Power Point Paranormal On Tv

04/11/23 Presented by Brandy Stark 1

Paranormal on TV: Fact Versus Fantasy


Introduction

Since 2000, there has been a rising interest in the paranormal. Television is no stranger to trends, and a plethora of new shows have emerged, often in the vein of “reality TV”. How much is fact, how much is fantasy?

Presented by: Brandy Stark, founder of the SPIRITS of St. Petersburg


Signs of Interest

According to a poll by AARP: 64% of Baby Boomers believe in ghosts. Thirty-eight percent of all those polled said they have felt a presence or seen something like a spirit. (Life After Death, AARP Magazine Sept/Oct 2007)


Signs of Interest

According to a CBS poll (2005):

Nearly half of Americans say they believe in ghosts, or that the dead can return in certain places and situations. Yes 48% no 45%

Women are more likely to say they believe in ghosts than are men

More than half of younger Americans aged 18 to 45 believe in ghosts

More than one in five Americans says they have seen or felt the presence of a ghost themselves


Signs of Interest

DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS: BELIEF IN AND ENCOUNTERS WITH GHOSTS

Believe in ghosts: All 48% *Men 38% *Women 56% *Under 45 54% *45 and over 41%

Seen a ghost: All 22% *Men 14% *Women 29% *Under 45 29% *45 and over 15%

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/29/opinion/polls/main994766.shtml (As retrieved Sept. 30, 2007)


Signs of Interest

http://realestate.msn.com/buying/Article_bankrate.aspx?cp-documentid=1102007&GT1=10534

(Discusses haunted houses as marketable – good to know for Florida’s failing real estate market?)


History of Paranormal TV shows

What movies or television shows do you think make a historic mark upon our current generation of spectrally-themed shows?Movies: Ghost, Ghost Busters (others?)TV: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (also a 1947 movie), Unsolved Mysteries (others?)


TV Shows today

Ghost HuntersGhost WhispererA HauntingHaunted EvidenceMost Haunted LiveHaunted AmericaMost Haunted HousesPsychic Detectives


TV Shows Today

America’s Most Haunted Places

Haunted History

Unexplained Mysteries

MTV’s Fear

Paranormal Celebrity

Fear Factor

Truth or Scare (DiscoveryKids)


TV Shows Today

Crossing Over with John Edwards

James van Praagh (daily talk show)

Others? (Not including TV specials, such as SPOOKED, coming out on SciFi).


Who is Most Popular?

Which show do you think is the most popularly watched paranormal “reality” TV show?


The GoodMakes paranormal investigation seem less “freakish” (I was asked if I was a Satanist when I first started taking an interest).Shows there is some difference between occult belief and paranormal investigationShows the use of equipmentBrings enthusiasm and interest to a field that has been long neglectedStarting to bring a “norm” for ghost hunting groups, which are largely unregulated.Shows what CAN be found out there


The BadBrings out “bandwagon hoppers” – craze interests (see MUFON, 1990s, X-Files)

Starting to hear of cases where people “copy” Ghost Hunters – and bring up situations (psychological or ghostly) that they can’t control

Starting to bring out groups who want to make money doing paranormal investigation; moves it from interest to business

New groups popping up – untrained, lack of experience


The Bad

More for skeptics to work with. Are individuals motivation for ghosts, or motivation for fame?Questions on how accurate are the findings? We all know that TV audiences do not like “boring shows”New cultural studies indicate we are losing the ability to distinguish between entertainment and reality Is reality TV “real”?


The Reality

Episodes usually last 1 hour

Almost always seem to get something, and it’s usually “big”

Extensive budget

Does not show background research, work, or the “boring” parts of field research

Investigations can last for days (a minimum of 3 – 4 hours for starters)Not every investigation finds phenomena (5% – 10% are memorable)Volunteer-based, less $$ for equipment (Thermal Imagers: $6,000 up)Experience background research,work, and the less “dramatic” aspects to investigation

TV Groups


The Reality

Does not show the “screening” of investigations – how are locations chosen? What is the status of the homeowner?Public investigation – repercussions for homeowners (there are some rumors that homeowners felt slighted by the way the shows presented them). Public investigations: Good for business? (intentions for investigation)Do not see a lot of repeated investigation: time/interest

I (and others) have screened investigations; homeowners range from terrified, to pranksters, to the mentally ill, to the simply curious.

Often private and smaller investigations, sensitivity to homeowners.

Local to area; can repeat investigations, rule out phenomena, build case histories

TV Groups


The Fantasy


The Reality


Discussion

Questions?

Comments?


Resources

http://www.eeeek.com/paranormaltv.html

http://www.scifimoviepage.com/dvd/unsolved-ghosts.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV's_Fear

http://www.televisiontunes.com/g-theme-songs.html

http://realestate.msn.com/buying/Article_bankrate.aspx?cp-documentid=1102007&GT1=10534http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/29/opinion/polls/main994766.shtmlhhttp://centralflghosts.homestead.com/poeticliscense.html

Power Point Paranormal On Tv

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