Cynthia Schneider: The Worldwide Spread of Reality TV
Reality TV is driving reality. –Cynthia Schneider
On the evolution of “losing gracefully”
I’d like to provide some context for the comment about “Afhgans learning to lose gracefully”. Over the course of the first four seasons of the AFGHAN IDOL program, the behavior of the contestants changed. In the first couple of seasons, those who lost did not always take it well, and sometimes reacted strongly, even violently. This behavior has changed over time as contestants and their fans got used to the ups and downs of winning in losing. In recent Afghan history (Russian occupation and Taliban) there have not been many opportunities to experience winning and losing in what otherwise might be normal activities of sports and talent contests. So, it is not surprising that reactions to winning and losing in the public arena of Afghan Star have evolved over time. –Cynthia Schneider
