Survivor Fascination

I have a confession to make. I am fascinated by the television "reality" series of Survivor. I have followed the series since its first season, and my interest was certainly re-invigorated by the All-Star edition earlier this year.

My friends and family know that I deplore much of what is passed for entertainment on television today. They also know how much I talk about our North American society as a culture of simulation where we are far more fascinated and concerned with simulation than we are with reality.

However, I do watch Survivor. In Survivor, a set of "castaway" contestants are dropped into a simulated survival situation where they are basically put through a contrived series of events and circumstances that will generate what executives call: "good television." People fight; people "almost" have sex; and people cry in some sort of dramatic agony. The audience is supposed to be drawn to the random and unpredictable things that these contestants will do as they "face the elements" (with a camera crew, host, and medical team all within five feet of them).

Anyways, this begs the question: why do I watch it? I am fascinated that after 7 seasons of this show, contestants still enter the show completely unaware of how contrived and simulated the show really is. Contestants act shocked when they are betrayed or lied to (even though this has gone on since the precedent set by inaugural Survivor winner Richard Hatch and reiterated by Rob M. in the All-Star edition). They act as if their lives or health could actually be in danger (Hey, we haven't gone Running Man yet). Most of all, they take it seriously.

This is what fascinates me. I am fascinated by how these contestants act while they are on the show. Despite my opposition to the idea of a culture enchanted by simulation, I watch a simulation show. Do I therefore justify the show and present no clear or authentic opposition to it? Can I really be an ironic viewer? I'll leave that up to any readers to comment on or decide.