PBS Idea Channel

Does Reality TV Affect Our View On Surveillance? (2x37)

Air date: Jan 15, 2014

What have you been watching lately? There's a good chance (whether you admit to it or not) that you've been watching some reality TV. The "Reality TV" genre is mega popular, a massive cultural force, even though it's not really "reality". Contrived situations and manipulated scenarios make these shows entertainment rather than documentation, but they still feature real people who are willing to have their lives recorded. As a culture, we've become accustomed to watching people, but how does that affect our ideas about BEING WATCHED, especially given the recent NSA controversies?