HGTV

            HGTV Design Star is a highly rated reality competition where the competitors compete to eventually be the winner of their own HGTV show.   These competitors build themselves up; protect themselves, in hopes that it eventually pays off for the winner chosen by staring in their own show as an entrepreneur HGTV host.   The show has three judges and from what I have seen even a guest judge at times who critique the designs creating by the competitors and ultimately choose the winner along with votes from the audience at home.  Each competitor is to prove their own unique styles through their designs as well as display characteristics in which prove they are also the next best host for HGTV.  This show stresses entrepreneurship because the people are competing to host their own show as well as beat out other participants which stresses the characteristics of building yourself up while protecting yourself from the other participants.  Although, in my opinion this show is one of the calmer reality competition, the show still enforces the stereotype of a “dog eat dog world” where someone must win and beat out the others in order to succeed in life.   Those who work really hard will win and those who do not will lose.         

Also on this show and other HGTV shows many of the products, paint, styles, shown are also linked to consumerism because the show points out where items are purchased or where you may go to buy these products at great rates.  In fact some of the competitions on Design Star are hosted or “brought to you by” companies.  For example, Kenmore appliances and the stars built a kitchen around these appliances.  During the commercials Kenmore products and locations to purchase these products overwhelm viewers.  Consumerism plays a vital part in the HGTV segments just as much as the designs itself.   Furthermore HGTV utilizes their popular hosts to emphasize these products in order to play off of the trust in the viewer towards their favorite host.  If your favorite host says Kenmore or reliable then the viewer is more likely to believe in this statement and purchase the products as well. This consumerism leads to instruction because the hosts teach the viewers how to do it at home.  Some shows create a fanstasy such as Color Splash.  On this show David Bomstad creates the idea that recreating a room full of color and themed styles if possible for anyone.  David takes a room and bases it off of another style in which the participants relate too and then he creates it. David expresses showing oneself through their styles of the home or work room.  The viewers follow David from the room to his favorite stores where he purchases products and then even into his workspace where he shows the viewers how "easy" it is to do it youself.  David reinforces, consumerism, sponsoship, expression of the self, and instructionalism.  David creates a fantasy by turning a room into a couple's dream come true while convincing the viewer they too can create shuch a fantasy to come true.