Kid Nation: The Religion Edition
The Real Blessing Would Be A Mid-Season Cancellation!
At Safety4Kids, we're vigilant about issues of safety and wellness that impact young children. So when we began to look carefully at "Kid Nation" we were, in a word, shocked. As the weeks go on, and we get used to the rhythm and routine of life in Bonanza City, we are perhaps a little less shocked; but we're still not happy. In fact, we're pretty concerned. The last people deserving of that coveted gold star are the producers at CBS.
Last night's episode dealt with religious differences, in what is clearly becoming a contrived string of weekly issues, "suggested" by the "journal" left for this generation by previous inhabitants of Bonanza City. So you see, there is a lot you have to be willing to believe to even watch this show! The opening scene had two of the children, currently in the "laborers" district, trudging through the cold carrying pails of water, and ruminating on the meaning of life. One of them asked, "Did God put us here for a reason?" Seems insensitive to remind them that actually it was their parents who signed the waiver, and most likely for the instant, albeit fleeting fame, and the hope of those expensive gold stars. Clearly, these kids are given a topic, and then the story is built around their reactions to it, their struggles with it, and their ultimate triumph or failure, which the producers must think makes for great TV. They are wrong on so many counts.
But even we have to admit to...dare we say...a redeeming moment or two in last night's show.
As the kids dealt with their religious differences, spouting familiar yet cringe-inducing chants such as, "Christians Rule!" and "Jew Crew!", they were also trying to resolve these differences and come together to find something spiritual to nourish them. (We're not even going to talk about the apparent lack of any substantive nutritional nourishment--they almost all look unhealthy, under-fed, and what's with those sores on their lips?!) The big debate early in the show was whether to hold a prayer service with everyone in attendance, no matter their religion, or remain separate and steadfast in their beliefs. The prevailing sentiment was that "religion starts wars and everything bad," so there was a good deal of resistance to group prayer.
When the "council" (the four designated [by whom?] leaders) rang a loud bell, insisting that everyone come to a prayer meeting, no one showed up, and these four ultimately walked away in dismay and confusion.
It took Morgan, a much-admired 12 year old, to bring everyone together. Rather than "demand" attendance at an organized service, she went bunk to bunk to "invite" people to join her and a few friends around a campfire, where everyone could express their feelings and say their own prayer and share something about their hopes and desires. And they all came. And they all shared. Zach chanted in Hebrew, others offered prayers for good weather and good food, and most of them seemed genuinely moved by the experience. Morgan went on to win the gold star, for her ability to "make everyone feel loved." She actually deserved it.
But here's where it all seemed to get surreal. After the weekly challenge, this time assembling a large jigsaw puzzle forming what looked like a church facade, the group had a choice of reward: an 18 hole miniature golf course, erected in the center of town, for use anytime, or, door number two: a stack of religious texts. You guessed it, they chose the books!
We're all for spirituality and the nourishment of the soul. But come on! Are we to believe that kids in a dusty town with nothing to do but bat a piece of tin foil with a stick would choose to read the Torah or the Quran to playing miniature golf?! We're not buying it.
What happens when we watch this show is this creeping sense of distrust we feel; the obvious manipulation of the story for dramatic impact. And therefore, we have to wonder again about the ultimate, long-term effects on these children and their emotional well being.
Some good news in Bonanza City is that the children seem really to be coming together more as a cohesive group. The council is inviting a more democratic process--there are more votes than mandates these days. Next week, the group deals with politics, which suggests they are finally getting fed-up with the 10 year old bossy Taylor and her laziness and screeching admonishments.
A truly strange series of moments came at the end of the show. Cody, a 9 year old, chose to leave Bonanza City. He was too homesick; he missed his girlfriend (?!) Ashley, whose letter and photo he kept clutching longingly. His best pal Campbell took him to the town saloon to throw back a few root beer shots. But nothing helped. So he said goodbye.
Root beer shots? Drowning his sorrows in a saloon? 9 year olds with steady girlfriends. This is where they really lose us!
This reality show business, and it's quite a business, really straddles the line and demands that we, the audience, go along for the ride. If "Kid Nation" is reality, then we're living in an alternate universe.
This show, for all the supposed conflicts and resolutions, the coming together and pulling apart, the group dynamics and struggles with power, is nothing more than the adult world in miniature. And it's as contrived as any scripted TV show. The overlay of structure and class is nothing more than a mirror of our society, shown to us through the lives of innocent children, used by all concerned for material gain. Safety and well being: definitely not. Reality: not so much.
And oh yes--it's not very good television, either.
(c) Monica Boorboor. Image from BigStockPhoto.com
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: Kid Nation, religion, reality tv, Safety4Kids
At Safety4Kids, we're vigilant about issues of safety and wellness that impact young children. So when we began to look carefully at "Kid Nation" we were, in a word, shocked. As the weeks go on, and we get used to the rhythm and routine of life in Bonanza City, we are perhaps a little less shocked; but we're still not happy. In fact, we're pretty concerned. The last people deserving of that coveted gold star are the producers at CBS.
