by Okwuanya Pius-Vincent

Reality TV for starters, is never “real”. While some people claim that the shows give them clues as to how normal people behave, it does not take a genius to figure out that it is impossible for one to be oneself when he is under surveillance.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

The human instinct is basically animalistic. Thus, left to his devices, Man will always pander to his basic instincts which is not only slanted towards survivalism but also geared towards non-conformity. In his animalistic default, man is always willing to be the predator rather than the prey. It lends credence to John Locke’s state of nature theory where he posited a cataclysmic face-off between humans, “a war of all against all”. Culture and societal imperatives have managed to rein in these tendencies in order to maintain the sanity of the society and its survival. However, this not to say that most of these tendencies are destructive, they are not but they are anti-social. Alcohol, drugs and sex are not directly detrimental to the society but societal norms have imposed a certain level of discretion in the indulgence of these acts. A large majority of the society has come to appreciate these lifestyles and the reactions of the law towards these activities have been so and so. Furthermore, the society does not explicitly “illegalize” the following dispositions, they mostly advice against its abuse. The unconvincing approach to these lifestyles have precursored and later underpinned the hypocritical stance the larger society adopts while dealing with the existence of these lifestyles. For the sake of analogy, drugs, alcohol and sexual habits are like illicit affairs, you do not want anyone to know about. The hypocritical disposition is more evident when we review the case of the actress, Tonto Dikeh recent run in with the law. The prevalence of drug in the Nigerian Celebrity circle is no longer news but it took one uploaded picture on the social media to trigger a societal backlash leading to rumours of prosecution and even possible jail-time for the beautiful but flawed actress. A cold but hard lesson must have been learnt by Tonto Dikeh, the society could not care less about what you are doing until you step into the limelight and display yourself. Thus, hypocritical lifestyles will save you from a negative social reaction. She must start learning from celebrities like Charly Boy who said in an interview with the NTA (Nigeria Television Authority) that he does not drink, smoke or do drugs. Hypocritical lifestyles is not just negative in this regard, it is sensitive. This is because any decent person would not care to know what other people are doing behind closed doors. However, the 21^st century human society has managed to redefine decency and have almost succeeded in creating a society full of voyeurs. This voyeurism reached its apogee in the evolution of the big brother game show. The concept of the term “Big Brother” was not credited to any of the producers of the show. Indeed, the concept was created and later popularized by George Orwell in his classic, Nineteen eighty-four. Orwell created a tyrannical government whose main strategy in keeping stranglehold of authority was extreme voyeurism, perversion of truth and consistent brainwashing. Orwell, painted a portrait of a systemic villain that sees all, hears all and deals with all as it benefits it. Thus Big Brother according to Orwellian perspective is about a system of falsehood and brainwashing and the reality TV version of it is not any different from the prosaic version. The TV version has even added a more dangerous twist in an already vile mixture; desensitization.

Desensitization theory as propounded by the psychologist Mary Cover Jones explains a situation where a phobia can be tamed by a consistent exposure of the subject to the source of the phobia. It has been popularized as the effect of a certain level of exposure leading to an inurement towards the feeling the exposure should evoke in the first instance. The desensitization of the human person started quite long ago, centuries ago to be vaguely precise; the reason is that like many other societal issues, its real date could not be pinpointed. Historical references would lead us back to back to the Roman civilization. In those days the desensitization was partly sexual (Nudism and promiscuity were rife) and also partly violent (People paid to watch men slash and stab themselves to death in the gladiatorial arena. There were also the cases of sexual desensitization of the French Bourgeoisies as personified by Marie Antonoitte. A further forward foray in history would lead us to the drug and alcohol desensitization in the era of “Cowboy” American frontier civilization. This drug and alcohol desensitization was well exemplified by the “Moonshine Conspiracy”. However, the advent of the 20^th and the 21^st century witnessed a meteoric rise in desensitization thanks to the advancement in the media.

