This week was all about the GROUP!
What better media text to represent this statement better than the reality show, SURVIVOR! (In particular, the latest season SURVIVOR: SAMOA)
Well, unless you have been living high up in the mountains and deep in the sea, you would know that Survivor is a reality game show where 16-20 strangers are divided into 2 groups (a.k.a tribes) and have to live together on different parts of a remote island for different durations ranging from 1day to 39days. In between are reward and immunity challenges, which can help in improving the living conditions of their campsite and also, determine the number of members remaining on the tribe. This is because the losing tribe in the immunity challenge has to vote off one member from their tribe. The sole survivor standing will receive one million dollars!
This season, however, had a twist.
In the first episode, as seen from the video, instead of the different tribes heading towards their campsites, the tribe members, having just met each other for less than a few hours with little social interaction, have to elect a leader. This leader will make important decisions in which they feel is best for the tribe. Thus, the groups have to vote, solely based on first impressions and perception. This shows that the group is needed to make complex decisions. However in this case, the decision was made based on the majority of the votes and not through discussion and thus, the leader that they elect, may be ideal in terms of looks but not actions, which can be risky.
At last! There leaders were elected, Russell for the Galu tribe (purple) and Nick for the Foa Foa tribe (yellow).
But wait, there’s more.
They now have to make individual decision to select people from their tribe, for the first challenge, who fits with the various attributes that the host listed such as, “Who do you think is the best swimmer” and “Who do you think is the smartest”. Places for strength and stamina were given to the physically stronger and younger males while agility and knowledge were given to smaller females. However, this is solely based on perception, or even stereotype, in which we group attributes of certain people with certain roles.
Therefore, I view the challenge as a way of seeing whether the judgment made by the leaders were right. It is through the actions, for example, the seemingly strong man being able to move a heavy object, or the ‘agile’ woman able to scale a narrow platform with ease, which ascertains the that first impressions may be right.
I feel that though initial impression is important in deciding different roles in a new group, one has to prove his or herself through actions and fulfilling the requirement of that role.
And personally, I support the GALU TRIBE!!! LONG LIVE GALU!!
First impression counts ALOT. For example, if you turned up for a job interview dressed in sloppy attire, the interviewers can only judge you by first impression and most likely not hire you. Thus I agree with your viewpoint that initial impression is important. Based on some bits of experience I had, if I felt that Girl O is going to be irritating, it is most likely to be true..
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Russell of your Galu tribe got disqualified.. :(
Although the saying goes' don't judge a book by it's cover', i'm afraid that it is not very true in the real world. First impression matters afterall, especially in a fast-paced society where everything got be instant and quick. Judgement can be made quickly just by one browse over your attire and can determine whether you get the job during an interview. Moreover, there are many stereotypical thinking in our society e.g women are the weaker sex and they often use their heart to think rather than brain. All these also can affect one's judgement and decision.
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteDidn't know that you are a Survivor fan! Hahah!
Survivor is a good show to observe how strangers interact with each other and their perception or biasness against each other. If one competitor is over enthusiastic about a competition and s/he decides to take up the leadership position, others may view him/her as a strong rival and s/he gets voted out. Hence, in this game, one must not have outstanding performance in the challenges and is able to form allies with different groups of people (inculding the rivarly team).
wow survivor! It's nice!
ReplyDeleteIt is a very good representation of group communication.
Examples of roles in groups can be seen here too and also the attributes like what you have mentioned.
I think perceptual mindset comes in here too where they viewed people based on their past experiences with similar attributes.
Lastly, when they need to eliminate a member, it is where the actions fit into the perception comes into place. Not to forget the interaction and communication within the group.
=)
Ooo.. survivot!! NICE!
ReplyDeleteI am also a fan of survivor and have also watched this particular episode.
Firstly, i feel that physical appearance play a big role in first impressions. And that first impression do play a big part in shaping your perception. THis is because the first thing when you see someone is their outer appearance. Thus, from there, we will create our first impression and subsequently our perception.
From what i know from the episode, most of the choices picked by the leader based on perception were right. This shows that perception can be right most of the time. However, we must also accept the fact that looks too can be deceiving.
Therefore, I personally feel that the judgement of one person cannot be made too early in any relationship be it between friends or lovers.
HI NICOLEE!!
ReplyDeleteI think group decisions are extremly hard to make because of the different dynamics that a group could have and conflicts during decision making makes it even more of a headache. not to mention, in Survivor, these people would need to have to make such decisions based on first impressions. First impressions are not always the best to rely on. That could lead to further disagreements as the group progresses when they fidn out that their leader isnt who he/she was.
Interesting Post!
The show itself is a suvivor after so many seasons with the same theme and plot. But every episode it projected the best and worse in human behaviors. Alot of learning lessons and should be able to survive for the next decade.
ReplyDeleteI feel that perception do play a big role in anything we do and perception stems from first impression. Indeed, in a group, sometimes a leader must be made so as to solve budding problems faced by the group (especially if it is a new group). However, to pick a leader, the person should have certain prototype which we associate with a leader. For example, no female blondes were chosen most likely due to the notion that female blondes are just empty vases. Also, the votes tend to be cast to people who are seemingly older most likely due to the belief that they are wiser.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, the person which has these attributes would most likely be the leader even though the person may just be an empty shell.
Well,, i guess that is what makes SURVIVOR interesting and able to last for so many seasons.
Had not been watching the show for the last few seasons. Look like still the same story line. How human behave for the sake of a million dollars is amusing, degrading and challenging. It about time someone write a book based on the strategy of the winners just like Sun Tze Art of War.
ReplyDeleteI think that first impressions is quite a real thing in our life. For example, our first impressions of a female driver is that they're not very good. However, first impressions may not be a very good thing as you do not give people a chance to prove themselves, rather, they fall into your perception.
ReplyDeleteFirst impression is very important.
ReplyDeleteGood looking people always got a head start but end of the day, it is the substance that count.