Page 63 - A Handbook Genre Studies in Mass Media

CHAPTER 3

with that genre. Examples include the gun duel in a Western, the wedding
scene in a romance, and the car chase in the action genre.
Identifying plot conventions can provide insight into the essen-
tial appeal of the genre. A prime example can be found in the Jerry
Springer Show, which became so popular that in 1998 it surpassed
the eleven-year reign of the Oprah Winfrey Show at the top of the rat-
ings. One of the formulaic plot conventions of the program was The
Fight. Each episode included a confrontation between two people—a
person confessing to their partner that he or she was cheating on the
partner or had a secret life of some sort. This admission would set off
a violent outburst. In the melee, females would tear off one another’s
clothing in the heat of battle, further inciting the audience. Security
guards would eventually break up the fight, to the cheers and exhorta-
tions of the audience.
However, after politicians such as Senator Joseph Lieberman
(D-Connecticut) and former secretary of education William Bennett
publicly decried the tone of the program, industry executives began to
express concerns. Robert Iger, president of ABC, declared, “I question
the logic of putting him on the air, and I believe the entire industry suf-
fers from the association.” 17
Adding to the controversy, it was then disclosed that guests were given
explicit instructions prior to the shows, such as “We want four fights,”
and were even threatened with lawsuits if there were no fisticuffs. Bow-
18
ing to public pressure, Springer Studios USA finally announced that the
show would eliminate the fighting. Significantly, after the changes were
implemented, the ratings for the show plummeted. Clearly, violence and
sex were critical elements in the popularity of the show.
Another troubling formulaic plot convention in the reality genre is
ritualistic humiliation. Being shamed publicly as punishment for failure
is found throughout the universe of reality shows, including Joe Million-
aire, Are You Hot?, Celebrity Boxing, Big Brother, Survivor, American
Idol, and Fear Factor. For instance, American Idol always includes a
contestant whose noticeable lack of talent makes him (or her) the butt
of jokes. Indeed, judge Simon Cowell gained notoriety for the cruelty
of his critiques. Although there is no bloodshed, being shamed publicly
is clearly a form of emotional violence. That audiences find this to be
entertaining is disturbing. Moreover, the willingness of contestants to
subject themselves to this humiliation demonstrates the lengths that
people will go to attract attention—even if it is negative.

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