Kid Nation: Hungry Kids: 1 Chickens: 0
I have nothing but respect for children who live and work on farms throughout the world, and people who kill and prepare and sell meat and chicken to the rest of us. But there is still something about seeing a 15 year old behead two chickens while 38 other kids look on in horror that is not my idea of entertainment.Who is the audience for this show? Clearly, not young kids. Why else would CBS post a warning on the screen before the beheading:
"CAUTION: The following scene may be intense for young children." This begs the question, if it's too intense to WATCH the scene, what about the fact that kids were actually IN the scene?! Never mind kids, it was too intense for this adult. Watching this show is a strange experience indeed.
On the one hand, it's blatant exploitation for the sake of the almighty rating. On the other hand, the children seem to really be coming together, for the most part, offering what appears to be genuine support for one another; creating camaraderie.
But last night it was a competition between children who loved animals, especially the heart-breaking nine year old Emilie, and those who craved protein. You get the picture.
At the heart of Kid Nation is a contrived sensationalism at the expense of its young contestants. And contestants is exactly what they are. The show is structured to encourage competition, not community. And as far as kids finding a way to make a better world than the one they've inherited, consider this: each week the teams, known as "districts" compete to become the Upper Class. The producers have imposed a caste system on these kids, turning Bonanza City into, well, any city. So much for the lofty promise of a better world. Here the losing team cleans the outhouse. Second to last cook for the entire group. Above that group of "chefs" are the "merchants" and they run the store that sells candy and soda and items you would think useless here, like bicycles. But the group they all strive to be is the "upper class", which is literally described as the group that earns the most money and doesn't have to do anything. If this sounds alarmingly familiar, like say, your life, then you're not alone. The money these kids earn is in direct proportion to their status in Bonanza City. Not much world change going on here.
So is Kid Nation nothing more than mini-me in a dust bowl town?
And what about the long term emotional impact of these events on the lives of these kids? What about Emilie, who wanted so much to leave the show because she was horrified by the chicken slaughter, but remembered her mother's words--for her to be a "rough and tumble cowgirl"--and so she stayed.
But at what cost?
[Editor's Note: Don't miss the views and opinions expressed by several pediatric experts and others about KidNation over on the Safety4Kids blog]
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Technorati Tags: KidNation, CBS, reality TV, stress, family, children, parenting
(c) John Peters. Image from BigStockPhoto.com
5 Comments:
I don't watch TV, but I've heard a lot about this show. It boils down to one of the biggest reasons I don't watch TV anymore. I was horrified just reading your review of it!
I'm not a fluffy, no-don't-kill-that vegetarian or someone who doesn't realize that the food on the styrofoam plates in the butchers counter don't magically come from nowhere. I know that animals are slaughtered every day so that I can eat. And-that if I had to do it myself that I don't know that I could.
BUT I'M NOT A KID.
I am a bit disconcerted that they flash a "don't let your kids watch this" warning before they show a show full of kids.
How long do you suppose it will be before this Bonanza Town turns into Lord of the Flies.
Call me an avoider, but I think I'll go put my nose back in a book.
That child's wistful "rough and tumble cowgirl" comment really hurt to watch. And what kid over the age of 8 is going to admit to a roomful of other kids that they want to go home? No way, so they'll stay and 'stick it out', but will it be worth it?
And my daughter is still wondering why it was so bad for the one kid to be pitching in and helping in order to win the gold star. Her question: What's wrong with him having that star as a goal and working for it?
I meant to watch this show last night just to see what it was all about. My kids were talking about watching it.
After reading your post, I asked my 10-year-old son if he'd have liked watching those kids behead a chicken, and he said, "Yeah, that would be cool! I've always wondered how they do that."
Who knew?
I guess I'll hold off my judgement until I actually see the show.
I think we need to stop and remember a few things before we totally trash this show, or this experience for the participants.
First, we're seeing creative editing - this is TV, remember? They filmed HOURS of tape of these kids, spliced it together to pull something together to hook YOU, the viewer in. We aren't seeing accurate representations of the children, just like we don't see them of Survivor or any other "reality" type show.
Second, it wasn't all that long ago in the history of this country that a lot of KIDS killed chickens every day. There are actually kids who kill chickens now. I know, hard to believe but it's true. (This of course doesn't mean that I could kill a chicken or that my kids could - I'm just sayin, some folks are making a bigger deal of this than need be.) I'm also guessing that the young, somewhat bullyish (from what we can see through the interesting editing), gentleman who did the killing was chosen for the show specifically because he did have a background in butchering. I mean hello. I know a lot of 15 year olds and I've never met one with butchering experience, have you? SET UP. PURE SET UP. And there weren't 38 kids watching the chickens killed - there were a dozen. Maybe. Those who were there chose to watch, or peek through fingers.
To the first anonymous commenter, I'd prefer Kid Nation if it was more like Lord of the Flies, which is how it was billed in previews. The only gripe I have is the "direction" the kids have received from the special book.
To the second anonymous commenter, one 8 year old did stand up in front of that room full of kids and say he wanted to go home - that was Jimmy, last week. Don't under-estimate a child's ability to take care of himself and walk away, kids do it all of the time if they really want to. I suspect we'll see another one go home next week.
I am flabbergasted that this tv show actually exists and is on a reputable (or, formerly reputable) network.
This eloquent, vivid, and eye-opening blog beautifully succeeds in conveying the disturbing and counterproductive nature of Kid Nation.
WHAT ON EARTH IS THE POINT OF THIS SHOW?? And, to repeat a question raised by the blog, WHO IS THE AUDIENCE? And who is CBS' intended audience? Not to mention, why aren't these children at home instead of being used as pawns in a shameless ratings hunt?
Reality shows, such as another CBS classic, Survivor, tend to thrive on being shocking and contrived. That is their modus operandi. But at least they involve adults, who made an independent choice to be there and who are presumed to have the mental and emotional ability to deal with the stresses and stressors.
But when it comes to children, even if they think they want to be there (or have been told by their parents that they SHOULD want to be there), there is no way they can be prepared for what they go through, and with cameras watching their every move, without leaving there in an upset, and possibly scarred, state. And for what?
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