Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth About Guilty Pleasure TV (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
Is this book a past selection from a freshman "Media Studies 101" survey course? Was the course taught by a militant feminist grad student at State U? It sure felt like it. The author wasted 300+ pages repeatedly positing the same argument, namely that reality television is sexist, classist and racist. (Most of us have already figured this out) I had higher hopes for this book. On a more positive note, I enjoyed some of the behind the scenes factoids that peppered the text. These little bits were informative and enjoyable, especially if one is interested in finding out more about the sausage making aspect of reality television production. Full disclosure: I never finished the book, but I spent as much time with it as if I had finished it.The reasons I didn't finish it but tried for weeks to do so:1) I had to read it for work.2) The author is strongly against reality tv, and I am, too, so it's like preaching to the choir for HOURS.3) The opening (prologue/intro) was terribly organized, as far as writing goes, and had a weird high school term paper vibe.4) The writer had extensive knowledge of reality tv series I hadn't even seen, much less heard of, and I didn't really care beyond being impressed by her research.5) The writing was so forceful and aggressive that I couldn't help but wonder if the writer had been transformed by the medium she was critiquing.I suppose the book is excellent as a flip-through type book, or a research and reference document, but I don't think it's one most would enjoy reading cover to cover.
What do You think about Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth About Guilty Pleasure TV (2010)?
I'm so far behind on writing about books I've read, but I'll get to this one soon.
—avirina
everyone who watches reality tv, and even tv in general, should read this book!
—Christopher
Tempted to give it 5 stars, but I spotted some factual errors.
—Risika
