “To Catch a Predator” suicide victim, “contends that the show encourages police ‘to give special intensity to any arrests, so as to enhance the camera effect’” (Cohen 382). Whether manipulated or not, the mere suggestion that these shows are based on reality causes audiences to gobble it up and beg for seconds. Our need for entertainment overrules our need for veracity.

Reality television continues to push the limits by increasing the intensity and shock value of existing and emergent shows. Dominant viewer ratings reflect our demand, as advertiser dollars overstuff the pockets of network producers. Much like a drug addict needs stronger and more frequent fixes to achieve his high, we clamor for the next worst reality show. Whether we admit our addiction or not, we are intoxicated by the escape it provides. Our tolerance leaves us craving more graphic, extreme depictions of humiliation. As Cohen puts it, “to hold viewers’ interest, the levels of shame have inevitably kept growing” (383). The media is simply giving us what we ask for.

Does an overwhelming preference and demand for reality TV reflect a loss of humanity, decency and compassion in our society? Instead of reveling in someone else’s humiliation, shouldn’t we feel their pain? Or has the media eroded our ability to put ourselves in others’ shoes? Perhaps we are simply guilty of being lulled into thinking it’s just entertainment; no one is getting hurt. Then again, we aren’t the ones left to clean up the aftermath, like Patricia Conradt.

Works Cited

Cohen, Adam. “Televising Humiliation.” Viewpoints. Ed. W. Royce Adams, 7th ed. Boston, Wadsworth, 2010. (381-383).

ESSAY PLANNING SHEET used to write the essay

Your Name: ______________________

Essay #1 — Thesis Sentence:

Our perverse fascination with watching others suffer shame, degradation, injury and even death under the guise of entertainment continues to fuel the rising popularity of reality TV.

Topic sentence (Point) of First Body:

We human beings seem to have a prevailing need to put others down in order to feel better about ourselves, and we are inexplicably drawn to anything that accomplishes that task for us.

Topic sentence (Point) of Second Body Paragraph:

The greater the failure and intensity of humiliation we witness someone else suffer, the more superior we feel.

Topic sentence (Point) of Third Body Paragraph:

The overwhelming stress and strain of our daily lives leaves us longing for an escape from our own troubles.

Topic sentence (Point) of Fourth Body Paragraph:

For the discerning viewer, reality shows are clearly not as real as their creators would have us believe.

Topic sentence (Point) of Fifth Body Paragraph:

Reality television continues to push the limits by increasing the intensity and shock value of existing and emergent shows.

Topic sentence (Point) of Conclusion Paragraph:

Does an overwhelming preference and demand for reality TV reflect a loss of humanity, decency and compassion in our society?