| Abstract [eng] |
This thesis analyses the phenomenon of reality TV shows as a reflection of contemporary society. The object of the study is the reality TV show “Survivor”, one of the longest-running (2000-present) global franchises, whose structure and social dynamics create a unique environment for building social roles. The research problem is based on the observation that academic research tends to analyse players' strategies in terms of outcomes but pays less attention to how these strategies are enacted through social roles and the performativity of participants. The study aims to analyse and compare the acting strategies of the participants of the 1st (2000), 23rd (2011), and 45th (2023) seasons of “Survivor”, assessing their change over time and their relation to the transformation of societal values. The study used a qualitative comparative approach, based on Erving Goffman's social theatre and Pierre Bourdieu's social field and capital theories. The study prioritises confessionals - episodes in which participants articulate their motives, strategic choices, and emotional reactions when alone in front of the camera - and interpersonal social interactions during the game. The analysis identified eight social roles that recurred most frequently in the show, which helped to structure the behaviour of the participants and to reveal the strategies they used in the different contexts of the show. The analysis revealed a clear evolution in the acting strategies of the “Survivor” players, from collective identity and spontaneous behaviour in the early seasons to consciously created, strategically thought-out roles in the later seasons. In the first season, participants' behaviour was oriented towards group cohesion, while individual initiatives were seen as a threat, so no consciously formulated roles were found. In the twenty-third season, there is already a marked differentiation of roles and the construction of an individual image, while in the forty-fifth season, there is a dynamic alternation of roles and a strategic flexibility of behaviour that allows the participants to adapt to the constantly changing game circumstances. The results reflect broader trends in contemporary society, where self-representation, emotional openness, and constant self-reflection are becoming key principles of social participation. Reality shows, as a form of media culture, highlight these values in particular: participants are forced to continuously create, adjust, and represent their identities, and the roles they take on become a tactical tool for behaviour rather than an expression of authenticity. This strategic dynamic of acting reflects the logic of an individualised and fast-paced society in which stability gives way to adaptation. However, the limitations of the study - the sample of three seasons and the qualitative approach - suggest that a broader analysis could further reveal the links between reality shows and the identity formation of contemporary society. |
