Those “self-humiliation”-type TV shows have become very popular, and exist in several variant forms: like “Don’t Forget The Lyrics” (FOX)-where untalented amateurs make fools of themselves, by trying to sing pop songs (and they cannot remember the lyrics). Or those cooking school shows-where that detestable English chef ( forget the name) delivers tongue-lashing harangues to his understudies. I’m told this type of show got started in Japan, where public humiliation/loss of face is a big issue. The Japanese somehow enjoy seeing people stripped of their dignity, in this way.
I find these shows pretty boring and creepy-like the FrontLine? Exposes (of the on-line perverts)-I don’t see how putting these people on TV makes things better.
So, has this genre just about peaked out? I hope so.
We’re just seeing the fallout from the Japan television shows, much like American network television sitcom knockoffs from popular British television (from “All In The Family” through “The Office”, not to mention the shows that never lasted too long.)(I’m looking at you, “Coupling”.)
“Your shows reward knowledge. We punish ignorance.”
It’s true- there is a Simpsons quote for every occasion.
'Course “Coupling” was an American knockoff of a British knockoff of an American series, which had yet to finish its initial run at the time.
No dignity. They’ll die two deaths. Both without dignity.
I don’t think a show where you stand up and try to sing lyrics you don’t remember is as degrading as eating pig testicles. One seems like it’d be fun and something I wouldn’t mind doing in front of a group of people. The other I wouldn’t be willing to do unless I was starving. Uh, guess which ones I mean.
Marc
It depends. I’ve eaten (and enjoyed) Rocky Mountain oysters, so I’d probably take a crack at the pig chestnuts.
For the Japanese, it’s about seeing nonconformity. It’s novel when someone tries to do something that they’re not good at, particularly in public or, horrors, on TV. Not knowing what to do or how to do it is a big fear for Japanese people, so seeing people trying to do things that they’re not good at is akin to watching skydivers for most North Americans; it’s not something that we couldn’t do, but it’s something that most of us don’t do.