blog 5

Choose a media artifact & critique it from an ethical standpoint. Does the artifact violate any of the ethical values discussed today, such as truthfulness, fairness, & public accountability? What argument do you think the producers of the artifact might make in their defense?

I will be discussing “The Biggest Loser” TV “reality” show. While this show is not the most high-rated of programs, it has high popularity among Americans, especially middle- and working- class television viewers. I don’t think that the show itself violates any ethical values. However, the prime entertainment of the show is to wallow in the pain and humiliation that the participants are subjected to, and this does seem unethical. Producers of this show are profiting from the embarrassment of other and playing off their own self-consciousness. The misery of other is exploited for entertainment and a profit. I do enjoy this show, because it is one of the few competition-style programs on reality TV in which I am cheering for everyone, hoping that they all do well. It seems unfair that the participants do not get to share in the profits that the CEO’s and producers generate from broadcasting their hardships. These people work very hard and suffer through so much embarrassment. You can bet that the producers do not care much for the feelings and welfare of these individuals. They only care for their own well-being and money these participants can make for them. The harder it is for the contestants, the more pain they suffer, the higher the ratings are, and thus higher profits. Many Americans enjoy watching this show because it is a real-life problems that faces a high percentage of American citizens, and seeing these people accomplish their goals gives us hope that we too can overcome extreme odds and beat the system that slows us down and stops us from reaching our goals. These people give us hope, and show us that our lives could be worse, and no matter how huge a problem may seem, we can overcome it if we work hard.
As far as ethical values go, there are definitely some issues with fairness and public accountability of the producers of the show. The producers make it seem like it is a possibility for anyone to lose excessive amounts of weight as long as they work hard, and cry. How healthy are the habits the trainers and dieticians are enforcing? Is it safe for these participants to change their lifestyle so drastically? Is it safe for them to lose so much weight so quickly? Also, is it likely that these people will continue these lifestyle changes, or will the go right back to their previous habits? This yo-yoing cannot be good for these people. The human body cannot sustain so many drastic changes. The key to successful weight loss is to have and maintain a healthy, practical lifestyle.
The producers might argue first, that the participants have signed up for this project. Second, they might argue that these people are already unhealthy because of their obesity. However, these excuses (that is what they are – mere excuses) do not mean it is safe, healthy, or ethical to subject participants to such a grueling physical and emotional trauma, and flaunt it for the world to see and make a profit. There has to be a more ethical way of helping Americans to overcome this obesity epidemic. This show is not a practical or ethical answer.