Both ‘Seven days’ and ‘The only way is Essex’ use forms of media conventions such as simulacra and simulation to create a contrast between reality and stimulated drama. A simulacrum is a copy without an original, an image or representation built by opinions and stereotypes; this is portrayed by the characters in ‘The only way is Essex’. In relation to this, simulation; the creation of the real through conceptual or "mythological" models with no connection to reality, is used greatly to suggest the fine line between reality and fantasy. Therefore, a world of hyper reality is created, where the real and unreal become indistinct, producing a closer relationship between the audience and the text, by the text becoming so blurred that the audience have an unclear perception of belief and so are more likely to believe the whole of the text rather than parts of it. This is shown within ‘Seven Days’ as portrayed as very realistic with realistic happenings on a day to day basis or on the other hand an artificial nature of the text could considerably distance the audience as presented in ‘The only way is Essex’.
In ‘Seven Days’ the characters and their lives are presented very realistically, whether the majority of the show actually is or not - this highlights a well created TV program. Each character is also very different - some rich, some poor, some intelligent and striving, some intelligent and not, this identifies a broad audience who can relate to each of the characters to enjoy and engage emotionally in the program. ‘Seven Days’ is so aware of itself it could almost define post modernism alone, this is shown by the characters talking to one and other about the program and the choices they are encouraged to make by the viewers, who are able to interact with the show online offering advice and guidance. The use of sound stands out to me as effective as they often have contemporary news headlines used as sound bridges between scenes to involve the viewer by relative important information.
In this case ‘The only way is Essex’ supports the theory of a simulated reality constructing a copy without an original this is shown through many of the scenes within ‘The only way is Essex’ for example; the way characters are represented is more the way you would see characters introduced in a TV drama soap such as ‘Hollyoaks’. This shows the self-awareness of the program portrayed as a ‘Reality’ show, where realistically the environments are simulated in comparison to ‘Seven Days’ where the scenes are illustrated as more realistic and less simulated. In ‘The only way is Essex’ environments are simulated around the stereotypes of ‘Essex lads and lasses’ this is indicated by the emphasis on the intellectual inability and the materialistic attitude of the women and the “young, industrious, mildly British and culturally barren” men concentrate on opening their night clubs and winning over the women with an overwhelming casual gesture of their wealth. Whereas in ‘Seven Days’ the characters aren’t as such represented by anything by being themselves, or appearing as though they are.
“Britney Spears is about an image, not simply the music” – Just as this example states, Essex is similarly illustrated not just about the place but more about the people and the image they have constructed. This image selling technique has perhaps made Essex such a famous place; either negatively or positively portrayed it is well recognised no matter. Programs such as these convey ideological topics of society, challenging the views of the audience on stereotypes and our world today. In ‘The only was is Essex’ character conform with the stimulated stereotypical representation such as the blonde women with fake boobs, fake eyelashes – fake everything and similarly the dark tall handsome lad type characters who are in to flash cars and fake women – ‘the players’, this enhances Baudrillard’s theory of “The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth – it is the truth which conceals that there is none. The simulacrum is true”. ‘The only was is Essex’ creates a ‘truth’ that never has, or arguably never would have existed in reality.
The unsubtle structure of ‘The only was is Essex’ is for seen as an unrealistic ‘Reality’ show, for example the split screen phone calls as well as the introduction of the ‘real people’ presented as characters are both obviously highly edited this distances the relationship between the audience and the text with the trust of the reality once again. Producers have obviously interpreted the popularity of simulated lifestyles which would explain the mediation of real life. Although there is many structural differences between both shows for example in ‘Seven days’ mistakes are made like; looking straight into the camera this highlights the realism and presence of the camera and an un scripted structure. I believe the success of ‘Seven days’ has risen due to it’s unique style and unpredictability of what the characters might do and what decisions they choose, each character is presented for who they are not a stimulated idealistic character created by a producer.
‘Seven days’ in comparison to ‘The only way is Essex’ follows a much less structured reality show style, whereas in the process of ‘The only way is Essex’ they have contrasted majoring in a soap style structure with a ‘professional introduction’ the program some how try’s to claim as a ‘Reality’ show, when really it has veered off the path of reality and more into soap distancing the relation with the audience and text, on the other hand ‘Seven days’ draws the audience and text closer by highlighting the realism and interaction opportunity of the show. In this case ‘The only way is Essex’ really protests against ‘Seven days’ by using a reality stimulated by the media and not a realistic perception of ‘reality’, which works successfully as entertainment but not a ‘reality’ show in which the audience would be able to relate with in the same way as ‘Seven days’.
