Exploitative reality tv: you & your sinister attraction
OKAY, SO I CAVED AND WATCHED THE FINAL DECISION OF GNTM. I needed to see whether Jennifer got into the next round (♥), and whether my personal emetic Caro was flying home; no such luck re: the latter, but aw, glad to see Jenny made it.
As for the rest of the show -- gripping as it really is, it's not for me.
If I want to see men with questionable style or other choices of their own judging women by their looks, I'll just saunter into the next club. If I want to see purposefully misleading "feedback" or "criticism" that makes the candidate cry while the camera zooms in, inner, innest, I can simply watch Idol or Superstar where we at least have people of two sexes and the tangible basis of a singing voice and musical talent (well. In theory!). If I want to see a group of hapless candidates bonding so sweetly under pressure -- make that a pressure-cooker -- I'd be easier off following Big Brother, or possibly re-taking my Exam.
Mostly, though, it's because I'm a wuss, and watching people desperately, wretchedly unhappy and overwrought makes that silly little muscle in my chest clench. But, you say, but there's all the joy! The relief! The victory! There is; as I said, I smiled when Jenny made it. But the other girls? Their tears aren't a bug: They're a feature, a feature on tv meant to evoke emotion in the viewer, not to mention structurally necessary, and not even seen as a necessary evil either. A lot of people can focus on the one winner and be happy for her, and that's cool, it really is; I too might end up adoring and cheering for the winner of this round if I kept watching. I'm just not wired to un-see the other women being thrown out, the merciless eye of the camera on them every step along the way, the way down.
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monanotlisa) wrote,
