Mindless escapism bleeds into almost everyone’s daily existence in some way, shape or form. People are struggling with burnout more than ever, so it makes sense that many of us enjoy taking solace in a little brainless fun from time to time.
One of the top contenders for brainless fun tends to be reality television. This seems particularly true to me after seeing so much chatter surrounding the most recent season of “Love Is Blind,” season 10. If you don’t recognize the show by its title, “Love Is Blind” is a social experiment in the form of a reality dating show to see if people can fall in love without appearance being factored in.
While I used to consider myself a big fan of reality TV, dating shows have never really been my scene. When “Love Is Blind” made it to my social media feed, I was taken aback by all the politics and hard-hitting topics that came along with what I thought was supposed to be a trivial show.
With all that’s going on in today’s world, I don’t think I’d be able to categorize “Love Is Blind” as “mindless fun.” This season has shown a lot of sexism, body-shaming and many other hurtful displays of bigotry from its cast members. Many people even believe the show reinforces sexist stereotypes, forcing women into traditional roles.
Honestly, from the perspective of a non-reality dating show watcher, the show is pretty crass. “Love Is Blind” repeatedly gives its contestants a platform to spout very controversial views, and it’s not the kind of brainless fun I’m looking for. “Love Is Blind” has pushed me toward an epiphany about reality TV — an actual, hard reality.
Reality TV may be more scripted than ever, but it is increasingly indistinguishable from our chaotic political landscape. The line between the screen and the real world has blurred.
In the same way “Love Is Blind” contestants manufacture drama for screen time, many treat American politics like a high-stakes game they simply have to “win.” We’ve reached a point where people are perpetually on edge, white-knighting for candidates and policies they barely understand. Ultimately, politicians aren’t looking for you to understand their policies; they’re performing just enough drama to secure your vote, and it’s working.
Today, expressing a basic thought or opinion often invites a level of critique and hostility once reserved for reality TV villains. We have reached a point where people don’t just consume drama; they inhabit it, maintaining a perpetual state of outrage as if they are being filmed themselves. I find myself constantly trying to escape petty arguments and hostility from others every day in real life. When I turn on the TV and see the same thing, well, it’s hard to watch.
As a young teen, I found the reality show “Bad Girls Club” absolutely hilarious, as I thought fighting other women and making a fool of yourself to be absurd. Now, I can just open up any social media app and see that behavior. It’s definitely not as funny when it’s something you’re perpetually accosted by.
What the new season of “Love Is Blind” has shown me is that I can no longer use reality TV as an escape. It’s just another reminder of what people are going through today. I encourage those who are discovering reality TV to be a mirror instead of a parody of life to find a less harmful form of fun. As an alternative, I personally really enjoy watching cats complete enrichment activities; these videos have proven to be a much more harmless break from reality.
