While watching the first episode of Survivor South Africa last night, Sam and I wondered how the series would differ from the US version and whether we’d see a distinctly South African flavour come out of the tried and tested Survivor script and screenplay. At first we reckoned that we’d see how much more tolerant South Africans are of our fellow earth-inhabitants than those of our American compatriots.
I wonder?
One might suggest that because of our legacy as a country and the role prejudice has played post-94, we’ve developed a sincere and genuine acceptance and tolerance of each other as South Africans. Pre-94, aggression and open conflict with one another was pretty much rewarded by the system (regime) and of late the system change no longer rewards that behaviour. So, is the tolerance we see around us genuine or perhaps a pseudo form of tolerance to simply please the reputation(delusion) we have of ourselves as a forgiving and reconciliatory nation? In fact, I wonder if we as South Africans even know how to handle conflict?
Your thoughts please.
Of course, the biggest mistake we can make is to think that “reality TV” is real. The whole point is to create controversy, emotion, tension and relational fallout. And the producers do this to masterful effect. Over 50 Survivoir groups have been pushed through the set that SA is using in Panama, so its a great, big machine, with an American overlord.
However, I still hope it will provide the country with something of a fishbowl experience, as we look at a microcosm of ourselves under pressure.
Lets wait and see…