I recently just watched episode 5 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s season three. I have included the hulu link in this post if there is a chance that one would want to see with their own eyes what I will be talking about in this post. I first want to talk about this show’s authenticity. Its main goal is to keep its viewers engaged and interested; that being said, there are times during this show (and other reality shows I am sure) where editing is necessary to do this. For example, in this episode, at 41 minutes and 20 seconds, we see one of the housewives talking about her marriage. At exactly this time, her lips are the only part of her body shown in the screenshot, but they do not go along with what she is saying. They have voiced over what she actually was talking about to make the story most likely seem cohesive and entertaining. In addition, there are other times throughout this episode that the gestures that are shown do not go a long with what is being talked about. The show uses the shots taken by the camera and then includes a storyline that is implemented at a later time in some scenes.
The value system of these women is also very interesting, and in my opinion, an incorrect representation of this so called “real” factor that they claim to possess. It seems to be more about money than anything else. Who can have the best house, who can have the most lavish parties, who can wear the nicest clothes and drive the nicest car. Most of these women have married into money, and if not, they are in pursuit of finding a man with money rather than being in love. This is displayed to the audience when one of the women speaking of a man she just met. She was very displeased when she found out that the next date he was going to take her on was not at a five star restaurant. Rather, he was going to cook dinner for her. She also first makes the claim that a relationship is a 50-50 split between money and love but then ups it later on to 65-35.
In another scene in this episode, a woman (the same woman that was complaining about her marriage) goes to get plastic surgery because she was feeling unhappy. I don’t know about you…but when I am feeling unhappy I eat cookies and ice cream, and watch romantic comedies. I don’t go get a tummy tuck because someone is ruining my day. This also relates to the viewer what happiness to them is founded on. It is founded on being skinny and pretty. That is what makes these women happy, or cheers them up.
Also, in this particular episode, another one of the housewives takes her daughter shopping to buy new furniture for her bedroom. The daughter continually expresses interest in having a sports themed bedroom to which her mother vehemently disregards and implies that there will be none of that in her little girls room. This show also reinforces gender roles. There is nothing wrong with a little girl who is interested in sports, and for a mother to disregarded those interests in her ploy to create a perfect girly daughter who displays femininity is apparent.
So after analyzing this show, and others like it, it is clear to see that there really is not that much that is real about the Real Housewives of Atlanta. You can bet that in every episode there will be a blowout between 2 of the characters, and you can also bet that one of the housewives will find out via text that a different one of the housewives is talking trash about her. Reality TV is interesting. It allows for the viewer to feel distanced and loose feelings of sympathy and empathy toward what they are watching. Although I semi actively participate in the viewing of reality TV, the motives behind some of the people who watch these shows can become problematic.
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