1. “I Think We Need a New Name for It” Chapter 3 Brianna Polanco Dana Wang Jose Cruz

2. The goal of this chapter To examine the ways in which certain extratextual factors can impel the viewer to see a nonfiction television text as either documentary or realty television, sometimes even despite its textual characteristics. This type of discursive generic analysis helps us understand what reality television is, since it reveals many of the assumptions that surround the generic category, as well s the cultural role assigned to it, particularly in relation to that of documentary.

3. What is a documentary and what is reality television? Documentary- a film or television program presenting the facts about a person or event. Educational Informative Authentic Independently produced

4. Reality television- genre of television programming that presents unscripted, dramatic, humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded. Use of direct cinema(handheld camerawork, synch sound, focus on everyday camerawork) Short narrative (confessionals) Mini cliffhangers Musical soundtrack Commercial Sensational Popular Entertaining Manipulative

5. Biggest difference between a documentary is social weight Social weight can authenticate a program Reality TVtends to focus more on entertainment rather than exploration of cultural and political issues. Borrowing of “documentary look” by other programs and borrowing of “non-documentary look” by documentaries confuses viewer Ex: Real World Use background music Highlights race and sexuality issues Use of confessionals Entertaining

6. Social Weight Social weigh is an interesting and potentially contentious distinction here, since claims of social relevance are often made by the creators of docusoaps as will. The real world, for example, often highlights the ways in which it consistently deals with issue of race and sexuality.

7. An American FamilyDocumentary or Reality TV? Producer Craig Gilbert described the nonfiction program that aired in 1972 as a “real life soap opera” Critics questioned wheather or not this was a reality television show or documentary Viewers had a “fly on the wall” perspective Family discussed politics, addressed homosexuality, attended neighborhood events, went to work, school and vacations.

8. American High on FOX Network sensationalized the series calling it reality Compared it to real world but calling it better Program gave FOX a chance to redeem themselves and clean up their public image Show was dropped after 4 episodes

9. American High Director R.J. Cutler shot 2000 hrs of film tracking lives of 14 seniors in a suburban Chicago area high school Aired in 2000 Director did not use words “documentary” or “reality series” to describe the show Had students take a video diary class American high was sold as a reality program on Fox and a year later as a documentary on PBS Inspired by American Family and My So-Called Life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeJc35F7gdM

10. American High on PBS PBS took the show on as a documentary Tried to gain viewers back and a younger audience PBS made it seem really educational and informative Goal was to attract teens while still having parents and grandparents watching Did not attract the amount of viewers as hoped and offended elders

11. America Undercover Reality mixed with documentary Produced by Sheila Nevins Covered topics such as labor struggles, racial profiling, terrorism, death penalty, and sex-based programming. Shows included autopsy, cathouse, taxicab confessions, and telling nicholas Often shot by independent filmmakers