** OFFICIAL Survivor: Cook Islands Thread ** ‘Survivor’s’ new racial divide

[grlpwrd]

Well, considering reality tv shows are not as popular as they once were, I think he is just trying to cause controversy for people to start watching again.

Not me... I am bored with it. lol

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I LOVE Survivor and can't wait for the new season to start. I just see no big deal whatsoever in dividing the tribes like they are described. We stick labels on ourselves all the time. Just maybe this will turn out to be a tiny way in which we can see and describe ourselves as Americans instead of as various labels. We should of course be proud of our individual heritage because it is a part of what makes us who we are, but I would like to think we are moving past the time when that heritage defines us.

 

[Beth76]

Mark Burnett is known for throwing us a bone. He tells us it is a steak bone, and when we catch it, it's just a chicken bone.

OMG! What a perfect analogy! I was going to respond "not really" to the previous poster who said that Survivor has changed a lot since the beginning. It really hasn't. They keep promising bigger and better things and it just turns out to be same old, same old. The only big difference this time is there are only 5 white people.

 

[MrsKreamer]

I really don't think it is a big deal. In fact I think it is cool that there are only 5 white people this time.

 

[cardaway]

Here's what I posted on the first thread about this...

I find it quite shocking they would go this far. It would have been a first for the original 16 to be this racially diverse, but then they go and create controversy by taking it to this level.

One thing I read once at a TV site was that people have always been down on Survivor for picking what, in their opinion, has been a very weak group of minority castaways each season. In their opinion, making sure that white people are the ones left at the end for the most part. I have to admit that agree at some level. It's like the minorities they pick are the ones they could tell would cause trouble and would have a hard time winning challenges. Big Brother is guilty of this as well IMO.


I agree with the others in that there is rarely anything really new, but maybe, just maybe, the strongest player of the group might be one of the minorities. I think that would be a first.

I agree this division will not last.

 

[chyam]

People self segregate all the time. You have the African-American clubs in colleges all over the US and I am sure their are Asian-American and Hispanic ones as well. How is this segregation on a game show (entered by choice same as the clubs) any different then the self segregation that goes on in normal society. Part of me would want to have the large group of say 20 all together and with the same contestants and see if they do self segregate based on race,sex, education etc., but because it is a game I think we wouldn't necessarily see it as cleanly as we would without the pressures of the game involved.

I was thinking the same thing....I see it at work everyday, the blacks usually sit together, the Bosnians, the Orientals, the gays and the whites, so why is it any different, a tribe is a group of people usually all the same, I think it will be quite interesting to see how each group works together, it is no different than last year when they grouped the older men, younger men, older women, younger women into tribes, the one good thing about this show is there is no outside voting, you are voted off by your peers, not an audience judging people on their looks, their age or their race.
I can't wait for this season!

 

[Charade]

I really don't think it is a big deal. In fact I think it is cool that there are only 5 white people this time.

Huh? Why is that? Do you feel there were too many white people on the previous shows?

 

[suzannen]

Unlike some other posters, I'm going to make sure my DD watches with me since it might become a perfect opportunity to discuss racial stereotypes and bigotry. Then again, the contestants might surprise us all and it becomes a complete non-issue, which would also be great to see. Either way, I agree after the first few shows, they'll start combining the tribes.

And, I love the chicken bone analogy.

 

[Charade]

Unlike some other posters, I'm going to make sure my DD watches with me since it might become a perfect opportunity to discuss racial stereotypes and bigotry. Then again, the contestants might surprise us all and it becomes a complete non-issue, which would also be great to see. Either way, I agree after the first few shows, they'll start combining the tribes.

And, I love the chicken bone analogy.

So you're expecting the worst??

Why would you want to use a "reality" show which doesn't resemble anything real for a lesson in racial stereotyping??

 

[gometros]

I was thinking the same thing....I see it at work everyday, the blacks usually sit together, the Bosnians, the Orientals, the gays and the whites, so why is it any different, a tribe is a group of people usually all the same, I think it will be quite interesting to see how each group works together, it is no different than last year when they grouped the older men, younger men, older women, younger women into tribes, the one good thing about this show is there is no outside voting, you are voted off by your peers, not an audience judging people on their looks, their age or their race.
I can't wait for this season!

Picking up on this, the social interactions should be interesting. If you assume people are more comfortable with other people of the same background, there could be more emphasis on the social game. What is potentially interesting is that language now comes into play. If the Asian or Latino groups are speak other common languages than English, will the producers stipulate that they can only communicate in English?

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I said this was coming after the divide at last season's start- old women, young women, old men, young men. They didn't seem to like the "old" conotation either!

They merge the tribes so quickly that I am not sure how much of an issue it will actually become on the show. Those initial "Old/Young" tribes barely held it together to have much sway (except maybe Bruce, Terry, and Dan, and even then we were never sure which way Bruce was going to go). More than likely, it will hype the show up and its ratings.

