Task 4 - Hyperreality

An example that I believe to be a form of hyperreality is the images which are presented to represent 'student life'. A number of TV series, including Skins, Fresh Meat, and Hollyoaks all present themselves to be the simulation of student life; aiming to copy reality. They present what is believed to be the 'typical' student life, with students drinking, partying and generally having a good time with not so much actual studying going on. Fresh Meat is a prime example of this.

The series focus' on 6 students which are all starting their first year at University and have landed living in the same house together. Granted that you don't know who you may end up living with which makes this aspect of the show the simulacra, but the show took it upon themselves to present to the audience 6 completely different individuals that would potentially attend University.

In reality, they wouldn't form the sort of friendship that they do throughout the series, but they do present behaviour that overtime has become the hyperreal aspect of the lifestyle. This includes not engaging with the course in which they have chosen to study and not doing any of the work to a suitable level in order to achieve a pass but are still passing. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol on any chosen day in which they please regardless of whether they are required to be in University. Sleeping with any random person they have met in a bar and being careless about the consequences. Flirting with the tutor in order to obtain a higher level of achievement with the course which is being studied. Eating any food which they can get their hands on and producing 'new' meals which they have come up with, which is basically just using up what ever food it is that they have left. Being generally lazy, and many more examples throughout.

By these TV shows presenting these images to a younger audience, they are lead to believe that this is what it would be like to move away from home and attend University, approaching the real world of being a student through an image of the real world of being a student. Only to later be disappointed with the actual reality of it, and ending up with a whole lot of work and studying to actually be doing, and in thousands of pounds worth of debt.