The purpose of this study is to approach the understanding of viewing of reality television with the intention to explore emotional responses in the reception since emotions are crucial part in the emotionalized television genre of reality television. The German adaption of the format The Farmer Wants a Wife was chosen for this case study to examine tendencies of portraying contestants in unpleasant situations. Humiliation, embarrassment or discrediting the contestants creates a balancing act between fun and ridicule. The protagonists are located between the status of (temporary) cult figures and/or figures of fun. The thesis’ main aim is to find out which emotions are perceived and addressed in the watching experience of the format being named in the context of ‘fremdschämen’. The winged German word for vicarious or empathic embarrassment was thereby addressed beyond its descriptive metaphor for current programs. Emotional responses in connection with shame and embarrassment were previously predominantly neglected in research on reality television. Its relevance and occurrence in media is insofar important, as the concept of ‘fremdschämen’ found the way into German mainstream language use. The thesis delivers qualitative approaches to capture the mediation of emotions in reality TV: In a narrative analysis, the question on how emotions actually are staged was approached. Subsequently, four focus group discussions with overall 18 German-speaking discussants were conducted to understand individual and social watching preferences, emotional involvement, attachment styles and positioning in the reception. The study’s findings suggest that the contestants’ ordinariness is challenged by mainly focusing on extraordinarity in the docusoap. Thereby, new opportunities of audience positioning, identification and anti-identification and constructions of appealing figures are encouraged. Gentle mockery in the style of presentation contains furthermore self-criticism of the genre and expresses a critical stance of viewing. Emotions are performed on different levels to increase entertaining values in the program. Especially embarrassment can be connected to its function of ridicule and the maintenance of social order.

Den här studien undersöker hur heteronormativitet finns synligt i reality-TV. För att utröna hur detta framställs undersöks ett avsnitt av Bonde söker fru och ett av Tro, hopp och kärlek. Båda programmen är dejtingprogram som sändes hösten 2016. Studien utgår från queerteorin som ifrågasätter heteronormativiteten och hur den utövar makt över de som inte lever efter den normen. Metoden för studien är kritisk diskursanalys som används för att synliggöra vilka språkliga grepp som används för att konstruera heteronormativiteten och även för att synliggöra maktstrukturer. Syftet med studien är att avslöja strukturer som konstruerar normativa respektive avvikande kärleksrelationer. Studien identifierar fem olika teman som konstrueras kring kärleksförhållandet: Ett komplett liv, Den stora kärleken, Livet utan kärleksförhållande, Jag är redo och Det mätbara målet. De heteronormativa föreställningarna syns genom att kärleksförhållandet konstrueras som en problemlösare, kärleksförhållandet ses som den högst prioriterade relationen i de medverkandes liv, singelskapet medför ett utanförskap och en känsla av misslyckande samt att målet med kärleksrelationen är en långvarig relation med en önskan om reproduktion. Studien antyder också på att det även finns krav på när kärleksförhållandet bör inträffa i livet. / This study examines how heteronormativity is constructed in reality-TV. The study anylizes one episode of Bonde söker fru (the Swedish version of Farmer wants a wife) and one episode of the Swedish tv-show Tro, hopp och kärlek (Faith, hope and love). Both of them are dating programmes and were broadcasted during the fall of 2016. The study uses the queer theoretical framework which is questioning the heteronormativity and how it exercises power over the ones not living within the norm. The critical discourse analysis is implemented as both a method and theoretical framework. As a method the critical discourse analysis is used to show how the language constructs heteronormativity and helps the study to expose power structures. The purpose of the study is to expose structures that construct normative and abnormative love relationships. The study identifies five different themes that contributes to the perception of the love relationship: A complete life, The great love, Life without love relationship, I am ready and The measurable goal. The heteronormative ideas shows through the construction of the love relationship as a problem solver, the love relationship is the most prioritised relationship in participant’s lives, being single involves alienation and a feeling of failure as well as the goal of the love relationship is a longlasting relationship  with the desire of reproduction. The study also indicates that there is requirements on when in life the love relationship should occur.