Although I certainly do not believe or promote segregation, we almost always do it by ourselves. Look at your child's lunch room... Self-segregation is alive and well.

Should make for an interesting season.

 

[suzannen]

So you're expecting the worst??

Why would you want to use a "reality" show which doesn't resemble anything real for a lesson in racial stereotyping??

Did you even read what I wrote? No, I am not expecting the worst at all. I'm actually expecting that it will turn into a non-event, but if any racial stereotypes do rear their ugly heads, it would simply be another platform to discuss it. I was responding to other posters who said they didn't think they wanted their kids to watch it, which really makes no sense at all. But, I grew up in the South where bigotry was alive and well. I now live in a super diverse neighborhood in NYC and I take EVERY opportunity to continue discussions with my kids on diversity, cultural and religious differences, equality and prejudice, and sometimes that includes - gasp - television shows. (Ever see a child get thrilled to see a country she's just learned about featured on the Amazing Race?) And, as I also mentioned, if it's a non-event, then it's a great discussion on how far we've come since my DD just finished "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" about racial discrimination for her summer reading.

 

[MareQ]

I'm really confused by this overall and I'm not sure what to think. I guess I will reserve judgement till I see it but...

I am wondering why they think this is a good idea, where are they going with this and how do they think this will draw in viewers?

Personally I just cannot imagine anything positive but I hope there's something they have up their sleeves that we just cannot imagine. I have to imagine that there is otherwise the network would have refused to air this.

Just confused as you can tell - although I will say at least one good thing will come from this and that is that there will be even numbers of people - no "minorities" or "majorities" on the show - even amounts of caucasians, hispanics etc.

 

[Jennasis]

For the poster (and any others who haven't been paying attention) that mentioned only whites being around at the end of the season:

Survivor has had winners of varying racial/social backgrounds.

Season 1: A gay white man (Richard)

Season 2: Suburban housewife (Tina)

Season 3: A young single crunchy granola guy (Ethan)

Season 4: A Black woman (Vecepia)

Season 5: A white used Car salesman (Brian)

Season 6: A white girl..and model (Jenna)

Season 7: A Hispanic mom ( Sandra )

Season 8: All Stars...doesn't count!

Season 9: White guy (Chris)

Season 10: A White guy, and NYC firefighter (Tom)

Season 11: A white girl...sports radio DJ

 

[ChrisFL]

Im more scared that people are still watching after 12 of these things, I was bored after the first one!

Anyway, IMO it's a publicity stunt and it apparently has worked enough to get people talking....I personally think it's a stupid and backwords idea.

I've always been around a mix of people from many backgrounds and never once wanted to be part of a "white" group, not at all.

Besides the publicity, I see no practical reason for them to be doing this, it will get criticized more than anything

I guess next time they'll have Jews, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists? That should do great for ratings

 

[Cindyluwho]

Survivor has always had a select demographic of people. Black, Asian, old and gay.

OMG!!! I would love to see a Survivor with gays vs straights! Only really stereotypical "tv" type gays like Jack on Will & Grace against completely redneck, straightlaced heterosexuals. Seriously, how great would that be!!

 

[Metro West]

OMG!!! I would love to see a Survivor with gays vs straights! Only really stereotypical "tv" type gays like Jack on Will & Grace against completely redneck, straightlaced heterosexuals. Seriously, how great would that be!!

LOL...Yeah...Put Will and Jack up against the Wild Hanlons from Treasure Hunters...that would be a RIOT!

In case you don't know who the Wild Hanlons are:
http://www.nbc.com/Treasure_Hunters/teams/hanlons_pat.shtml

 

[Disney1fan2002]

For the poster (and any others who haven't been paying attention) that mentioned only whites being around at the end of the season:

Survivor has had winners of varying racial/social backgrounds.

Season 1: A gay white man (Richard)

Season 2: Suburban housewife (Tina) white

Season 3: A young single crunchy granola guy (Ethan) white

Season 4: A Black woman (Vecepia)

Season 5: A white used Car salesman (Brian)

Season 6: A white girl..and model (Jenna)

Season 7: A Hispanic mom ( Sandra )

Season 8: All Stars...doesn't count! white

Season 9: White guy (Chris)

Season 10: A White guy, and NYC firefighter (Tom)

Season 11: A white girl...sports radio DJ

You think this demonstrates diversity?

 

[cardaway]

You think this demonstrates diversity?

I know. I'm sure that was directed at me, and I fail to see how that disproves what I posted. I also didn't say that no minorities reached the end since I did watch Vecepia win. The point was that not only is she the only one to win, she was the only one to get even close, and IMO it's the result of them casting much stronger white players.

 

[Planogirl]

Personally, I thought that dividing the groups by age and particularly by sex was stereotyping. It never lasted long though.