Dr. Gates studies reality television, specifically how reality television has come to represent and alter 21st-century pop culture. During the class, Dr. Gates showed excerpts from reality television shows such as Mob Wives, Love and Hip Hop, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta in order to observe representations of race, gender, and class.

 

Within episodes of Mob Wives and The Real House Wives of Atlanta, Dr. Gates highlighted and critiqued the ways in which editing and production are used as tools to present the stars of the shows in particular lights. For example, she explained that during tapings of reunion shows, stars are kept on set for hours with limited food but supplied alcohol, which in turn can lead to aggressive behavior. She also mentioned ways in which reality television can subvert or challenge traditional stereotypes of women and people of color. She highlighted the importance of watching reality television with a critical eye and most importantly remembering that while reality television is packaged as "capturing reality" and "non-scripted", it is a production and a business that has a lot going on behind the camera.