Populist styles and meanings in Acun Medya reality shows

Abstract

This article reflects on the relationship between popular culture and populism through Acun Medya reality shows that are influential in the popular culture realm. Inspired by populism scholars and television studies framework, the article considers populism as ‘style’ (us vs them, mobilizing emotions/emotionality, personality cult) and political meanings informed by conservative ideologies. This paper will first review the populist hegemony of right-wing ideologies and interventions on television content. Then it will situate the reality television and factual entertainment in the Turkish television landscape. Through multimodal discourse analysis of three factual entertainment shows of the latest seasons, MasterChef (2023), O Ses Turkiye- New Years Special (2023) and Survivor (2024), the article discusses populism both enabled and generated by the formats, the production company and ordinary people participating. In the findings section, the populist style in the shows is explored through us versus them dichotomy, emotional style and personality cults. Then, assumptions and constructions of family, audiences, fans, and nation are discussed. In the discussion and conclusion section, the article briefly highlights the differences between these programs and other reality shows and argues that in all programs, the ideals of nation and family are revisited and reaffirmed in various ways.

Keywords

• Reality television
• Turkish television
• Acun Medya
• populism
• cultural hegemony

Acun Medya realite showlarında populist stil ve anlamlar

Abstract

Bu makale, popüler kültür ve popülizm arasındaki ilişkiyi popüler kültür alanında etkili olan Acun Medya realite programları aracılığıyla ele almaktadır. Makale, popülizm düşünürlerinin ve televizyon çalışmalarının önerdiği çerçevelerden yararlanmakta, bu sayede popülizmi bir stil (biz ve diğerleri, duygu uyandırmak/ duygusallık, kişilik kültü) ve muhafazakâr ideolojinin sağladığı politik anlamlar olarak ele alarak, bu stil ve anlamların izini realite programlarında sürmektedir. Makalede öncelikle sağ muhafazakarlığın populist hegemonyası ele alınmakta ve televizyon içeriğine bu doğrultuda yapılan müdahaleler değerlendirilmektedir. Sonrasında, realite showlar ve eğlence realite programları Türkiye televizyon ortamına konumlandırılmaktadır. Eğlence-realite programlarının en güncel sezonlarının çoklu söylem analizi aracılığıyla MasterChef (2023), O Ses Turkiye-Yılbaşı Özel (2023) ve Survivor’ın (2024) incelendiği makale; formatların, prodüksiyonun ve katılımcıların sağladığı ve ürettiği haliyle popülizmi tartışmaktadır. Analiz kısmında, öncelikle programlardaki popülist stil (biz ve diğerleri, duygu uyandırmak/duygusallık, kişilik kültü aracılığıyla) keşfedilmekte; sonrasında halk, izleyici, hayran, aile ve millet hakkındaki varsayımlar ve inşalar, birbiriyle ilişkisi içinde tartışılmaktadır. Son olarak, tartışma ve sonuç bölümünde, programların kendi aralarındaki ve diğer realite programlarıyla aralarındaki farklarına kısaca değinilmekte ve programların tümünde millet ve aile ideallerinin çeşitli yollarla tekrar konu edildiği ve tekrar onaylandığı iddia edilmektedir.

Keywords

• Realite televizyonu
• Türkiye televizyonu
• Acun Medya
• popülizm
• kültürel hegemonya

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