Unreal: “Reality” Shows
It
would seem to take a world of cojones to characterize as “Reality”
a show in which pretentious people, paid for their performance, put
in contrived situations, create drama for the camera. Actually it
takes a world of self delusion and con games. Such is the reality of
“reality shows.”
Recreation,
entertainment and play time by definition need not be limited to the
real, the useful, the serious. So I see nothing wrong with watching
such shows. But don't let the marketers kid you; actors by
definition are professional phonies. These aren't documentaries,
these are scripted dramas.
Drama
involves artificial conflict. This is true whether your spouse
creates a public scene at your favorite restaurant over and extra
fifty cents on the tip, or someone on Duck Dynasty, taking a jab at
common decency, claims to base intolerance on “religious”
beliefs.
The
word “religion” comes from the Latin, signifying “Unite again.”
Unite with what? Unite with the Divine, with your neighbors, with
all of existence. If anyone can point to any traditional world
religion whose basic tenets don't include a call for spiritual
connection – for love and compassion - please let me know.
I've
pointed out in previous posts that scientifically and spiritually we
aren't really separate beings in the first place – in reality.
All religion asks of us is to recognize reality and act
accordingly.
Actors
like everyone else have every right – every legal
right – to express their opinions. Entertainment companies have
every right – every legal right - to broadcast these opinions. The
public has every legal and moral right to ignore or
follow, criticize or praise them. No one involved loses their status
as Divine beings no matter their decisions.
It's
just that some of us aren't acting like the Divine beings we
really are.
Being
nonjudgmental about dissenters from our personal truth doesn't come
naturally to any of us. Loving our neighbors - or at least acting with common decency - takes hard work. We
all need breaks. Winding down by escaping into idealized, funny,
dramatic, adventurous, scripted – that is imaginary - worlds needs
no justification.
Calling
such fantasy “reality,” on the other hand, doesn't justify
substituting pretension for integrity. Calling these actors “down
home, religious, and grounded” because they speak their “truth”
and a lot of other phonies agree with them doesn't justify
intolerance. It all justifies an apology.
Entertainment,
yes. Reality, no.