Reality Television and Postmodernism

In passing, we would never think of reality television as being linked to the movement of postmodernism. How could we even consider lumping together Vonnegut with The Real Housewives of New Jersey? Yet, The Real Housewives and all their reality television cohorts are the very definition of postmodernism. They embody the kitsch and self-awareness that is expected of postmodernism but add one more element, the stark reality of their actual lives that leads to a downward spiral of misfortune

The self-awareness is obvious with all reality television. Everyone knows that the characters act out for more air time, because honestly, who else would flip a table during a dinner besides Teresa Giudice? The kitsch is even more obvious, from the exclamations of who has more class while throwing flutes of champagne at each other to the irony of claiming Marilyn Monroe is there idol after undergoing their fifth plastic surgery. What is not always so obvious, however, is what the shows do to the characters. They all will get their fifteen minutes of fame but after the cameras stop rolling, the tragedy strikes. Bankruptcies, divorces, and repos have hit the reality TV world hard. While it is sad that this is happening because of the antics the characters do on the show, I probably won't stop watching them. Their downward spirals would actually make a great dramatic ending to any book and are the meat and potatoes of a completely wonderful, shallow evening of television.