Last night's episode dealt with religious differences, in what is clearly becoming a contrived string of weekly issues, "suggested" by the "journal" left for this generation by previous inhabitants of Bonanza City. So you see, there is a lot you have to be willing to believe to even watch this show! The opening scene had two of the children, currently in the "laborers" district, trudging through the cold carrying pails of water, and ruminating on the meaning of life. One of them asked, "Did God put us here for a reason?" Seems insensitive to remind them that actually it was their parents who signed the waiver, and most likely for the instant, albeit fleeting fame, and the hope of those expensive gold stars. Clearly, these kids are given a topic, and then the story is built around their reactions to it, their struggles with it, and their ultimate triumph or failure, which the producers must think makes for great TV. They are wrong on so many counts.
But even we have to admit to...dare we say...a redeeming moment or two in last night's show.
As the kids dealt with their religious differences, spouting familiar yet cringe-inducing chants such as, "Christians Rule!" and "Jew Crew!", they were also trying to resolve these differences and come together to find something spiritual to nourish them. (We're not even going to talk about the apparent lack of any substantive nutritional nourishment--they almost all look unhealthy, under-fed, and what's with those sores on their lips?!) The big debate early in the show was whether to hold a prayer service with everyone in attendance, no matter their religion, or remain separate and steadfast in their beliefs. The prevailing sentiment was that "religion starts wars and everything bad," so there was a good deal of resistance to group prayer.
When the "council" (the four designated [by whom?] leaders) rang a loud bell, insisting that everyone come to a prayer meeting, no one showed up, and these four ultimately walked away in dismay and confusion.
It took Morgan, a much-admired 12 year old, to bring everyone together. Rather than "demand" attendance at an organized service, she went bunk to bunk to "invite" people to join her and a few friends around a campfire, where everyone could express their feelings and say their own prayer and share something about their hopes and desires. And they all came. And they all shared. Zach chanted in Hebrew, others offered prayers for good weather and good food, and most of them seemed genuinely moved by the experience. Morgan went on to win the gold star, for her ability to "make everyone feel loved." She actually deserved it.
But here's where it all seemed to get surreal. After the weekly challenge, this time assembling a large jigsaw puzzle forming what looked like a church facade, the group had a choice of reward: an 18 hole miniature golf course, erected in the center of town, for use anytime, or, door number two: a stack of religious texts. You guessed it, they chose the books!
We're all for spirituality and the nourishment of the soul. But come on! Are we to believe that kids in a dusty town with nothing to do but bat a piece of tin foil with a stick would choose to read the Torah or the Quran to playing miniature golf?! We're not buying it.
What happens when we watch this show is this creeping sense of distrust we feel; the obvious manipulation of the story for dramatic impact. And therefore, we have to wonder again about the ultimate, long-term effects on these children and their emotional well being.
Some good news in Bonanza City is that the children seem really to be coming together more as a cohesive group. The council is inviting a more democratic process--there are more votes than mandates these days. Next week, the group deals with politics, which suggests they are finally getting fed-up with the 10 year old bossy Taylor and her laziness and screeching admonishments.
A truly strange series of moments came at the end of the show. Cody, a 9 year old, chose to leave Bonanza City. He was too homesick; he missed his girlfriend (?!) Ashley, whose letter and photo he kept clutching longingly. His best pal Campbell took him to the town saloon to throw back a few root beer shots. But nothing helped. So he said goodbye.Root beer shots? Drowning his sorrows in a saloon? 9 year olds with steady girlfriends. This is where they really lose us!
This reality show business, and it's quite a business, really straddles the line and demands that we, the audience, go along for the ride. If "Kid Nation" is reality, then we're living in an alternate universe.
This show, for all the supposed conflicts and resolutions, the coming together and pulling apart, the group dynamics and struggles with power, is nothing more than the adult world in miniature. And it's as contrived as any scripted TV show. The overlay of structure and class is nothing more than a mirror of our society, shown to us through the lives of innocent children, used by all concerned for material gain. Safety and well being: definitely not. Reality: not so much.
And oh yes--it's not very good television, either.
(c) Monica Boorboor. Image from BigStockPhoto.com
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: Kid Nation, religion, reality tv, Safety4Kids
3 Comments:
FYI: no one calls it (or thinks of it as) "Reality" television anymore, it's simply "Unscripted" television.
No one is pretending that what's happening here is "reality" in any sense of the word. This naive pretension left many "Survivors" and "Real World"s ago.
People watch for the human element to these arbitrary obstacles and difficult decisions.
Anyways, this has gotten into a bit of a tangent from the TV Checkup world...
TV Checkup question: What signs can we expect to see if these kids really are beginning to have health issues? Are the sores on their lips indicative or this? Or is that just lack of chapstick in the desert environment?
I thought last night's episode was completely scripted from start to finish. I'd really like to see the outtakes, particularly the ones where they put the choices for the golf course or books to a vote.
Choosing the microwave over the pizza made sense and was the responsible thing to do. But kids being kids, I really don't imagine a majority agreeing to pass up something that has lasting fun for lasting education, even spiritual education.
Not without encouragement from someone else. And incentive.
Every day I become more and more resigned to the fact that, with some exceptions, major network television seems to begin with the premise that the American tv-viewing audience is both stupid and amused by stupidity.
But with this show, I find that CBS takes this premise to a whole new sinister level, putting a gloss of "reality" on a show where children are placed in clearly manufactured, manipulated situations, and for what? To enlighten whom?
Children should be learning about religion from their parents, not from a 12 year-old girl who, mature for her age or not, should not put be in this situation either.
I agree that this show is like a miniature adult world; the only people whom CBS actually treats like children are the viewers.
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