Big Brother: The Artistic and Intellectual Reality Game Show (Lacey Quandt)

## Introduction

Literature has taken many definitions throughout the years and it is continually changing as the perspectives of it do. While it is commonly defined as "writing that is considered to be an art form or any single writing deemed to have artistic or intellectual value, often due to deploying language in ways that differ from ordinary usage."  Multiple critics and people think that certain forms of entertainment such as video games, game shows, or any technological advancements that can be read or have a story-line are not literature. As technology continues to advance, the new types of writing being brought into the world are receiving harsh criticisms for their new ways. The advancements have brought a decrease in the amount of people reading the traditional literature. In the Reading at Risk Report, it says "the percentage of adult Americans reading literature has dropped dramatically over the past ten years," and that "less than half of the adult American population now reads literature."  The report does not include the many TV shows, reality game shows, movies, video games etc. that are now very popular. These forms should not be undermined, but included in the modern definition of literature.

In today's world, authors and readers can greatly benefit from these new forms of texts and so called literature. In the "wired world" there are many opportunities for new writers to be discovered and mass produce their books and/or texts. As for the readers, there are now more opportunities for them to discover new novels to read. As the advancement of technology continues to grow so do the opportunities of authors and texts to be discovered, and for the readers to gain more value in having multiple forms of literature at their disposal. The readers of these new texts often create fan forums and communities that take what is happening and discuss the movie, shows, and or video games that they enjoy. In Fan Communities: Exemplary or Exceptional Audiences, it says "these communities are diverse in what they consider and emphasize as shared values: some place a high emphasis on formal concerns, such as grammar and spelling in writing or editing techniques." Some of these fan communities are very strict and formal with who they accept as members and what they allow to be posted on their forums. These fan communities can range from spoilers to a comprehensive outlook on what the community is analyzing. One big fan community on the internet would be Big Brother Junkies.

The reality game show Big Brother has a diverse group of people, who are known as HouseGuests, that play on live television for competitions and the chance to win $500,000. This game show is an intricately thought out and methodical game show. Big Brother allows for audience participation and often lets them choose some of the competitions and who was the favorite HouseGuest. Big Brother started on July 5, 2000 and continues to the present. This reality game show has grown a massive fan base on all social media platforms and internet communities. The Big Brother fan base is ranges from children to adults, and is enjoyed by many. Big Brother fan communities discuss strategies, spoilers, and often discuss why a House Guest is making the decisions they are. Big Brother allows for the critical thinking of its fans and could be considered as literature and an art form. Since "art has done many things in human history, but in the last century especially, it has primarily tried to bother and provoke us."  Big Brother can bother and provokes its audience, it has an intricate detail to the competitions it holds, and it gives it audience comprehensive learning capabilities.

## Knowledge Communities

Big Brother an invigorating piece of literature and art that has gained national attention throughout the years. It has developed an enormous following on social media and internet forums. Fan forums let audience's go and explore many different theories and strategies for the show and what the contestants will

do next. In Spoiling Survivor it says, "What we cannot know or do on our own, we may now be able to do collectively."  These knowledge communities let fans think through many different options on what could happen throughout the show, and who might be going home next. One of the more prominent forums is called Big Brother Junkies and this site contains spoilers, recaps, and information on former House Guests. On the top of the page, it has the House Guest's pictures lined up, where it shows which guests are still in the house or if they're in the jury. On this site, one person posts a blog and then the other people following this post in the comments what they think. There are multiple people who run this site and allow for their predictions and analysis to be commented on by other fans. Some of the dedicated members of Big Brother Junkies posted:

*"I've been reading here since I found you all about the middle of this season, and it has been so very enjoyable. I love the way both Mel and Steve write, and I really find myself agreeing with what Mel thinks almost all the time! I also appreciate the camaraderie among you all and NK's wonderful details at night. I can't believe how much I'm going to miss something that I didn't know about a few months ago."* -SassyMoo

*"Thank you Mel/Steve & NK for another great year of keeping us informed."* -LynnD

These knowledge communities are similar to those who enjoy books clubs and people who discuss art. This forum talks about the literature they enjoy and the art it is. The masters of this site are known as Mel, Steve, and NK. They post the spoilers of Big Brother that they see on the 24/7 live feeds, their analysis' on the strategies of the House Guests, and the recaps of the episodes just in case a viewer missed something.

