Commissions Unit: The Only Way is Essex| Is it a Documentary?

The constructed realism documentary 'The Only way is Essex' (otherwise known as 'TOWIE) is arguably one of the biggest and popular current documentaries, aired on ITV 2. However despite its success the programme has been severely criticised by some of the public and mostly some BAFTA representatives as to whether the programme is actually a documentary or instead a drama 'reality' show.

What is TOWIE?

Joey Essex's hairstyle

Based in Essex, this debatable documentary focuses on the reality of some people in Essex, where the programme is based amongst everyday lives, drama and gossip. It generally focuses on the realism of people in Essex however the programme admits that some actions in the programme 'have been set up for your entertainment'. Which brings the main question people have been arguing over - does this make it a documentary or instead a reality drama show?

The programme as a whole has arguably effected the nation (or parts of it ) quite considerably - it has effected fashion as some of the public follow starring character's hairstyle Joey Essex (shown to the right) as well as even the highly discussed 'Vajazzle', not forgetting the numerous amounts of puns and punch lines within the programme.

Successes?

As a whole, the programme has been very successful in terms of feedback and awards where the programme has even won a BAFTA. This is purely because the supposively 'realistic' lives of the characters are discussed by the public mainly through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Not only this, but the characters in the programme themselves often carry on the 'dramas' shown in the programme even on Twitter themselves, providing off-screen entertainment and extra behind the scenes gossip for the public.

'Educating Joey Essex'

Minus the programme, several actors within the programme have become very successful themselves. For example, starring acts Mark Wright and Joey Essex have both recently bought out their own TV series ('Educating Joey Essex' and 'Mark Wrights Hollywood Nights') as well as both appearing on popular celebrity shows, such as 'Celebrity Juice' and 'Im a Celebrity! Get me out of here'. Most of the
actors shown on the show are generally very inspiring because of their academic access which ironically contradicts (in some eyes) their intelligence themselves.

What makes it a documentary?

So what makes it a documentary? After listening to an hour recording of a BAFTA meeting discussing about TOWIE, there was a high end conclusion that the programme isn't actually a documentary, as voted by people within the debate.

Nonetheless, the programme is technically factual and provides learning schemes - the public are LEARNING about the lives of people in perhaps a different area to where they might live, where although some of the things you may see in the programme (i.e. the vajazzles) may seem stupid, you are still technically learning about it.

The recording link is shown below:
BAFTA debate: TOWIE

Some of the 'TOWIE' cast

What actually is a documentary?

Which leads me to my final point. If this can be classed as a documentary, then does this challenge the documentary criteria itself? Ideally yes, as this juxtaposes to a extremely large extent to a somewhat more factual documentary such as one of David Attinboroughs. Nonetheless this programme is a perfect example of showing how the documentary genre is generally a massive hybrid - not just this programme but other programmes such as 'Benefits Street' which are agued to be forced too alter the
criteria. Thus, making it difficult to define what is a documentary and as to whether there should be sub genres of this to make it seem more clear to the public of which is which.