I once told a friend that reality TV is so crazy that I would not be surprised if one day there is a show about people being killed on air. That day has come--sort of.
'The Game of Death' was a staged reality quiz show that instructed participants to give near-lethal jolts of electricity to a man strapped to a chair for every wrong answer he gave.
Thankfully, the show was a fake. It was the basis for a documentary examining how much people trust television, the idea being that people would electrocute the contestant because if something is on TV then it must be okay. Scary stuff.
Televised Torture
French Documentary Looks Into Television's Power Over People
Trend Themes
1. Reality TV - Explore innovative ways to push the boundaries of reality TV programming without crossing ethical lines.
2. Trust in Television - Develop strategies to rebuild trust in television programming and ensure responsible content creation.
3. Ethical Boundaries - Address the ethical concerns surrounding televised entertainment to avoid potential harm to participants.
Industry Implications
1. Television Production - Leverage technology and storytelling to create engaging and responsible television content.
2. Documentary Filmmaking - Produce compelling documentaries that challenge societal norms and provoke meaningful discussions.
3. Psychology and Media Studies - Conduct research to understand the psychological impact of television on viewers and develop guidelines for responsible programming.