This is the end of reality and I'm still feeling fine

Eight years before the dawn of the new millennium, an American rightist thinker wrote a book titled The End of History and the Last Man, prophetizing that capitalism and democracy would triumph after the fall of communism.

However, at the start of the new millennium, it is not only history that has reached a conclusive stage with the advent of capitalism and democracy, but reality, as indicated paradoxically by the "reality" shows constantly shown on television.

Reality is apparently no longer of interest as the masses opt to be entertained by so-termed reality shows, which are a lot less concerned with truths and facts than, uh, the `real' reality.

How many families on the planet lead a lifestyle as lavish as the Osbournes', while also managing to be as bored and shallow? Yet, their family life is promoted as being one of everyday concerns and activities and millions of people tune in to watch the "real world".

Another "highly regarded" reality program is one that shows a pack of young men and women fighting their way up the corporate ladder to please a tycoon with bad hair and a sprawling business empire, who will hire them if they can get the job done.

The show's premise is preposterous. To qualify as an apprentice contestants were asked to accomplish simple tasks, such as selling bottled water or renovating an apartment.

If only getting a job was that easy; the millions of jobless would be assured of work.

The reality-show onslaught has spared no corner of the globe.

In this country, stations air more mundane and compassionate reality shows, albeit no less preposterous.

Most shows involve the host giving a huge amount of cash to utterly poor folks -- usually street vendors -- and encouraging them to spend it on the things they need the most.

And astonishingly, a new TV set always tops the cash winners' shopping list. Life is hard but we need entertainment, including reality shows, they acknowledge.

Behind the smokescreen of compassion, such shows, however are aimed at satisfying stingy viewers, who can sit back and relax while others dole out charity.

There are also numerous shows that make fun of people by setting them up in adverse situations just to see their reactions. Does this type of thing happen in real life?

And then there is the controversial reality show that features dozens of gorgeous women competing to win the heart of a surfer hunk who hypothetically owns a fortune.

The show has been proudly promoted by the TV station that airs it as the first adaptation in Asia of the American original.

A reality? Adapted?

The contradiction in terms alone points to the fact that this is nought else but entertainment.

But there are people who have enough time on their hands to make a fuss over it.

Women activists say the show robs women of their dignity, while social analysts call it a blatant exploitation of that sacred thing called love.

There are also people who defend the show. Those people recently staged a rally in front of the building of the broadcaster.

To appease the critics, the TV station decided to shift the program to a graveyard hour.

Life has indeed become so tiresome that people would rather watch an orchestrated reality than the cold, hard reality that is all around us -- and would make a gripping and more plausible show.

If the recent arrest of a General Elections Commission (KPU) member was the result of a setup then that would be decent material for a series.

Corruption is a grim reality in this country, so why not set up a team to bust embezzlers, film them around the clock in order that no bribes are given or received and sit back to enjoy a true-to-life reality show. -- M. Taufiqurrahman