Reality TV and Media Reality TV and Media Convergence Convergence

Toby JennToby Jenn

Why is Big Brother so successful?Why is Big Brother so successful?

I think we’ve all been asking ourselves this for years. I think we’ve all been asking ourselves this for years. Big Brother uses a hybridised genre of documentary to Big Brother uses a hybridised genre of documentary to

construct reality throughout the programme. construct reality throughout the programme. Social issues can be highlighted by the contestants/social Social issues can be highlighted by the contestants/social

actors which can raise questions and debates within society actors which can raise questions and debates within society (ie. Racism) (ie. Racism)

Uses interactivity to utilise the audience and make them Uses interactivity to utilise the audience and make them interpellated within to the piece. interpellated within to the piece.

Fly-on-the-wall style cinematography such as still shots and Fly-on-the-wall style cinematography such as still shots and close ups help the audience feel close to the characters, close ups help the audience feel close to the characters, some even gaining personal affection towards particular some even gaining personal affection towards particular individuals (personal affection theory)individuals (personal affection theory)

Demand characteristics come into account with Demand characteristics come into account with programmes such as this as the contestants/social actors programmes such as this as the contestants/social actors behave in a manner which they believe is correct to do so behave in a manner which they believe is correct to do so in front of a camera. This can detract from what qualities in front of a camera. This can detract from what qualities the person has in real life, when a camera is not constantly the person has in real life, when a camera is not constantly observing a person.observing a person.

What is Convergence and New What is Convergence and New Technologies? Technologies?

Convergence (in media, film, television) is Convergence (in media, film, television) is the meeting of two or more forms of the meeting of two or more forms of media, such as cross-media platforming media, such as cross-media platforming which can link technologies such as the which can link technologies such as the internet to media such as journalism. internet to media such as journalism.

New Technologies are revolutionary forms New Technologies are revolutionary forms of media such as the internet, special of media such as the internet, special effects, high definition visuals, blu-ray etc. effects, high definition visuals, blu-ray etc. These are contemporary and can alter an These are contemporary and can alter an audience’s reading of a text. audience’s reading of a text.

Proliferation of technology also defines Proliferation of technology also defines how far technology has come and how how far technology has come and how productive it can be.productive it can be.

What is Globalisation?What is Globalisation? Globalisation is the spread of technology which Globalisation is the spread of technology which

encompasses both regional and international encompasses both regional and international relations. relations.

Globalisation can be achieved through cross-Globalisation can be achieved through cross-media-convergence and different platforms to get media-convergence and different platforms to get a message to the world. a message to the world.

Film premieres that are held on the same date Film premieres that are held on the same date across the world sometimes rely on globalisation across the world sometimes rely on globalisation for marketing and advertising purposes.for marketing and advertising purposes.

The internet is usually imperative to this process, The internet is usually imperative to this process, but synergistic tie-ins and marketing deals with but synergistic tie-ins and marketing deals with major conglomerates help too. major conglomerates help too.

What is Representation?What is Representation? The way in which something/someone is shown.The way in which something/someone is shown. For example certain mannerisms, phrases, colloquialisms For example certain mannerisms, phrases, colloquialisms

etc. can help fit a person into a social representation. etc. can help fit a person into a social representation. Aspects such as gender, region, age, class/status, ethnicity, Aspects such as gender, region, age, class/status, ethnicity,

ability/disability and sexuality are important when ability/disability and sexuality are important when discussing representation.discussing representation.

Stereotypes are also used and a documentary, film or Stereotypes are also used and a documentary, film or television drama will use archetypes to make the audience television drama will use archetypes to make the audience feel good and to highlight positive events.feel good and to highlight positive events.

The opposite of this is the use of caricature which connotes The opposite of this is the use of caricature which connotes a sense of unhappy, flawed and even ‘socially abnormal’ a sense of unhappy, flawed and even ‘socially abnormal’ characters.characters.

Stereotypes are important because audiences generally can Stereotypes are important because audiences generally can identify them and connect with them quicker than they can identify them and connect with them quicker than they can with other characters such as someone who is represented with other characters such as someone who is represented as unbiased. as unbiased.

