TOWIE is a cross between documentary, soap and reality show. The people in the show are all real, but some of the stuff they do has been set up purely for the viewers entertainment. The show shows the lives of people who live in Essex and what they get up to on a daily basis. Part of the reason why the show became such a huge success is because, just like most other constructed reality show, it gives the viewer a glimpse in to a little known community that appears unfamiliar, glamorous and quite absurd to outsiders. It shows tasteless night clubs, nail bars, big hair, parties, a very self obsessed cast covered in fake tans and introducing new phrases to the English language, such as "reem" (desireable), "wel jel" (well jealous) and "sick" (good/cool).
The show follows 9 main characters, all of them are rich, having expensive life styles and works as glamour model, night club manager, fashion worker, singer etc. You see them at their home, work, with family and friends. there is no actual interviewer in the show. The questions getting asked is by the different characters in the show.
TOWIE has been criticised for its negative and stereotypical representation. The show only shows the viewers how one class of Essex people live. It shows us their personal experiences and what happens in their lives, which is real, but it's not based on real life facts.TOWIE is both performative and observational:
- There are no interviews through the series.
- You never see any equipment, crew or director.
- There is no V.O apart from the very beginning.
- The subjects pretend that they are being filmed (performative)
- The audience is dressed in an emotional and direct way
- The subject matter is about their identity more than actual facts
- It isn't interactive because there is no interviewer
The Only Way is Essex follows peoples lives, yet you know that the characters aren't acting 100% naturally because of the cameras. Although it is classed part documentary you don't find real facts, you just find out information about the way certain people that live in a certain place.
Even though I do find TOWIE a quite watchable I would not class it as a documentary because of the lack on the factual aspect of the series.
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