Survivor

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have significantly affected pop culture and entertainment. A relevant example is “Survivor”, a popular television reality show in which ordinary people are stranded in the middle of wilderness, in distant exotic places such as Borneo, Fiji or Guatemala, and given the minimal resources required for survival, along with a set of challenges. The contestants are divided into several “tribes” and each tribe periodically votes off a member who hasn’t accomplished his or her tasks or has shown lack of commitment to the team. The last remaining contestant wins the title of “Sole Survivor” along with $1,000,000 and a brand new car.

Although physical violence is not allowed, the contestants often engage in war-like situations and the setting of the show becomes a huge battlefield. The show primarily tests survival and endurance skills, along with teamwork, problem solving and willpower, skills which are essential for anyone participating in a real war. Similarly to soldiers, the contestants of “Survivor” fight for material rewards as well as glory and honor. The winner of the competition automatically gains the respect of millions of viewers.

Moreover, the members of each tribe are required to wear a specific logo, just as different factions in a war wear different types of military apparel. Another similarity is the need to adjust to local conditions, ranging from food options to climate and geology issues. Like the American soldiers fighting in Iraq, the contestants of the reality show are in a place far away from home and about which they possess very little knowledge initially.

Finally, the concept of contestants eliminating each other (also present in other reality shows such as “Big Brother” or “The Biggest Loser”), is similar to soldiers being discharged by higher authorities due to their inability to fulfill their tasks.