I saw a commercial for an awesome program on TV. It is called Imagine Afrika. It is a reality television show where a group of young Africans from all over the continent compete in challenges related to fighting HIV/AIDS. They have a flashy but decidedly non-informative website here.
This show is the result of cooperation between a few groups who have a grand vision of creating an “AIDS-free generation.” On more than a few occasions, I’ve wished for and tried to envision reality television tackling social ills. I think there have even been some forays into this, following volunteers with various projects. This show is a stellar example of exactly the type of shows I would like to see. It’s positive, it’s hip, and it will hopefully change lives for the better. Remember when they thought TV would be a tool for empowering and educating people?
Hey Trenton, I guess this means you won’t be around to play frisbee tomorrow *or* Sunday. I’ll put you down as a “possible” for next week if rain pushes any games back… (just kidding, obviously… sounds like a great trip; Merrie just fwd’d me the blog link)
Everyone knows that television as an agent for social change reached it’s peak with the Muppet Babies.
and I like the idea of a reality television show promoting positive world attitudes, but unless the show involves the playboy mansion, radical plastic surgery, or Flava Flav, I don’t think it’ll go very far.
Also, have you seen that Paris Hilton is going to teach in Rwanda as the basis of a possible reality television show? That’s the real danger, that socially conscious reality shows would start being popular and then you’d get a host of copycat shows with pseudo celebrities who are out of touch with reality trying to heal the world as a publicity ploy.