Abstract

The TV show, ​Expedition Robinson,​the US version of ​Survivor​debuted in May 2000. The show became a cultural phenomenon and changed television forever. Survivor has been on the air for two decades and has produced 40 seasons and 590 players (several of them returning players). This study uses the show as our text to explore and critically analyze Survivor from interdisciplinary perspectives. Throughout the discussion, we will investigate how tribes build community, how the toll of the elements impact decision making of the players, and how the principles of group process are understood in a game where people are voted out. We will look at the history of the show and investigate how cultural conversations have been represented and have evolved over the past two decades and how sex, gender, and race may impact the perceptions of gameplay.

Presenters

Hartley Jafine
Instructor/Lecturer, Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Program, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada

Details

Presentation Type

Focused Discussion

Theme

Media Cultures

KEYWORDS

Survivor; Reality TV; Pedagogy

Digital Media

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