Here are links and videos featuring discussions of the relationship between the reality television craze dominating the U.S. entertainment industry and feminist representation and cultural psyche in America. Jennifer Pozner of Women in Media & News cites the misogynistic qualities of reality shows in this clip.

The feature documentary American Cannibal explores the influence and power of reality television on American culture and the entertainment market, centered around the plot of two writers who reluctantly resort to developing a reality pilot as a means to establish their skills and opportunities in the television business. Here is the trailer.

Some of the most insightful comments in American Cannibal came from Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show. In this scene, she explains the misguided impact of reality shows on how audience members view and treat their peers.

Quite possibly, one causal contribution to this television trend - nonfiction programming being produced at an incredible rate for commercial entertainment purposes - could be the consolidation of media and communication corporations and networks over the past half-century. The diversity of ideology in mainstream news, entertainment, broadcasting, and inter-communication has narrowed itself to the interests of about five major companies. Read my other entry for more details.