Date of Award
2011
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Mass Communications
Advisor(s)
Robert J. Thompson
Keywords
Narrative, Reality Television, Television Studies
Subject Categories
Mass Communication
Abstract
This study used an in-depth textual analysis of the television show Survivor: Samoa to demonstrate that the unscripted characters of the program and shows like it have agency within the narrative. In addition to the 19th season of the Survivor series, the sample also included Jeff Probst's (host and executive producer of the series) weekly blog for EntertainmentWeekly.com. Unlike most popular television narratives, the unscripted characters of Survivor: Samoa have the opportunity to tell their own story. This doctoral project was an in-depth analysis at how that authorial power was shared between the Producers of the show and the individual characters. The results of indicate there are three types of narrative agents that contributed to the storytelling process: the producers, the characters, and then a unique mix of the two. The result is a new perspective within the academic literature on Survivor and reality television shows like it. The self-performing characters are the product of our societal fascination with fame, self-promotion and hyperbolic impression management.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Hedges, Carolyn Davis, "Performing the Self: Character Agency and Impression Management within the Narrative of Survivor: Samoa" (2011). Mass Communications - Dissertations. 85.
https://surface.syr.edu/com_etd/85