The media influences all but the most reclusive of our society. Its impacts is so far reaching that we do not just get the overt messages displayed or spoken but also the background ones. Through the media, we are exposed to subliminal concepts that challenges and ultimately change our own ideas and perception of reality. Movies like Spartacus, 300 and Gamer and the Saw series had so much appeal because the viewers are already desensitized by the conventional portrayal of the “Kill-scenes”. The viewers are now more comfortable with the splattering of blood on the screens and assorted blades cutting through flesh, bones and other organs. It is scary to imagine the depth the movie producers will plunge to recapture the attention of the viewers once they have become desensitized with their level of gore. While the study of the impact of the media on the desensitization process makes for an interesting reading, this piece will concentrate the rave of the moment, the societal current darling, The Reality TV. In the Reality TV, the unfolding of events are spontaneous and unscripted and the actions original. The contestants are purportedly paid huge sums to just be themselves in front of a camera (The issue of whether someone can be himself in front of a camera is another question). The semblance of normalcy and reality this Reality TV provides makes them more believable and a better reference point for the viewers who have come to find it hard to separate reality from Reality TV. Furthermore, for those who manage to separate these two versions of reality, the subliminal concepts it portrays and even the overt ones find a way to seep into the subconsciousness and even the consciousness, thus, unwittingly helping in advicing towards behavioural adjustments. A case could be made of a reality TV program like “Kids” where teenagers are featured in deviant scenes and sexually strong scenes, while the reason for such portrayal maybe to educate the youths. Another popular TV in the United States show was “Teen Moms”. To get in the show, a teenage girl must find a way to get herself pregnant if she is not pregnant already. Therefore, getting pregnant becomes a great opportunity to get a crack at superstardom. Therefore in a mass of confusion and “subliminals”, the message of the Reality TV shows was lost, what was intended to discourage unprotected sex and delinquency actually ended up proliferating and encouraging it. This paradox explains the argument against Big Brother Africa. For every positive attributes it is suggested to possess, it has as many adverse effects.

Before delving into this piece, I had to expose myself to the world of Reality TV and their audiences. Using the Big Brother Africa as an instance, I tried to demystify the process of Big Brother show and the show itself. Now, I am not a fan of the show but I had to understand the reason why so many are hooked. In my little discussions with some fans of the TV show, there was no specific reason given for such a fervent following of the show. Many of the respondents just stopped at staying that they “enjoy it”. Enjoyment is a very strong value and has to be considered when we start to review why human beings make certain decisions but some enjoyments has costly ramifications and the cost of this particular show is quite steep. Reality TV for starters, is never “real”. While some people claim that the shows give them clues as to how normal people behave, it does not take a genius to figure out that it is impossible for one to be oneself when he is under surveillance. The instinctual reaction for anyone in that situation is to suppress his real self and project the best in his repertoire of characters that bests sits the surveillance situation. This is also depicted in the novel as written by George Orwell. Winston Smith had to play a role for most of his life, suppressing his real self into his diary. Thus, the surveillance of the Big Brother cast Smith into two personalities, one working with the ministry of truth and Smith the rebel. Reality TV actors are nothing more than actors, actors with a lot less talent. James Frey (an author of the book “Biggest Loser: One year Later”) succinctly described Reality TV as something constructed to resemble reality. The Reality TV is nothing more than a well-planned narrative designed to manipulate the viewers and most importantly, increase commercial gains. The Big Brother Africa knowing fully that pornography sells has added a lot of it in their shows. In the latest edition of Big Brother tagged the “The Chase”, one can get access to the shower hour and the behind-the-scenes flicks for five pounds (closer to 1700 naira). The VIP access gives the subscriber a view at the actions which the regular subscribers can only imagine and what an action! That is if you do not mind soft pornography and intermittent nudism. The shower hour are the most interesting or disgusting depending on one’s disposition. This season has already featured Natasha from Malawi masturbating while having her bath. While simpletons would argue that Natasha was oblivious to the spy cameras during her steamy session, a reasonable person would be inclined to rightly believe that she knew quite well and really put on a good show. Many uptight people abhor raunchy videos and pornography, yet they watch Big Brother Africa and some even bought the VIP pass. Paradox again? We are running out of paradoxes. Bolt and Betty have long upped the ante and gone one better than Natasha. The catch was that, the Sierra Leonean Bolt was actually a husband and a father while Betty was supposed to be an Ethiopian School Teacher. The shows are in this guise projecting the wrong role models for societal adulations. Consequently, a single mother and a part-time pornstar could become a role model that would be admired by our youths but the Zimbabwean fashionista Pokello Nare has made that happen and we are happy for her. I may sound like a fan but I am not because there is nothing to cheer when the society is imploding. I do not begrudge her the fame, she worked hard apparently, I am merely pointing out that our society has started clearing our path to perdition. Because in an attempt to emulate their TV models, the media is increasingly preparing our young ones towards a life of debauchery, a hastened ascension to adulthood and an introduction into a fantastical world where the line between reality and Reality TV is thin.

