Documentary

 =__**DOCUMENTARY**__=

The documentary is one genre of reality television programs that highlights personal or professional activities, documents scientific exploration and analysis, or records the home or lifestyle makeovers of ordinary people. These types of shows contain almost no competitive events and focuses on documenting an activity rather than dramatizing it. Through documentary shows the viewer is led through a journey of discovery by temporarily entering the lives of other people. The documentary reality TV show is not the same as a documentary film which usually has an agenda of social change.

Web 2.0 tools allows users to not only identify with a story by viewing it on television, but to interact with each other and with people from the show itself. Making note of the thousands and tens of thousands of Twitter Tweets, Facebook friends and postings, YouTube viewers and commentators is proof of this. This social interaction is the very essence of what defines Web 2.0., fostering as a result a real sense of community amongst followers of each show.

Following are five artifacts that illustrate the social media aspect of the documentary genre of reality television programs in American society, using five different social media tools: blogging, Facebook, vidcasts, Twitter, and YouTube.

**1. Meteorite Men - Blog**

 * This show documents the everyday activity of a specific interest: meteorite hunting.**

Meteorite hunters Steve Arnold and Geoff Notkin travel to meteorite impact sites around the world with various metal detectors and equipment to find meteorites. They find them buried and just lying on the ground and then consult with other experts in the scientific community to evaluate their finds. Geoff’s blog chronicles his activities as well as exploring the world of meteorite hunting in more depth. The blog website also shows Twitter entries along with large photographs and information about the meteorites. Meteorite Men also has a Facebook page. The official Science Channel website is at [], and Geoff Notkin's blog site can be accessed at []





**2. Who Do You Think You Are? - Facebook**

 * This show documents the everyday activity of a specific career: Genealogist and Archivist.**

Celebrities consult with archivists and genealogy experts to explore unknown aspects of their family history. Genealogy is massively popular and Facebook is a perfect way for members of this community to socialize and trade information and ideas about genealogy and the show. A Community page on the website offers links to Twitter and fan discussion groups as well. The NBC website for this show is at [] and the Facebook page can be accessed at []





**3. MythBusters – Vidcasts**

 * MythBusters documents scientific exploration and analysis**

This show started out trying to prove or disprove urban legends using scientific methods (and blowing things up as often as possible!), and has evolved to include proving or disproving any scientifically measurable idea or theory. One of the popular features of the show is slowing down the action to see what exactly is going on during an event, like shooting an arrow through an apple. Their website highlights vidcast excerpts from the show. There is a link to share the vidcasts on YahooBuzz, del.icio.us, Digg, Mixx, Facebook, and other social media sites. The home page also has links to fan discussion forums, Twitter, the MythBusters Facebook page, and an RSS feed. A fan site webpage from the Discovery channel website can be viewed at [] and the vidcasts be accessed at []





**4. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – Twitter**

 * This show documents the home makeover of an ordinary family.**

A group of designers, builders, and volunteers come together to build, landscape, and decorate a new home for a deserving family. The Twitter feed for this program has comments from cast members and fans alike, and follows the progress of the show while it is being filmed, as well as updates about upcoming shows. ABC's official website also has viewer surveys about the show, fan forums, and a link to the Facebook page. The home page for the show can be found at [] and the Twitter feed can be accessed at []





**5. What Not To Wear – YouTube**

 * This show documents a personal lifestyle makeover.**

Fashion experts Stacy London and Clinton Kelly give a fashion-challenged participant money to buy a new wardrobe while advising them about the best colors and styles for them. The show includes a makeup and hair makeover. YouTube is an excellent way to feature short clips from the show along with short lessons about topics like how to choose the best jeans or suits. Each video has views in the many thousands, plus hundreds of comments. From the shows home page the viewer can read a blog from one of the participants in the show, and access the shows Facebook page, Twitter, and an RSS feed. The TLC Channel website for this show is at [] and the YouTube videos can be viewed at []

 ﻿ Brenton.S. & Cohen, R. (2003). //Shooting people: Adventures in reality TV//. London, UK: Verso. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=k7Ckwy6OZKsC&pg=PA46&lpg=PA46&dq=reality+tv+impact+shooting+people&source=bl&ots=dUJhf2zQW0&sig=imF_EvO-1lRUsfaXS1XGaqRLX3A&hl=en&ei=fVfITbTzGcfPiAKJ2LiGBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false