Big Brother is also running in Africa. And South African news24.com reports a dramatic increase of people suffering from the Truman syndrome: They believe they are part of a TV show and they want to get out of it… (that was not reported in Africa, but mainly in the US and the UK)
Media do build reality. The focus in this sentence is on build, not on reality. It is crazy to think you can use media to fight media or the illusion they deliver.
You feel caught and observed because you saw the Truman Show?
You feel informed because you read something in a quality newspaper?
To me, that’s the same dimension.
We as media producers have to act in both roles: as directors of the Truman Show as well as as investigative journalists. And to be honest – that border does more and more disappear in my eyes.
As consumers, we have powerful tools to be directors and investigators on our own. We can extend our networks across all borders, we can control parts in our show.
How real is that?
Does that actually matter?
Do you get that twist?
Sometimes I think we would be even getter off if we thought we are just part of a tv show: That would mean, at least, we had a clear vision of how to get out of here, if we need some change… (I think I should get out now and do something real….)