Aside from the emulation of the wrong role models, the concept and the consequence of the “Body Image” has been at the root of intra-personal clashes and inferiority complex in a greater majority of the society. The Reality TVs present us usually with the perfect body images of sexy and beautiful ladies who are usually from the middle class and the upper class. Pokello, Beverly, Betty, Bolt, Natasha and Nando are all attractive in their own rights. The problem emerges when the adoring fan does not quite match the image of models she has come to idolize. Matching the plastic celebrities will always be hard because no TV contestant during these Reality shows is real. Barbie doll is a Walt Disney creation and The Big Brother Africa show was produced by Endemol. The depression and inferiority complex which becomes the lot of the insecure fans who takes as real, the unreal TV. For if it were to be real, it will tackle the real issues in Africa. It will tackle the issues of underdevelopment, poverty and widespread corruption. The realities are that strike actions which are becoming extinct in so many parts of the western world are regular in Africa. Dictatorial regimes are still strangling parts of Africa. Wars, famine and droughts are the realities. The single mother who hawks to send her 9 year old son to school is the reality. The realities are in the slums of Ajegunle, Nigeria and in the battlefields of Sudan. The representation that Africa is just full of “party-goers” and vainglorious youths who are willing to backstab each other for a shot at $300,000 only tells half of the story at best and is a blatant misrepresentation at worst. No part of the Big Brother show positively impacts on the society in a general scale. The prize money fills the coffers of people who had no real need for it. Pokello Nare is a successful MC, show presenter and already owns a well-to-do fashion business (Addicted to shoes), Beverly Osu is already a semi-successful model. Simply put, most of the contestants are already from the middle class. The Big Brother show is not a grass to grace show (I am not saying that it should be). The prize money is raised from the votes of the viewers and the TV subscriptions. Thus, Endemol gets to break even financially and manage to fill their coffers for misrepresenting the core issues bothering the average African.

Another worrying impact of the reality show as typified by Endemol’s Big Brother is that it serves to desensitize the youths on sexuality. It may be hard to believe but there was a time when seeing a girl in her underwear was a big deal and kissing and caressing were never done on the television. Currently, that is the minimum. The reality TV is now keeping up with the movies’ x-rated scenes. The shower hour and the party nights always feature some steamy scenes. Sex used to be an exotic mystery; its demystification in the 21^st century is part of the reason why there is a spike in the spate of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The desensitization towards has led to innovations and some queer inventions. The Romans reached that height during the BCs and homosexuality emerged. The rise in same-sex relationships in the 21^st century may not be unconnected to the strength and pace of heterosexual desensitization. Joseph Wolpe, a South African psychologist who adapted Mary Cover Jones’ desensitization theory had suggested that that when an individual or a group is desensitized towards an activity, they quickly move to another activity that will best hold their interest. He termed it “systematic desensitization”. Thus, it is not surprising that having been thoroughly desensitized about conventional sexuality; the society started drifting towards homosexualism and lesbianism. Who is to wager that once we have been desensitized towards same-sex union, that the government will start facing agitations from some section of the society to legalize not just gay relationships but also bestiality? I am inclined to believe Wolpe, in so far as we continue to indulge our basic instincts, systematic desensitization is inevitable.

Furthermore, the African society which is built on the principles of loyalty and family, have been subjected to attacks by the TV culture. There have been shows where married couples were prompted to cheat on themselves (Temptation Island, US). In the BBA, a married man, Bolt had not hesitated to get under the covers with Betty, in an insensitive case of unfaithfulness. Pokello’s son must grow up with the trepidation that his real father may never be known. The weakening of the family and cultural values may be the last straw that will break the society’s spine because the African society is built on the principles of family and culture. As a society, we have started losing the sense of shame. Our outrage at taboos has become mellow as we have become complicit. The functional hypocrisy which has kept our society decent has been lost in Reality TV induced frenzy.

It is to our interest that we recover some crucial perspective as to the real implications of falling under the spell of the unreal TV. We should not reward the producers of these TV shows for lying and poisoning our society. Thus, when a show has got us appreciating in others, the behaviours we deem indecent and cannot condone in our close friends, then a reevaluation is in order. We are all hypocrites of sorts. For the maintainance of decency and a wider societal survival, this hypocrisy is functional. When we smile at our boss even when we think that he is a self-centered taskmaster, we understand that hypocrisy is not just a necessity but an expedience. For without those smokescreens, human instincts would leave us all in our own unique jungle.  Thus, before we switch on the Television to enjoy ourselves, we must first ask, what is the cost of this enjoyment?

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This piece is dedicated to Adaolisa Obiesie who shares all of my passions but none of my confusions.

   Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.