The Family

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Participants in 1974 reality TV series 'The Family' with the producer.

Title sequence to the first British reality TV series,'The Family' from 1974 - a controversial and widely discussed television experiment of the time, and a precursor to more recent reality TV series of recent years. Opening scene shows the series producer discussing with the Wilkins family in their small kitchen in Reading how the process will change their lives and reactions by different family members to this.
From: The Family:Compilation
First Broadcast : 12 October 1974

Teachers' notes

Age Group : 14-16,16+

Subject : Media Studies, Sociology

Topic : Reality genre, Community and culture

Keywords : Representation, The Family, History of reality television, Opening titles, Working class representation,

Notes : Analyse sequence with respect to the features of 'reality' tv. How is the reality established - location, mise en scene, language used, period, etc.? Whose perspective dictates the making and the organising of the filming? Representation issues.

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