"For a lot of people, a 'dream home' is out of reach and just owning a home is a dream"
"Reality TV has a certain voyeuristic appeal that is almost repulsive."
"We want to see normal people, people just like us, put into abnormal situations."
"Whether it's the dating games of Love Island or the final question of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, much of the appeal comes from seeing people we could walk by on the street elevated to the status of celebrity."
Many people view a dream home as out of reach and consider merely owning a home a significant aspiration. Economic and social pressures make upgraded housing unattainable for large segments of the population. Reality television draws viewers through a voyeuristic appeal that mixes fascination and repulsion. Audiences enjoy watching ordinary people placed in abnormal situations, creating a contrast between everyday life and heightened circumstances. Programs such as Love Island and Who Wants to Be A Millionaire capitalize on that dynamic by turning people encountered in daily life into temporary celebrities. The juxtaposition of aspiration and spectacle fuels both housing longing and TV interest.
Read at Independent
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