1. 04 March 2010 · 11:11 PM ·

    Abstract 2

    Laura Delarato
    Abstract 2
    Due: March 8, 2010
    Prof. Wilder
    T.A. Sanja Trpkovic



    When Bad Girls Go Good: Models of the Self and Reality on VH1’s Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School
    By Alice Holbrook and Amy E. Singer

    This article explains that the ideas behind VH1’s Charm School contradict with the ideas that go into making a reality television program and the contestants that are on that show. The idea was to take the eliminated participants on VH1’s Flavor of Love and rehabilitate them back to living outside of being a celebrity. The article explicates the show wanted the contestants to gain a sense of self-perception, by understanding their own identity and their identity given to all those who watch the show, and for them to be able to separate themselves from the pedestal of celebridom. Audiences can see the difference between themselves and the celebrities they admire, but with reality television the lines are blurred so that viewers see that anyone can become a celebrity. Now that these contestants have pandered to the audience by being wrecklace on national television, they have to reverse the celebrity creation by teaching self-identity. Holbrook and Singer did cast interviews and called upon specific times in the show to see the self-reflective moments of the contestants. Also, they show that the contestants control their own reality on the show by comparing camera angles and reaction shots to other reality programming to argue whether or not a script was involved.  The article should have touched more upon the nicknames given to the contestants and whether or not that could have played a role in their identity. The article gave a great understanding of a person’s relationship to a celebrity in reality television and how real life can be lost when you lose your self-identity to a life-like portrayal of yourself on a television show.

    Key terms: identity, television, women, perception, contestants, reality, celebrity

    Citation: When Bad Girls Go Good. By: Holbrook, Alice; Singer, Amy E.. Journal of
    Popular Film & Television, Spring2009, Vol. 37 Issue 1, p34-43, 10p, 1 chart, 6
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