One of my not-so-secret dirty pleasures is reality television. I eat it up and love every moment of it. Everything from the cutthroat contests like Survivor (possibly my favorite) to the ridiculously corny mtv and vh1 shows like Rock of Love and Tool Academy. People often make fun of me when I admit my adoration of these shows, but honestly I find it hard to mind. Even knowing how ridiculous reality television can be, I still find myself drawn to it. Reflecting on some of my favorite shows, I actually think it makes me a better writer.
Now I'm sure anyone reading this blog is thinking to themselves, what the hell is she thinking. But all I have to do is look back at some of my favorite tribal councils in Survivor and I know I'm on to something. Reality television gives me insight into the human psyche. The disbelieving hope and joy as someone realizes their dream the first time they get to sing or dance on stage. The heartbreak as someone doesn't get a rose. And the willpower and strategic planning it takes to get ahead.
Through these shows I see not just the average everyday side of people but also The extraordinary lengths people go to when pushed against a wall. There are the conniving villains who go to such extremes as to tell their tribe their grandmother died to stay on the island another week or burn someones socks to control their emotions.
More interesting than the villains themselves are the people who play with them and the way they behave toward them. So many different people who range from hating to tolerating to actually enjoying their behavior. It's fascinating to watch people play these games and truly gives me insight into how their minds grapple with problems.
So as the latest season of Big Brother starts up on CBS, I find myself avidly watching and excited to see what this season will bring. Because the more I broaden my knowledge of the human psyche, the better equipped I can be when creating characters. Do I plan to have my characters screaming and throwing tantrums like in some of these shows? Most definitely not. But can I use certain elements of contestants to give my characters new depth? Certainly!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
My Blogging Absence
I realize it's been awhile since my last post and wanted to explain.
Unfortunately, one of my dogs hasn't been doing so well lately and on Friday we had to put him down. It's never easy to loose a loved one, even a pet, but in the end it sometimes is the last act of love you can do for them. The end is always difficult but after fourteen years, it's easy to remember the good times.
I was a teenager when my family got Tucker, an adorable soft coated wheaten terrier, from a breeder in Michigan. As soon as we stepped into the yard, we were overwhelmed by jumping, wiggling, furry bodies begging to be petted and held. After maybe an hour of playing with the cutest brown and black balls of fur, the breeder held out one with a dark blue ribbon and introduced us to our newest family member. We spent hours trying to come up with a name that appealed to all of us, the puppy sleeping without a care after hours of playing. Finally, my dad looked at the resting body and exclaimed, "That dog is really tuckered out." and that was it, Tucker.
He was so tiny at first, he slept under the ridge on the bottom of the kitchen cabinets, and of course, in my room. The first couple nights were rough. He cried all night long and left barely any time for sleep, until I came up with the idea to sleep with him on the floor. He cuddled into me and fell asleep right away. Although I adored him before, I think that was the moment I fell in love.
Leaving him to go to college was hard. My parents bought me a wheaten stuffed animal and placed his puppy collar around it's neck so he'd always be around me in some small way. I remember him running to the door to greet me whenever I came home, his tail furiously wagging as he jumped up and down as if he couldn't get close enough. The whole summer after graduation, he followed me around as if fearing I'd disappear.
He gave me fourteen years of loyalty and unwavering love. It was easy to give him my love in return. He had a good life and remembering all the good times makes the end easier.
Unfortunately, one of my dogs hasn't been doing so well lately and on Friday we had to put him down. It's never easy to loose a loved one, even a pet, but in the end it sometimes is the last act of love you can do for them. The end is always difficult but after fourteen years, it's easy to remember the good times.
I was a teenager when my family got Tucker, an adorable soft coated wheaten terrier, from a breeder in Michigan. As soon as we stepped into the yard, we were overwhelmed by jumping, wiggling, furry bodies begging to be petted and held. After maybe an hour of playing with the cutest brown and black balls of fur, the breeder held out one with a dark blue ribbon and introduced us to our newest family member. We spent hours trying to come up with a name that appealed to all of us, the puppy sleeping without a care after hours of playing. Finally, my dad looked at the resting body and exclaimed, "That dog is really tuckered out." and that was it, Tucker.
He was so tiny at first, he slept under the ridge on the bottom of the kitchen cabinets, and of course, in my room. The first couple nights were rough. He cried all night long and left barely any time for sleep, until I came up with the idea to sleep with him on the floor. He cuddled into me and fell asleep right away. Although I adored him before, I think that was the moment I fell in love.
Leaving him to go to college was hard. My parents bought me a wheaten stuffed animal and placed his puppy collar around it's neck so he'd always be around me in some small way. I remember him running to the door to greet me whenever I came home, his tail furiously wagging as he jumped up and down as if he couldn't get close enough. The whole summer after graduation, he followed me around as if fearing I'd disappear.
He gave me fourteen years of loyalty and unwavering love. It was easy to give him my love in return. He had a good life and remembering all the good times makes the end easier.
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