Another fan site is on Facebook, and is called Off The Block With Ross and Marissa. These two Big Brother fans make videos about what they say on the show that night. They also have guests on their show where they speak on the House Guest's strategies and voting decisions. This site has 125 thousand followers watching their videos and commenting what they think. An additional fan site on Facebook is called The Need for Feed and the creators post short videos from the live feeds to let fans in on what is happening. This site has a significant less following than the other, but its 33 thousand followers enjoy its inclusive of feed videos for updates on what is happening in the house.

These knowledge communities show the support and dedication that the Big Brother fans have. These fans and "communities must closely scrutinize any information that is going to become part of their shared knowledge, since misinformation can lead to more and more misconceptions as any new insight is read against what the group believes to be core knowledge."  The information seen on the internet or social media platforms is not always true, so many fans are often lenient on what they believe is true or not. The person posting on these blogs or making posts have to prove themselves as reliable and continue to have to prove themselves. If one poster gives misinformation then the whole community will not be wanting to listen to their analysis or spoilers any longer. These communities can be seen as a place for professional investigating and writing, and a place where fans can go to voice their opinions and beliefs of who will win the $500,000.

## Interpretative Disputes

### **Racism**

With the popularity of Big Brother there are instances where the House Guests come under fire for the things they say. As the House Guests are under surveillance 24/7 they are bound to say things that can get them in trouble. One of the most recent controversies is when the House Guests Rachel Swindler and Angela Rummans made comments about skin coloration and racist terms. Rachel Swindler had said "My stomach is as dark as Bay," (her African American roommate) and that she "can't be in the sun for two days straight ... I will change ethnicities. I already have." Then Angela Rummans made the comment, "I'm looking ghetto here with the skin coloration."  This is not the first time racis

t comments were made on Big Brother and its season 15 some similar problems occurred with the contestants. Big Brother made announcements throughout the seasons where their contestants have said some derogatory or racist comments that they do not condone their words and that Big Brother in no way believes what the contestants do. Although the comments made by Rummans and Swindler were in no way right the creator of the Big Brother Junkies site Steve Beliveau said "I've seen them do worse and it feels like people are kind of blowing it out of proportion," and that "I don't want to make light of [the situation] because there were some controversial statements, but at the same time, it's been worse." As many people took to twitter to voice their concerns and anger toward Swindler and Rummans, some of the fans such as Beliveau believes that even though the comments made were controversial, there could have been worse things said or done.

### **Sexual Harassment**

Season 20 also brought about the accusation of sexual harassment from JC Mounduix. Mounduix was "inappropriately touching other contestants' genitals with an ice cream scooper."  The fans saw this inappropriate behavior on one of the many 24/7 live feeds Big Brother puts out. As the fans saw this behavior, they immediately called for action from the show and wanted JC Mounduix to be kicked off of it. As for the HouseGuests their feelings about Mounduix were that "Tyler said he didn't care, and the girls were like, 'Oh [JC] is harmless.' The girls typically don't look at him look at him as a threat."  As previously mentioned Beliveau believes that the incidents with Mounduix, Swindler, and Rummans were all "blown out of proportion," and that the House Guests are not bothered by what was said or happen

ed. Although, the HouseGuests are not bothered by these situations these comments and situations are in poor taste.

### **Big Brother Involvement**

Whenever the House Guests have said controversial comments and have been in controversial situations, Big Brother has always refuted what the particular people did and what that they in no way believe in what the House Guests do. As for Season 20, Big Brother refuses to air the comments or situations on the CBS Television Network. It is said, "they were seen on 'Big Brother's' 24/7 online feed, which is live, unedited and available only to paid subscribers."  Beliveau has said that he "spends around eight hours a day monitoring the 24/7 'Big Brother' feed, and says it stopped for a bit after the Rummans/Swindler and the Mounduix situation while they were spoken to."  When certain comments and situations arise on Big Brother the contestants are often reminded how to behave and what they should and should not say on camera. After the feed came back on, it was evident that Swindler and Rummans were upset with how their comments came out and how they made the fans feel, while Mounduix remained unbothered. It is said, "the reason there is so much controversy is the format," and that "if 'Survivor' or any of the other reality shows had cameras around 24/7 they would have the same issues."  The issues faced with Big Brother are with most of the House Guests and what they do on live television and how they deal with it. Big Brother does not stand for such actions and will immediately put a stop to it.

