Food reality television

Food reality television
Parent using a remote control and young girl in front of a television in a blurry background
An adult and child watching television
Stylistic originsFood reality television evolved from domestic advice programmes and cooking segments heard on radio, live demonstrations performed in supermarkets and column's of domestic advice in women's magazines.
Cultural originsThe United States
FeaturesFood reality television deals exclusively with food. Programming considers the production, consumption and sociocultural impact of food.
PopularityBroadcast television offers viewers a minimum of 12 hours of designated food programming each week
Subgenres
Documentary-style, Adventure-travel, Game show and Cooking-as-lifestyle
Related genres
Drama, Documentary, Comedy, Game show, Reality television
Related topics
Sociology, Psychology, Television Studies

Food reality television is a genre of reality television programming that considers the production, consumption and/or sociocultural impact of food.

Reality food television emerged as a recognisable sub-genre in the 1940s. Historically, food reality television sought to educate viewers on matters of food.[1] Early programmes such as Elsie Presents, The Diane Lucas Show and Cook's Night Out imparted 'specific, practical skills'[2] on the viewer, and provided ad-lib commentary on matters of homemaking, home entertaining and motherhood.[3] As the genre evolved, and the Food Network channel launched, food reality television sought also to entertain.[4] Programmes such as Great Chefs, Boiling Point and A Cook's Tour combined the factual information of their ancestors with the personal and confessional nature of unscripted television.[5] 'Delia's "how to cook" gave way to Nigella and Jamie's "how to live"[6] This 'factual entertainment' function has persisted and unifies food reality television's contemporary subgenres.[5] These subgenres include documentary-style, adventure-travel, game show and cooking-as-lifestyle.

According to critics, food reality television has had a significant impact on food production and consumption behaviours. Food reality television has been linked to a decline in culinary practice in the home,[6] the development of culinary taste[1] and the transition of food from 'necessity' to 'hobby'.[5]

Food reality television has been praised by critics for creating opportunities for 'real people'[7] and removing barriers to healthy eating.[8] Food reality television has been criticised for its inescapability,[6] and promotion of overconsumption.[9]

  1. ^ a b de Solier, Isabelle (2005). "TV Dinners: Culinary Television, Education and Distinction". Continuum.
  2. ^ Stasheff, Edward (1951). "The television program: its writing, direction and production". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Brost, Lori F. (2000). "Television cooking shows: Defining the genre". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ Packham, Charley (2016). "A Woman's Place Is in the Kitchen? The Relationship Between Gender, Food and Television". Food, Media and Contemporary Culture.
  5. ^ a b c Packham, Charley (2016). "A Woman's Place Is in the Kitchen? The Relationship Between Gender, Food and Television". Food, Media and Contemporary Culture.
  6. ^ a b c Scholes, Lucy (2011). "A slave to the stove? The TV celebrity chef abandons the kitchen: lifestyle TV, domesticity and gender". The Critical Quarterly. 53 (3): 44–59. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8705.2011.02004.x.
  7. ^ Hill, Annette (2015). "Reality TV". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Lane, Samantha (2015). "The influence of celebrity chefs on a student population" (PDF). The British Food Journal. 117 (2): 614–628. doi:10.1108/BFJ-09-2013-0253.
  9. ^ Pope, Lizzy (2015). "Viewers vs. Doers. The relationship between watching food television and BMI". Appetite. 90: 131–135. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2015.02.035. PMID 25747286. S2CID 205612039.