For those few remaining charmingly
naïve souls that watch reality shows for the real-life drama and pathos, the
cat’s out of the bag. They’re being manipulated, and the proof is on display in
a new series called UnReal (no need to get up from the couch, it’s on
teevee!). Not that there haven’t been reams of comment on the verisimilitude of
such programs going back to the original - MTV’s Real Life - but now the
industry itself peels back the curtain to unveil a new form of
meta-entertainment, a program presenting the real reality of reality
television. This thinly veiled satire of The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise
was created by Sarah Shapiro, a former producer for the program, and offers
cognoscenti of irony a bitchy, nasty skewering of the whole televised-quest-for-true-love
genre. UnReal’s cast members are characterized as either publicity
whores looking to launch a career, or hopelessly naïve bimbos who were born to
be exploited, while the show’s producers keep the pot simmering with alcohol,
feigned friendship and well-timed provocations of the cattle.
The
underlying mission of the show is to demonstrate that reality is a construct
that must be massaged every step of the way in order to produce a coherent
narrative. True love must overcome a series of challenges in order to be
finally achieved: the sorting of the candidates, the assessments of their
motives, the exploration and prioritization of physical desire, the vanquishing
of rivals, the anguish of the failed contenders, the confused approval of the
families, and above all, the relentless examination of past hurts. A candidate
who cannot properly articulate their victimhood is no good to anyone, and
worse, not very entertaining.
Somehow,
this most recent violation of the fourth wall puts me in mind of the Republican
National Convention and the Trump candidacy in general. Ordinarily, political
campaigns are well managed affairs. One might even say (and many campaign
managers do) that election campaigns require well constructed narratives
designed to present the candidate in the best light possible and to push the
emotional buttons of the electorate in that time-honored way that drives them
straight to the poll to make the right choice. The key word here is narrative –
a constructed reality that marshals the facts in an organized way to produce an
expected result.
It is the complete
absence of that sort of organization that characterizes the Trump campaign, and
by implication, indicts the manipulated reality of the established political order.
That’s why the masters of the system are outraged; Trump has dispensed with the
producers. His reality show doesn’t care if it’s coherent. He doesn’t mind if
it makes any sense. He’s indifferent to the trappings of the traditionally
managed politician: position statements, endorsements, strategies, ground game.
Trump just opens his mouth and spews whatever he’s thinking, and coherence be
damned. In so doing, he inevitably (it would be a leap to credit him with
intention) exposes the existing system as the farcical theater that it is.
So now we arrive
at the newest edition of The Greatest Show on Earth, the Republican National
Convention. As we’ve come to expect, it is completely improvised,
intermittently chaotic, and astounding at every turn. Shiver at the frothings
of the mad dog Giuliani!; ponder the ineptitude of Melania, the arm candy that
speaks!; marvel at the endless succession of offspring who really really really
love their Dad!; watch the Speaker of the House address an empty hall!; hiss
the sore loser who has to be hustled
from the stage! These puppets need no strings.
As we consumers of
the spectacle delight in the unexpected wonders of this junior high talent
show, the village explainers raise baffled brows. They strain their wonky
little brains to tell us what it all means, to put it in context, to bring
order to our chaotic sense impressions. Heavens to Betsy, it’s at least 96
years since the convention has been without a Bush in attendance! What about
the floor fight to acknowledge non-Trump supporters? Does Trump even believe in
the necessity of a running mate? Has Chris Christie destroyed his political
career? Yadayadayada.
Now,
if only someone will hijack the Democratic Party and destroy it, Trump
will have done some lasting good.
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