Reality TV is most watched and popular because other people enjoy seeing public humiliation of others. The whole point of reality TV now is to watch a character suffer from whatever consequence that he or she gets in the show such as being brainwashed, having a constant reminder of the horrible crime she committed, being humiliated on national television, and being scared for her life every day. The audience takes pleasure in watching others misfortune because it's not happening to them and makes it seem like what they go through isn't really all that bad compared to the character(s). The Black Mirror is a reality TV show that shows a woman being tortured mentally and physically because of a crime she committed. In society today, reality TV is becoming a huge deal and people love to watch it now a days, its rating have sky rocketed within the last year. The show Black Mirror is a prime example of how Americans love to watch people in pain and makes them feel good because they are not the ones suffering.

 In the article, "Public Humiliation in Reality TV" by Castillo, it stated some of the top reasons why reality TV is on the rise and is getting more and more popular on a day to day basis. The audience feeds off of the agony of the participant whether it's amusing to them, gratifying, glad it's happening to others rather than themselves, or just feeling blessed that they have it better than someone else. It's also sends a false hope of security to the viewers. The fact that people get pleasure from torturing people is a little scary and quite disgusting if you ask me. This article can be related to the woman from the Black Mirror who committed a crime and is receiving her cruel punishment by being a part of a live reality TV show starring her. Based off the film, I think that she was a "special case" and they were experimenting on her a new found punishment by brainwashing her just enough so that she can remember only what she did and nothing else. As she is so confused to what is happening to her little did she know that she was pretty much being used as a guinea pig for this new found punishment the people of society came up with. Reading this article made me feel like humans continue to get more and more ruthless as time goes on and this was seen in the episode of the Black Mirror over and over again. 

Another article that supports the idea of why Americans like reality TV is "Why America Love Reality TV" by Steven Reiss and James Wiltz. In this article, it discusses several things about what intrigues Americans to watch reality TV. It explains how reality TV disperses throughout American lives and how we get more and more of it through TV, the web, magazines, and even live in person. Also in the article, there was a survey that took place on the viewing habits and desires to watch reality TV. The results of the survey even surprised the experts, with two of the main results being so they can talk to their friends and co-workers about the show, and it made the viewers feel more intelligent than the participants in the reality show. 

The article goes on the explain how viewers who like reality TV think that the more attention you get means you get a special status or you feel more important than the others that are being ignored. The competitive nature of humans seems to be strong in those who watch reality TV on a consistent bases. The viewers want to be the celebrities and the million dollar star on the new reality show and gain all the fame because they think they can do a better job than the participant. The competitive nature in the viewers thirst for being the new thing, the reality star and get everything that comes with it. In connection to the black mirror, the viewers would like to be the woman who is being tortured because she gets all the attention and want to be the star of their own reality show. In the Black Mirror the woman received attention by getting cameras in her face, people recording her, everyone knew her and was saying her name, was a star in a reality TV show, and her being a good actor. Even though she is going through a rough experience, people still want to be here because of all the notoriety she constantly receives.

In conclusion, the Black Mirror is showing us how society falls in love with the perks if being in a reality TV show whether it's good or bad. Because of the dramatic increase in the views of Reality television Americans seek the pleasure and attention it brings but doesn't want to suffer while receiving the attention they desire.

