Top definition
A truly saddening development of modern media. Programming which lacks any redeeming social, intellectual or moral value but is nonetheless poigniant in a macabre way due to the reflection it offers of a rapidly declining western culture. Primarily watched by mindless, brainwashed Americans who are long since bereft of any intelligent thought or recognizable human values (greed and self-interest notwithstanding).
Reality TV is one of the major reasons I decided to stop watching television entirely. That, and the fact that every news station in the country is owned by a very small number of rich white males who have absolutely no vested interest whatsoever in educating the public, offering useful information, or doing anything other than making more money than any human being could possibly have practical use for over several lifetimes.
by Erik Jacobson May 20, 2005
May 22 Word of the Day
A moment that is generally agreed to have had a significant influence on pop culture and everyday life. While the term was coined by Rose McGowan in context of the #MeToo movement, and is mostly associated with the K-pop community, the phenomenon is universal and a basic component of how culture works.
Real world events such as social/political movements, the election of a new U.S. President, major catastrophes and disasters, as well as entertainment such as movies, music and TV, can all function as cultural resets. Notable cultural resets in relatively recent memory include:
* The Beatles appearing on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964
* The Watergate scandal of 1974
* The release of Nevermind by Nirvana in 1991
* The September 11, 2001 attacks
* The election and inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009
* The COVID-19 pandemic
Real world events such as social/political movements, the election of a new U.S. President, major catastrophes and disasters, as well as entertainment such as movies, music and TV, can all function as cultural resets. Notable cultural resets in relatively recent memory include:
* The Beatles appearing on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964
* The Watergate scandal of 1974
* The release of Nevermind by Nirvana in 1991
* The September 11, 2001 attacks
* The election and inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009
* The COVID-19 pandemic
"The Nineties politically started with the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989 and the Soviet Union dissolving on December 26, 1991, and ended with both the 2000 Presidential election which saw the victory of George W. Bush and the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 which left people so stupefied that it functioned as something of a cultural reset button." - TV Tropes' article on the 1990s
by Spike from Degrassi February 09, 2021
2
Shallow television because reality TV is a one trick pony. It relies on stretching out tension ridiculously and keeping interest with promising plot twists. In most cases, after you see a reality tv series once you pretty much show no interest to watch it again, and that's the only factor that will keep dramas and comedies alive on television. Unfortunately reality TV has saturated the networks so much that mundane fictional television shows are getting praise because there is a huge lack of variety despite hundreds and hundreds of channels. Reality tv = tv hell
by ih8uplzdie November 01, 2004
4
Shows that get their entertainment value from the fake suffering of the cast members going through "real life" situations that never happen in the first place.
by poopie face April 26, 2003