Proposal

Hypothesis:
What is the genre of reality TV shows making particular reference to Big Brother?

Brief Summary of Ideas:
Big Brother is different from other reality TV shows such as “I'm a Celebrity...Get Me out of Here” “Wife Swap” and “Ship Wreck”. Big Brother see’s how people react when they are being forced into close confinement with people who they are different to them and, lie outside their comfort zone. All contestants hold different opinions and ideas from other contestants, or are from a different group of people. Therefore, viewers will see how contestants react on the outside through constant recording of their actions and also what they feel on the inside through the Diary Room. In Big Brother contestants can often be violent or angry confrontations, providing entertainment to the public such as in Big Brother5 with Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty.

MIGRAIN
M: 1 - Non verbal codes – Big Brother male and never seen we can only hear his voice connotes Men as passive – Laura Mulvey’s theory.
2 - Shilpa and Jades fight – close up of Jades face shows her psychotic side, long shot of Shilpa shows she is strong. This challenges stereotypes of women who are known and suppose to act in a sensible manner and feminine.

I: Channel 4 – Public service. Appeal to tastes and interests of a diverse society. Contributes to the needs of the licensed public service channels and includes programmes of a educational nature and other programmes of educative value.

G: Reality TV shows

R: 1- Disabled/special needs/stereotypical women and men/different races.
2 - Contestants are going to be seen as victims when they are seen doing something wrong or are seen having a fight

A: 1 -Family audiences
2 - Secondary audience – see views and rows/writers/journalists.

I: Equality, with making sure different type of contestants are selected such as this year they have Micky who is blind.

N: Some housemates try to take on roles throughout the show – hero/villains/sex objects

Theories/Theorists:
I’ am going to make use of theorists and theories that I have already studies such as Propp Vladimir, and make reference to stereotypes such as his 32 character types. I will also research new theories such as Fiske J and use them in reference to TV shows.

Contexts:
I will look at issues and debates that have occurred in Big Brother such as Bullying, and the way the public’s views changed on these people. Also my del.ici.ous links can help me to find different articles surrounding “the genre of reality TV shows” or “Big Brother” and how these shows teach people values. I will look into detail into the history of Reality TV shows and how they amuse people. I will explore in depth how Reality TV shows have changed to become more appealing and interesting to its audience today.

Other Texts:
I’ am going to look at a range of other texts, mainly Reality TV shows and TV shows where people are being isolated from the outside world and recorded. I will draw comparisons and differences between different Reality TV show them for example a series of Big Brother in India compared to a series of Big Brother in England.