What is the purpose of Media Convergence What is the purpose of Media Convergence

and how is it achieved?and how is it achieved? The purpose of media convergence is to sell a text to an The purpose of media convergence is to sell a text to an

audience and to supply different realms of information to audience and to supply different realms of information to an audience. an audience.

Combining sections of the media helps to do this and Combining sections of the media helps to do this and interactive forms of media such as online blogs, Facebook interactive forms of media such as online blogs, Facebook (both internet) and red-button voting (television) give the (both internet) and red-button voting (television) give the audience a sense of belonging to the programme and this audience a sense of belonging to the programme and this creates loyalty between audience (as consumer) and creates loyalty between audience (as consumer) and programme makers (such as channels, producers, auteurs programme makers (such as channels, producers, auteurs etc.) etc.)

Media convergence uses the theory that all media and Media convergence uses the theory that all media and audiences are linked, so the media dependency model audiences are linked, so the media dependency model (Ball-Rukeach et. Al) is used within convergence to connect (Ball-Rukeach et. Al) is used within convergence to connect text and audience. text and audience.

What are the benefits of What are the benefits of convergence for conglomerates? convergence for conglomerates?

Conglomerates utilise convergence to market Conglomerates utilise convergence to market their texts.their texts.

They use different platforms to gain ‘followers’ on They use different platforms to gain ‘followers’ on many levels. many levels.

Films for example try to get as many people into Films for example try to get as many people into the cinema so market across different platforms the cinema so market across different platforms (ie, Quantum of Solace was marketed in (ie, Quantum of Solace was marketed in newspapers, the internet, television, synergistic newspapers, the internet, television, synergistic tie-ins etc.)tie-ins etc.)

These different forms of media appeal to different These different forms of media appeal to different age groups stereotypically, for example a age groups stereotypically, for example a younger person is more likely to use the internet.younger person is more likely to use the internet.

This means a benefit for the conglomerates as This means a benefit for the conglomerates as they can gain more revenue from different they can gain more revenue from different audience members through both age, gender etc. audience members through both age, gender etc.

Why is convergence controversial?Why is convergence controversial?

Convergence is controversial as it sometimes uses Convergence is controversial as it sometimes uses techniques which allow passive intake from an audience techniques which allow passive intake from an audience (Hypodermic needle/Magic Bullet) and this restricts (Hypodermic needle/Magic Bullet) and this restricts audience interaction and participation. This can be deemed audience interaction and participation. This can be deemed unethical.unethical.

Can make people become dependant upon media (Uses Can make people become dependant upon media (Uses and gratifications theory) due to the saturation marketing and gratifications theory) due to the saturation marketing appearing on all forms of accessible media. appearing on all forms of accessible media.

For example, audiences may get overwhelmed if they see a For example, audiences may get overwhelmed if they see a film trailer on the television in their lounge and then go film trailer on the television in their lounge and then go online later and find the same trailer on a social networking online later and find the same trailer on a social networking site. site.

Convergence can sometimes lend too much focus onto Convergence can sometimes lend too much focus onto other platforms detracting from the equality of the media. other platforms detracting from the equality of the media.

Convergence in Big BrotherConvergence in Big Brother Uses digital technology to increase the profit Uses digital technology to increase the profit

margins of the programme. margins of the programme. Big Brother is now a globalised enterprise, which Big Brother is now a globalised enterprise, which

appeals to audiences of all cultures. appeals to audiences of all cultures. Mobile Phone updates, web updates, competitions Mobile Phone updates, web updates, competitions

associated with major brands (ie. Win a place on associated with major brands (ie. Win a place on Big Brother with Kit Kat) all add a feeling of Big Brother with Kit Kat) all add a feeling of interaction between audience and text.interaction between audience and text.

This ultimately boosts Endemol’s revenue, but the This ultimately boosts Endemol’s revenue, but the company have to be very careful with the figures company have to be very careful with the figures which the show represents (ie. racists, fighting, which the show represents (ie. racists, fighting, bullying etc.)bullying etc.)