(video above: Kim Kardashian 60 Minutes interview – Talks Privacy)
With the topic on the ‘Politics of Space’ and the separation of private and public space I am going to focus on reality television. Reality television brings private space into the public eye, which is why it brings such an interesting connection into the divide of public and private.
On reality television, I will be focusing on one popular show in particular, Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
The show Keeping Up with the Kardashians has been following the Kardashian family and filming their every moment since the start of season one in October of 2007. The broadcast company ‘E!’ has been “keeping up” with their lives from the births of new children to cheating scandals for over a decade. I think that the reason that reality TV is so successful is, because it tends to focus on interesting people, people that are different from everyday society. In the USA, broadcasting companies such as E! TLC and USA (company) make their profits from broadcasting reality TV. The reason that people continue to watch the Kardashians is because the life that we see on TV is a life that may be better than our own. A life full of interesting drama, scandals and wealth. Their lives are commercialised, making the broadcasting company E! bring in millions of dollars per episode and the Kardashian family are fortunate enough to make over $100 million per season just for existing. Just in the past 5 years, Keeping Up with the Kardashians has become extremely popular. The births of new children, the rise of the family on social media and their names always being in the spotlight has drawn new attention to this family and this show in particular. In the video that I attached, it focuses on the announcement and the journey up to the birth of Khloe’s child, True. I just found it odd that “E!” choose to broadcast the births of the Kardashian grandchildren as it is such a private moment for most people. I would think that a video of your child being born is something that you would want to keep as a personal memory, not for the entire world to be able to see. Then again, if is their job to broadcast their life, then are they just doing their job? Where is the line drawn between private and public in this scenario? Their lives and family drama are constantly broadcasted to the public eye. Their private space - their homes - are constantly being filmed and there are always people in their homes filming their every move. Does it ever become too much? In Kylie Jenner’s own show “Life of Kylie” (filmed just two years ago), she talks about having to start therapy to deal with her fame. When everyone is watching your every move and you have such a limited ‘private’ life, it can become very stressful. She talks about having to ‘put on another version of herself’ to the public. This has led to the image of the Kardashians and reality television to become sensationalised. Kylie also brings up how damaging reality TV can be to one’s image and to the public “I want to grow as a person the way that I want to grow.” (ET Interview, 2017). Kylie also talks about the hardest part of being in the public eye. “Your life is blasted all over the internet, you have to hear about other people’s opinions. It’s just unnecessary negativity. I feel like I’m in a relationship with the world sometimes. Some people are just born for this life and some people aren’t and I just know I’m not supposed to be famous. I care too much. I read too many things.” (HAYU clip). I think reality TV does not realise the impact that it has not only on the people watching the shows, but also the people who are a part of the shows. When one doesn’t have a private life anymore it can be destructive to their mental health – Where is the line drawn between private and public space in this scenario?
ET Interview; “‘Life of Kylie’ Episode 1: Kylie Jenner Starts Therapy to Deal With Fame” ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak9SsWeao7Y)
Clevver News: “Kylie Jenner Copes With Depression & Talks Hardest Part Of Dating In The Public Eye.”
HAYU: “Keeping Up With The Kardashians – Is Kylie Meant for Fame?”
HAYU: “Keeping Up With The Kardashians – Khloe’s Pregnancy & True” Thompson’s Birth. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgQUAkH2Gso
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