This document provides an overview and analysis of the British reality television shows Made in Chelsea (MIC) and The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE). It argues that both shows exhibit postmodern qualities by mixing genres like drama, soap opera, and documentary. While they are presented as reality television, close analysis shows they are not entirely realistic due to possible scripting and a lack of candid conversations with cameras. Both shows also glorify style over substance and promote unrealistic lifestyles.

1. Postmodern Text’s:
Made In Chelsea &
The Only Way Is Essex
By Joanne Aroda

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zeoL5cIqJI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sprSMdXK1
MY
‘MIC’ & ‘TOWIE’: Overview
Made In Chelsea The Only Way Is Essex
• The show began airing in 2011 in E4
•‘MIC’ is a reality based in Chelsea following
the lives of elite, social young adults
• Like ‘TOWIE’ its debateable if the show is
completely reality
• As at some points events and reactions seem
scripted (Less so than ‘TOWIE’)
• The show began airing in 2010 on ITV2
• ‘TOWIE’ is a reality show focusing on
peoples daily lives
• Following a group of ‘friends’ on the
ventures
• Its not 100% clear if the show is reality or
scripted
Trailer Trailer

3. ‘MIC’ & ‘TOWIE’: Hybridisation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oopIzmxiHzc&safe=activehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJMwidIMs-M
Made In Chelsea: Postmodern ? The Only Way Is Essex: Postmodern ?
Yes both texts are postmodern
Especially as they are a product of not one genre but several, becoming a hybrid
•Drama: The arguments and bitchiness
•Soap: The on going story line
•Reality: Real life setting, real people
•Documentary: Observation
This is a representation of ‘Bricolage’ as conventions have been mixed and reused so
many times it has now made its own genre with codes and conventions that views
would recognise.

4. ‘MIC’ & ‘TOWIE’
• We would associate such shows as
reality as we would recognise
certain conventions and code
• But at close analysis are these shows
truly reality
• The ‘Reality’ element missing are
the one to one conversations people
would have with a camera stating
there feelings on an event
• Both shows are missing this.
• Such shows that would have the
reality element are...
Keeping Up With The Kardashians Bad Girls Club

5. ‘MIC’ & ‘TOWIE’: Culture
Made In Chelsea The Only Way Is Essex
• ‘MIC’ could be seen as a cross for high and
low culture
• high culture: From their clothes, lavish
lifestyles, last minute holidays
• Low culture: To there kind of language and
sometimes clothing
• ‘TOWIE’ at first sight would be seen as
low culture but on second glance has
some aspects of high culture
• Low culture: The terminology, accent,
tans & make-up
• High culture: Their choice of clothing

6. ‘MIC’ & ‘TOWIE’: Postmodern?
Made In Chelsea: Postmodern ? The Only Way Is Essex: Postmodern ?
• The popularity of the show through
dominate characters allowed to show to
branch out into other ventures i.e
• Amy Childs Mark Wright
Become popular through
‘TOWIE’
Was able to expand and have
her own perfume and clothing
line
Become popular through
‘TOWIE’
Gave him a show and many
TV appearances
• The popularity of the show gave free
advertisement for there different
ventures i.e
• Jamie Laing
• Dominant character.
Known for being the
good guy
His popularity allowed him to successfully open a sweet shop

7. The Only Way Is Essex AdMade In Chelsea Parody
‘MIC’ & ‘TOWIE’: Adverts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLW3_Ieckm4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BiunLu6Xf4
• Editing is always key in such shows, allowing
producers to change the agenda of the narrative
• Portray characters in such ways to gain views
• This ‘MIC’ Trailer plays on over exaggeration of well
known moments in the show
•The agenda from this as is to create humour, as it
acknowledges its own text and portrays it in a funny
way, now becoming a parody
• Like ‘MIC’ for the ad ‘TOWIE’ has heavy relied on
editing
• The agenda was to portray them as ditsy and
stupid to gain laughs and create a buzz
• This in turn brings in views which is the overall
aim of the use of manipulation
Parody Pink Screen
EEErrm
Chicken
I'm
Stupid

8. ‘MIC’ & ‘TOWIE’: Style Over Substance
Made In Chelsea The Only Way Is Essex
• Both shows glorify style over substance
• Both promote hypersexuality & hyperbeauty
Hypersexuality through revealing clothing and public acts of affection
Hyperbeauty as every
they are known for is their
classy style separating
them from the common
man
Hyperbeauty as there looks
are their only assets in their
community (friendship
groups, glorified through
over use of fake tan and
eyelashes

9. The Only Way Is EssexMade In Chelsea
‘MIC’ & ‘TOWIE’
• Shows such as these are constructed for
more passive audiences ‘hypodermic
needle’
• They just consume what's put in front of
them and the ‘injected’ ideologies without
question, i.e. the idea that all people in
‘Essex’ act the same as the cast
• Both shows do have Pluralist viewers, who
would question and watch with being able
to analyse and argue ideologies and
perceptions
• i.e. concluding only a small demographic
act in such a way in ‘Towie’ which has been
over exaggeration

10. The Only Way Is EssexMade In Chelsea
‘MIC’ & ‘TOWIE’: Hypereality
• Both shows portray lifestyles ‘the average Joe’
would want to aspire to. ‘hypereality’ from
Bodrillard
• This is more accepted by ‘Passive audiences’
accepting their kinds of lifestyle, from clothes to
style
• Pluralist views don't accept it and instead accept
their own ‘True’ lifestyle’ aware of such shows
fabrication of ‘reality

11. The Only Way Is EssexMade In Chelsea
‘MIC’ & ‘TOWIE’: Voyeurism
• The art of watching
• ‘Reality shows’ reflects a voyeuristic
postmodern society
•The idea that we don't act the same when in
public... Then how can such shows truly be
reality
•We dont but what we can go on is their social
lives through social media
•But even so we still construct our lives online
with what we want to portray to other and
hold back what we think is unappealing