Reply #12: agree. the change was noticeable. & has continued to evolve today to new heights.

[Hannah Bell]

- reality cop/prison shows (= the world is scary, people are evil, protect yourself from everyone, you need the police)

- supposed reality shows where the "real" people soon become completely unreal celebrities -- like how john & kate + 8 evolve from working suburban family with stay at home mom to divorced celebrity mom living in mansion with paid staff living off the kids & presenting staged events

- competition shows (survivor, dancing with the stars, idol) for big bucks, evoking the ethos of the dance contests of the depression

- fake news to catapult the talking points from the fake left & fake right

- nancy grace type shows trying to involve the audience in analyzing & 5-minute-hate some murderer or child-snatcher, completely removed from anything that might actually make a difference in the viewers lives -- as if it were of utmost importance

- judge judy type shows where low-income people are lectured & treated like shit, encouraging viewers to emotionally join the judge in condemning the low-lifes who do such things


it's a pretty creepy cultural picture.

i think there's a phd thesis there as to what it all means