## Remediation

### **The Netherlands' Big Brother**

The first Big Brother version was created in 1999 in the Netherlands and it is said, "although essential amenities such as running water, furniture and a limited ration of food were provided, luxury items were often forbidden," and that "this added a survivalist element to a show to the show, increasing the potential for social tension."  Throughout its global expansion Big Brother has remained similar to its original form, and that "their main format remains true to the original fly on the wall observational style with the emphasis on human relationships, to the extent that contestants usually are forbidden from discussing nominations or voting strategy."  Even though the beliefs and values of each country differ, each remediation of Big Brother shows its original roots from the Netherlands.

### **US and the English-Canadian Versions**

On the Big Brother Wikipedia it says, "The US and Canadian versions of Big Brother differ from most global versions of the series."  Although, these two countries have chosen different remediation for their reality game show, they still trace back to the roots of the original.

#### **US**

For the first season of Big Brother in the US, it was very similar to that of the Netherlands coming out in the 2000's. However, the second season a change needed to be done. The poor ratings and likeability was minimal and the US show Survivor was a bigger hit among the intended audiences. In order to heighten the likeability the Bi

g Brother produces decided that "a game play-oriented format"  was needed. With this new thought in mind, the producers decided that House Guests would play for the Head of Household (HoH), Power of Veto (PoV), and to vote out the other contestants in the house. The show also had Have Nots, people who would have to eat "slop", take cold showers, and sleep in incredibly uncomfortable beds. As for the House Guests voted off, the nine voted off before the final three are known as the jury. The jury decides who wins the $500,000 and have to be won over by the top three for their votes. In the house, the contestants are not allowed any outside contact, thus, not being able to have their phones or social media. The US has also had a Celebrity Big Brother, where it put low tier celebrities on its show and gave them a platform to be on a reality game show.

#### **English-Canadian**

The English-Canadian version of Big Brother started in 2013. On the Big Brother Wikipedia it states,"the show followed the US format, but with more elaborate twists and greater viewer participation in the game."  It is also stated, "Secret tasks were introduced, usually presented by the show's mascot, 'Marsha The Moose'; also, as in most global franchises, Big Brother was a distinct character who interacted with the House Guests." It is very similar to the US version in how it holds its competitions and its voting.

### **Other Countries**

Some countries have adopted the US/Canadian versions of Big Brother and put their own style on what they air. As for Brasil, the House Guests compete for the Head of Household, Power of Veto, and Have Nots. Like the US/Canada the HoH puts up a contestant on the block, but in Brasil the other House Guests vote for what other contestant to be on the block. As for the PoV competition the only difference is that a contestant gets to punish another. There have been online showings of Big Brother as well, "the pilot for Big Brother China, which premiered exclusively online in 2015, had housemates voting on evictions but the public voting for the winner."

## Conclusion

Big Brother has been remediated into many different forms throughout the world and has been in the light for controversies that have provoked people that watch the television show. Big Brother is a very intricate and detail oriented game that can be seen as artistic and a form of literature. Another definition of literature is "the body of artistic writings of a country or period that are characterized by beauty of expression and form by universality of intellectual and emotional appeal."  Big Brother can be seen throughout this definition, with its intellectual writings of competitions and the designs of these such competitions. While the emotional appeal comes out when the House Guests are speaking in the diary room and expressing their feelings. Big Brother also provokes emotion from what the House Guests say and do throughout the season. Big Brother can be seen as literature and an art form.

## Additional Links

Big Brother Live Feeds

Big Brother CBS Page

Big Brother Wikia

Big Brother Junkies

## References

1. ↑ Wikipedia for Literature - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature
2. ↑ "Reading at Risk Report." Course Readings, HUM 211
3. ↑ "Fan Communities: Exemplary or Exceptional Audiences." Course Reading, HUM 211
4. ↑ Ian Bogost, "How To Do Things With Video Games." Course Readings, HUM 211
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Henry Jenkins, "Spoiling Survivor." Course Readings, HUM 211 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name ":2" defined multiple times with different content
6. ↑ Big Brother Junkies- https://bigbrotherjunkies.com/big-brother-20-my-final-thoughts-predictions/
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Racist comments- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/big-brother-season-20-contestants-accused-racism-sexual-harassment-1124780
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Racial and Sexual Harassment- https://nypost.com/2018/07/10/controversies-continue-to-rock-big-brother/
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Big Brother Wikipedia- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big\_Brother\_(franchise)#International\_expansion
10. ↑ Dictionary- https://www.dictionary.com/browse/literature