Final

FEAR FACTOR
"Fear Is Not a Factor" 

Do you have an explanation why you watch reality television? Well, I do.

Host Joe Rogan, directs contestants to their task

There are many reality television shows to choose from but Fear Factor is one of the most stomach-turning reality television show back in 2001 from 2006. From their terrifying stunts to eating animal organs, bugs and rotten; it is the greatest fourty minutes spent.

You wonder why would anyone want to watch something frightening and stomach-turning. People fine it entertaining to watch others do disgusting and life threatening stuants. Why? In the episode, Horse Drag; Rat Pit; Slippery-Car Crawl of Fear Factor is a great example. Carlisle was the first person to be chosen do the first staunt, horse drag. But before he would do the staunt; he went through a process. First, he was picked through a lottery; that made it supenseful. Then he had did a mini interview with the host Joe to see how he was feeling; of course Carlisle was scared. By chosing the first contestant in a lottery pick it gives the audience an alert to watch the televison to see who it will be. Not only they think that they also think will  the person be phyiscally fit to successfully finish the challenge. The audience would want to feel connected and see the overview of the contestant is feeling; so there is always an interview that the show conducts before the staunts happen. When the first contestant has been called; there is always suspence, why?  The staunt they give not only frightening to the contestants it also frightening to the audience; that's what makes it attention grabbing and entertaining. Being dragged by a horse is not entertaining if its done by you, but to another person it is unbarable not to watch.

Last Challenge (S1E1)  Slipper-Car Crawl

Everything is better when it's a competition. People wouldn't watch something if it doesn't involve a competition. Also, people would not involve themselve in a show like Fear Factor if they do not get anything in return. They must be compteting for love, money, or fame. But in the show Fear Factor, they are fighting for a grand price of $50,000. When money is involved people would think of having a new life, car and money. People in this show came to do these frightful challenges to build a new life or have a better life. For an example everytime a contestant goes and does a staunt, Joe would always remind them why they are on the show. He would say "Come on, $50,000, hang on!" Which is in the show if you lose focus you lose the game. So, money is the motivation and people would go to the extreme for money. And viewers like to see this because it casues an effect where if they person on televison can do, they can. Which is why they watch televison. 

Reality televison would not be reailty televison if there were no fued. In this episode you discover that most of contestants are always against one another. You would be surprise of how many people would go against one others just for money. The contestants show how truthful they are when money comes along. Everyone think of one thing, themselve. The viewers would learn how the contestants are acting from back stabbing and know what people would do for money. 

Everyone has fears and is squeamish about something. According to Graham studies, mices are smart. They do not task the same way because they already know the outcome. In their memory. In this show it has to do with trail and error and that how people become more successful when they are expereiences these task in little time. What happens is that Fear Factor helps that person in a direct way from conquering their fears. And one of the ways people are conquering them is by rethinking about the money, relating their task to something personal. For an example, if a person is scared to go under water, they would remind themselves that they had gone through worse. For the audience, they would learn lessons from the contestants and feel connected to the experience they had gone through. This makes the television have a pathos feeling towards the audience. 

Nick Watts (S1E1) embeded with rats

There are different type of people when it comes to a challenge. There are the ones with the alter ego, the frightening ones, competitive, and the go with the flow ones. With contestants like these, it makes a diverse group of people with different personalities. In this episode of Fear Factor, the 6 peole that were cast were not similer. Carlyle was never a risk taker, but wanted to try something different. Wiston his main focus was to only win. Gabriel, she is nervous but she claims she is not quitter. Veronica is a tomboy who claims she can deal with any challenge on the other had Nick, is serious and not a quitter. Deirbre is the adventurous type who is trying new things. With all there personalities collollided it creates a real compitition that is worth watching. People who watches reality television try to envision themselves doing whatever the actors/contestants are doing. They would want to wish they were in their shoes or vice-versa. In this show of Fear Factor, audience would envision of doing their task way differently. 

Work Cited:

Wilson, Scott. "Blowing chunk: Fear Factor, reality television adna bjection as a disciplinary practice." Continuum: Journal of Media &Cultural Studies, vol. 24 no. 5, Oct. 2010, p751-751

Hibberd, James."Fear Factor Back for More Gross-out Stunts." Entertainment Weekly, no. 1159, June, 201, p. 23-33

Plooy, Christopher. "The fear-factor stress test: an ethical, noninvasive laboratory method that produces consistent and sustained cortisol respoding in men and women." metabolic Brain Diseases, vol. 29, no. 2, p. 385-394