the Ali G show
What makes a TV. show reality? I watched the Ali G. show for this posting, and some would say it’s not true reality. I don’t think any reality TV show portrays reality; instead they are all themed around the illusion of depicting real life. The makers of any reality TV have so much control over editing, camera work, sets, casting, and episode construction that real events are always skewed in favor to a marketable product. If reality TV was life like, it would be so boring nobody would watch it! Also, when people know they are on camera they are performing, acting out an identity that they or someone else has created for them. This identity forms a loose script for behavior.
Now I turn to the Ali G. Show, an evolved reality show with 3 characters all played by the show’s British creator/writer Sacha Baron Cohen who tours America exploiting ignorance, racism, and sexism with out discrimination or shame. He pokes fun of every aspect of culture, from New York to Texas to Hollywood. He makes fun of bigots, feminists, patriarchy, sports fans, homophobia, patriotic people, and anything else you can think of. And why does he do this? I think he is showing the real American way of living, however varied and ridiculous.
His first Character is Ali G, a white British rapper who thinks he is black, and is lacking understanding of the English language and quite a few brain cells. He asks really stupid questions during the interviews he does, and people take him seriously because he has a camera and an HBO show. But people also think he is really challenged mentally, so they let their guard down, and it’s very interesting and entertaining what comes out.
His second character is Borat, a man from Kazakhstan. He tours America in search of learning the culture. Most people react without surprise when the “foreigner� talks about his culture, where he has insestual relations with his sister, has no running water in his town, and talks about his “krum�. He is perverted, embarrassing, and primitive. Is this offensive to real-life people from Kazakhstan? Usually, but I think the real message is how many Americans view people from former soviet countries. In the episode I watched Borat goes to a karaoke night in a country western bar and sings “a song from his homeland� called throw the Jew down the well. The whole bar is singing along by the end of the song, which at first I thought was really funny, but looking back it is just a disappointment. Borat also goes to a wine tasting class in Texas, where he makes very good friends with the two men giving the class. After heavy drinking from all three men, the waiter comes in to bring more wine. As the (black) man leaves the room Borat asks the (white) men is that man was their slave. The reply was “we can’t call them that anymore�.
The third character, Boris, is the host for the German gay-TV station. He generally shows off the shallow inconsistency in the fashion world, and his favorite it to exploit homophobia. He travels to Miami Beach during spring break, and does a segment with some frat boys who are all about the party atmosphere. They yell P-A-R-T-Y and jump around, slapping butts and showing off their large muscles to Boris. At the and of the segment taping he thanked the guys for being on Gay-TV, at which point they all get really angry, start yelling and freaking out. Boris also attends the annual patriotism fair/conference in the southern part of the country. He does and interview with one of the participants. He ask the man, “what does freedom mean to you, as an American?� The man explains freedom is about being free to do whatever you please, so long as it doesn’t hurt anybody else. Boris act like he understands and says “oh I get it, so like I would be free to walk down the street and hold hands with my boyfriend?� the man said no, that is not freedom or American and quickly ended the interview.
To watch a clip of the show: http://www.hbo.com/alig/video/. Watch “peace� to see a fashion show segment, its very funny.