Whether we like it or not, no one can say that they don’t have a small sickening obsession with reality televiusion shows. I for one am and im not afraid to say so.
With this weeks topic of ‘The Public Sphere’ the first example that came to me was the UK’s Geordie Shore. For those of you who don’t know what i am talking about, Geordie Shore is a reality television show based in Newcastle, England. Bringing together 8-9 cast members to a sharehouse where they live for about 6-8 weeks. They work for a touring company (named Geordie Tours) run by a lady called Anna along with going out and partying nearly every night.
I will confess that i have watched every single episode (Please stop judging me). I don’t watch it because i like them as people but because i have this thing about seeing how people react when they are faced with certain situations are brought up and simply because i enjoy seeing people getting drunk and making fools of themselves – but then again who doesn’t!?
But why do we have this sickening obsession with watching random strangers get drunk, have sex, do stupid things and hurt themselves?
Geordie Shore explores many aspects of life that normal 20-something males and females are going through or will go through growing up. The topics of gender, sexual behaviour and identity, race, peer pressure, politics, power, influence, break-ups and make-ups, drugs and alcohol, bullying, backstabbing and gossip just to name a few – in other words, it’s relatable.
In today’s public sphere people get talking, especially on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Geordie Shore, has been the topic of many conversations on these sites, because of its shocking but brutally honest content. It has become so popular in this day and age with reality shows that, we become fixated and involved with the cast and the situations that they come across, that we sometimes feel as if we know them personally on some level.
Geordie Shore may not be the best show out there, but it is a great example of how everday issues that we are sometimes too afraid to talk about, can be brought up in debate on social media sites in the public sphere and can help make a difference.
Picture: http://www.momentaryreality.com/2012_11_01_archive.html?m=1
thicharabe 
Nice post. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Geordie Shore definitely brings up debate in the public sphere. But possibly it’s commercialisation and sensationalisation has caused it to lose its independent critical edge.
Yes i agree i think it has due to how popular it has become. They probably feel as if they need to show more shocking things such as drunken antics to continue their popularity instead of other issues
Yes another Geordie Shore lover! I never really thought why I am interested in watching people make complete fools of themselves and our society as a whole.. but hey it definitely addresses the five common criticisms against the mediated public sphere. Plus the show brings on discussion whether it be positive or negative opinions it’s sparking a reaction out of us.